APRIL, 2026 | Minneapolis
Full Agenda: BioNorStar 2027
Explore the complete schedule for the 2026 BioNorStar Biotech Symposium. From insightful keynote sessions to community showcases and dedicated networking segments, navigate the day's high-impact events across the Minneapolis biotechnology corridor.
Morning
Networking & Registration
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
Registration
Doors open — registration & morning networking. Check in, coffee, and open networking. Pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings begin. Community showcase open for exploration.
Morning Keynote
Opening Keynote — Minnesota's Biotech North Star
Setting the stage. Where Minnesota biotech stands today and the road ahead. Speaker TBD.
Networking · 60 min
Keynote · 45 min
Midday
Breakouts & Lunch
11:45 AM
12:45 PM
Breakout Sessions — Round One
Attendees choose their track. Concurrent sessions running in separate rooms focusing on R&D, Funding, Operations, and Talent.
Catered Lunch
Provided. Catered lunch. Pre-scheduled 1:1 meeting slots continue. Community showcase remains open for exploration.
Breakout · 60 min
Lunch · 60 min
Scroll through the full program for more details on afternoon sessions, closing receptions, and optional evening dinner events.
Morning Sessions: Keynote
11:00 AM — 12:00 PM
The Next Frontier: AI in Genetic Sequencing
Dr. Lawrence Thorne, Ph.D.
Keynote exploring how artificial intelligence is accelerating personalized medicine in Minnesota, transforming raw genomic data into life-saving therapeutic insights within record timeframes.
Midday
12:45 PM
Lunch · 60 min
Lunch — provided
Catered lunch. Pre-scheduled 1:1 meeting slots continue. Community showcase open.
Afternoon
Sessions
Keynote · 45 min
1:45 PM
Keynote — growth pathways
Capital, talent, and infrastructure — what it takes to scale a biotech company in Minnesota. Speaker TBD.
2:30 PM
Showcase · 45 min
Community showcase — open floor Minnesota biotech companies, labs, and startups present their work. Tables, posters, and demos. Not a trade show — a community.
3:15 PM
Breakout · 45 min
Breakout sessions — round two Second rotation. Attendees can attend a different track from round one.
4:00 PM
Keynote + Panel · 60 min
Closing keynote and panel — the Minnesota advantage Founders, investors, and operators on what makes Minnesota a compelling home for biotech. Panel format with Q&A. Speaker TBD.
Evening Reception/Dinner
The day concludes with an Evening dinner session. Join your peers and industry leaders for a relaxed networking experience over a formal meal, fostering community connections and reflecting on the showcase highlights.
Evening
Concluding Connections
5:00 PM
Networking · 60 min
Closing reception — open networking. End of the formal program. Open floor networking. Last pre-scheduled meeting slots.
6:00 PM
Evening dinner · 2–3 hrs
Dinner — optional, separate venue. Informal dinner for those who want to continue the conversation. Separate ticket or invite-only. Location TBD.