2026 iFAB Biomanufacturing Summit

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE 2026 BIOMANUFACTURING SUMMIT.

VIEW THE EVENT PROGRAM

SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR:
MARCH 10, 2027

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Thank You to Our Presenting Sponsors

PARTNER SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

START-UP SPONSORS

SUPPORT SPONSORS

The Atkins Group
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
DCI Inc.
East Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council
VWR

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LEARN MORE

WE’VE REACHED CAPACITY. REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Strategically aligned during the 7th Annual Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, the iFAB Biomanufacturing Summit will take place one day after the University of Illinois Research Park’s AgTech Summit.

Join the iFAB Tech Hub for an all-day summit focused on biomanufacturing and precision fermentation! Through dynamic panels, innovation showcases, and networking opportunities, participants will explore how precision fermentation, bioprocessing, and agricultural innovation intersect to strengthen national security, drive economic growth, and increase domestic manufacturing capacity.

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THE SUMMIT WILL…

• Explore how investments in biomanufacturing are reshaping global supply chains, strengthening domestic production, and creating new economic opportunities across regions
• Showcase collaborative models that bridge research and commercialization, featuring success stories from startups, established manufacturers, and research institutions
• Discuss the need for continued and significant investments to advance domestic biomanufacturing capabilities, reduce reliance on foreign production, and bolster U.S. economic and national security
• Highlight how the iFAB Tech Hub serves as a scalable model for biomanufacturing innovation and commercialization, with resources available at every stage, all within a 51-mile radius

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Biomanufacturing industry leaders who are shaping the future of production
• Startups and entrepreneurs scaling innovations from lab to production
• Investors and corporate innovators seeking emerging opportunities in biomanufacturing
• Industry experts advancing breakthroughs in bioprocessing and precision fermentation
• Government and policy leaders focused on advancing investments and taking urgent action to secure U.S. leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPICS

• The Biomanufacturing Supply Chain 
• Transitioning Technologies to Manufacturing
• Leadership in Biomanufacturing – How Illinois Leads the Way
• Building the Biomanufacturing Advantage – Why Ecosystems Win

SEE THE FULL AGENDA.

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Getting Here

Where is Champaign-Urbana? We like to consider ourselves the heart of the state, located in East Central Illinois, and centrally located between Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. With three interstates intersecting in Champaign–Urbana, an Amtrak station, and University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI), getting here is easy for everyone.

BY AIR: Featuring daily flights through American Airlines from O’Hare International Airport and Dallas/Ft. Worth, Willard Airport will get you here without the hassle. Located just south of the University of Illinois campus, this regional airport is easily accessible and is ready to greet you with our warm Midwest hospitality. For flight information, visit https://iflycu.com/.

TRAVEL BY AMTRAK: Offering daily routes out of Chicago, Amtrak offers you a way to travel that lands you in the heart of our city, with a stop in Downtown Champaign at Illinois Terminal. For routes and ticketing information, visit https://www.amtrak.com/home. 

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Lodging Information

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Things to Do in Champaign-Urbana

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Agenda

We’re pleased to share the event agenda (subject to change), so you can see what topics will be discussed and who is joining us!

TIME	AGENDA ITEM	LOCATION
8:00 – 8:30	Check-In Opens + Breakfast and Networking A light breakfast will be provided.	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
8:30 – 8:45	Welcome and Opening Remarks Carly McCrory-McKay, Chief Partnerships Officer – iFAB Tech Hub Dr. Pamela Lau, President – Parkland College Beth Conerty, Regional Innovation Officer – iFAB Tech Hub Nicole Bateman, Chief Strategy Officer – iFAB Tech Hub	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
8:45 – 9:30	PANEL #1: Building the Future of Biomanufacturing Facilities – The Realities of Getting U.S. Products to Scale Brian Jacobson, Program Manager – Infrastructure – iFAB Tech Hub (Moderator) Ismael Nieves, General Manager – iPROOF Eric Whitfield, Director, Economic Development – Ameren Illinois Brendan Brown, Process Engineer – Merrick & Company Michael Ptasznik, Vice President, Industrial – Clayco	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
9:35 – 10:05	FIRESIDE CHAT #1: Leadership in Biomanufacturing – How Illinois Leads the Way Andy Manar, Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy, Office of the Governor – State of Illinois (Moderator) Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, Illinois’ 13th Congressional District	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
10:10 – 10:55	PANEL #2: Prioritizing Biotechnology at the National Level – How to Compete and Win for National Security and Economic Resilience Chad Phillips, Federal Policy Manager – Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (Moderator) Jenn Beddor, Policy and Legislative Director – National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) Gregory Jaffe, President – Jaffe Policy Consulting Will Shih, Director of Economic Development – Senator Tammy Duckworth Dr. Matthew Pava, Program Manager – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
11:00 – 11:30	FIRESIDE CHAT #2: The Biomanufacturing Supply Chain  Mark Denzler, President & CEO – Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (Moderator) Colin Graves, Vice President, Innovation – ADM	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
11:30 – 12:15	Lunch and Networking Lunch will be provided.	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
12:15 – 12:20	Kraft Heinz Innovation Challenge Announcement	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
12:20 – 12:50	PANEL #3: Food Ingredients through Precision Fermentation – Creating Sustainable, Scalable, and Clean-label Ingredient Solutions Maxine Roman, Lead, R&D Innovation Collaboration & Partnerships – Kraft Heinz (Moderator) Brian Klopf, Protein Scientist – Mars, Dr. Bill Blaylock, Innovation – Sensient Kraft Heinz Innovation Challenge Winner	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
12:55 – 1:15	FIRESIDE CHAT #3: Transitioning Technologies to Manufacturing Kelsey Weimer, Strategy & Partnerships – Roebling (Moderator) Jeff Carey, Global Director of VAS and Business Development – Brenntag	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
1:20 – 1:50	PANEL #4: Domestically Manufactured Products – Transforming Inputs into Products for Commercial Applications Ted Netland, CFO – Boston Bioprocess (Moderator) Derek Jamrog, Senior Biologicals Technology Guardian – Corteva Agriscience Mothi Viswanathan, Director of Bioprocess – CleanJoule Everton Van-Dal, Chief Business Officer – Sustainea Charles Mateer, Director, Business Development – Erg Bio	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
1:55 – 2:25	PANEL #5: Developing and Sustaining the Domestic Biomanufacturing Talent of the Future Stephanie Stuart, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation/Chief Communications Officer – Parkland College (Moderator) Kevin Sage, Business Agent – UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 149 David Boulay, President – Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) Marissa Nyland, Assistant Director of Operations and Safety – Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) Michelle Firrell, Site Lead– Mondelēz International	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
2:30 – 2:50	FIRESIDE CHAT #4: Building the Biomanufacturing Advantage – Why Ecosystems Win Elizabeth Gichana, Vice President, Life Sciences Business Development – Illinois EDC (Moderator) David Kestenbaum, Co-Founder & CFO – Cauldron Deepak Dugar, Founder & CEO – Visolis Charles Smith, Founder & CEO – Imio Technologies	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
2:50 – 3:00	Closing Remarks	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
3:00 – 4:00	Company/Sponsor Showcase and Networking	Parkland College AGCO Training Center 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821
4:00 – 4:30	Break
4:30 – 6:30	iFAB Happy Hour While drinks will be provided, dinner will be available for individual purchase from the on-site food truck: Smith Burger Company – view their menu here.	Riggs Beer Company 1901 S. High Cross Road Urbana, IL 61802

REGISTRATION CLOSED