International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference

Two Day International Life Sciences Real Estate Conference in San Diego

What You’ll Learn at the 2026 International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference: 

Lab real estate is in a hard spot, and there's no point pretending otherwise. Nationwide vacancy hit 23.2% in Q1. Asking rents have declined for five straight quarters, now sitting at $67 per SF. More than half of the 60M SF of lab space delivered between 2020 and 2025 still sits empty, and the 2025 vintage is 73.4% vacant. The strange part is that biotech itself is moving. Hiring has grown for five months running. Venture capital pulled in $7.5B in Q1, roughly $800M higher year-over-year. M&A volume more than doubled in 2025 and the XBI is at its highest point since mid-2021. That gap is why this event matters.

Bisnow’s International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference returns to San Diego in September 2026: the definitive forum where biotech innovation meets real estate strategy. This two-day international conference will gather top biotech executives, developers, investors, researchers and policymakers for two days of insight, dealmaking, and networking at the intersection of life sciences innovation and commercial real estate. The conversations on stage and in the hallways will be honest ones about what’s actually moving deals, where capital is willing to go, how to reposition assets that aren’t working, what tenants are demanding. Whether you're financing the next generation of biotech startups, designing advanced research facilities, or building innovation districts around the world, this conference will give you the market intelligence and relationships to act with confidence.

Key Discussions Include:

• Where Biotech Capital is Flowing, And Where It's Not: M&A activity surged in 2025 and VC is re-engaging, but investors remain highly selective. Hear from leading investors, developers and operators on what today's capital environment means for funding strategies, deal structures, clinical milestones, and where the next wave of life sciences growth is emerging.
• The Leasing Landscape: Tenant renewals are at record highs as occupiers avoid long-term commitments, while new demand continues to concentrate in premier space in core clusters. Brokers, landlords, and occupiers will unpack what it actually takes to win and retain tenants in today's highly competitive leasing environment. 
• The Academic Advantage: Universities as Innovation Engines: Universities remain at the center of life sciences innovation, driving groundbreaking research, startup creation, and talent development. Discover how academic institutions are accelerating commercialization, strengthening regional ecosystems, and shaping the future of biotech growth.
• Incubators, Accelerators & The Next Generation of Lab Tenants: As capital remains constrained,  incubators, venture studios, and early-stage ecosystems are supporting biotech startups. Discover how these platforms are nurturing innovation, and what developers and investors should know about supporting emerging tenants.
• Intelligent Labs & The Next Wave of Biotech Innovation: AI-driven drug discovery, robotics and automation are changing how research actually gets done, and the buildings have to keep up. Learn how these technologies are reshaping lab infrastructure, workflows, and facility design.
• Repositioning Underperforming Life Sciences Assets: Since 2023, 34 lab buildings have been delivered without a single tenant signed, and owners are converting space for alternate uses. Leaders explore strategies for lab conversions, repositioning office properties, upgrading infrastructure, and attracting tenants in a more selective leasing environment.
• Designing the Spaces that Science Demands: From flexible R&D labs to biomanufacturing facilities, today's life sciences users require highly specialized space. Industry leaders discuss design strategies that support evolving research demands and long-term adaptability.
• Decarbonizing the High-Energy Lab: Laboratories are among the most energy-intensive building types in commercial real estate. Learn how developers, operators, and tenants are balancing ambitious sustainability goals with the operational needs of cutting-edge research.
• Building Innovation Districts that Compete Globally: Mixed-use developments and innovation districts are attracting talent, fostering collaboration, and creating vibrant ecosystems. Gain insights into the strategies, partnerships and placemaking initiatives required to build thriving ecosystems that can compete on a global stage.  

Gain Exclusive Access To:

• Insightful panel discussions featuring leading developers, biotech executives, investors, and policymakers.
• Engaging keynote presentations and roundtable discussions on pressing topics impacting biotech and real estate.
• Curated networking sessions connecting innovators, investors and decision-makers.
• Evening cocktail receptions to foster meaningful connections and building lasting relationships. 

Want to get a feel for content? Check out our past "ILS" events: 

2025 Conference 

2024 Conference 

2023 Conference 

A Snapshot of Some Companies That Attended Last Year: 

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., Alchemy Bio, Affinius Capital, Alloy Properties, Attovia Therapeutics, Awaken Capital, Bachem, Bakar Labs, Biocom, BioMed Realty, Biomiga, Breakthrough Properties, CARGO Therapeutics, ClearPoint Neuro, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Diapeutic, Debut, Embark, Endeavor Biomedicines, Exact Sciences, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Genentech, Genomatica, Gensler, Gilead Sciences, Halozyme, Healthpeak Properties, Histologics, Illumina, IQHQ, JLL, Johnson & Johnson, Kilroy Realty, King Street Properties, Kite Pharma, Latitude Pharma, Longfellow Real Estate Partners, Luminous Capital Management, Maverix Medical, MiraCosta Biomanufacturing, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Neurocrine Biosciences, Noblespace, Oterus Biosystems, Oxford Properties Group, Phase 3 Real Estate Partners, Poseida Therapeutics, Qima Life Sciences, Roche, Sino Biopharmaceutical, SteelWave, Stealth Mode, Sterling Bay, Telix Pharmaceuticals, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Trammell Crow Company, Transwestern, Ventyx Biosciences, Wexford Science + Technology, Wacker, Xcellerant Ventures ----- and hundreds more! 

For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our event producer, Samantha D'Angelo at samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com.

For speaker or sponsorship interest, please email our VP of West Coast, Stephanie Smith at stephanie.smith@bisnow.com.

To request disability-related accommodations, please contact thea.parkert@bisnow.com no later than 10 business days prior to the event.

PS - Want the attendee list for free?

Biscred gives you a complimentary 1-week trial with 250 credits to search 6M+ commercial real estate contacts — filter by asset class, job seniority, metro, property count, and more. Book a demo today and we'll activate your free trial when you mention this promotion.

Want to get a recap of everything covered at the event?

Purchase the post-event summary and get the highlights sent to you in a post-event summary. Purchase here.