• GapSummit is the premier, global, intergenerational biotechnology summit that attracts world leaders and the next generation of leaders to substantively discuss pressing challenges facing the bioeconomy and catalyze innovation to address these challenges.

  • GBR is a not-for-profit that connects biotech think-tanks, industrial leaders and research pioneers to young bio-leaders of tomorrow. GBR is solely led by young passionate and engaged researchers, students and professionals from across the world. GapSummit is GBR’s flagship event to advance its mission of developing and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the global bio-economy.

GapSummit Press Release

100 LEADERS OF TOMORROW IN BIOTECH TO ARRIVE AT KENDALL SQUARE FOR GAPSUMMIT 2019 NEXT WEEK

The 5th GapSummit will be hosted at Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard for the first time, on June 16 - 20 dedicated to “Challenge, Grow, Connect” the future and current leaders in biotech and catalyzing innovation to bridge the gaps in building the global bioeconomy.

Building on the tremendous success of the past GapSummits hosted at the University of Cambridge and Georgetown University, Global Biotech Revolution is pleased to be hosting GapSummit 2019 for the first time in Kendall Square, the de facto world capital of biotechnology in partnership with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard from June 16th – 20th, 2019.

100 Leaders of Tomorrow (LoTs) have now been selected globally through a competitive application process for their leadership ability and passion for biotechnology to attend the event. GapSummit 2019 aims to bridge the pivotal gaps in the global biotech ecosystem through a confluence of key thought leaders and the LoTs. The program is designed to generate thought-provoking discussions on the current and future challenges through a number of keynote talks, panels, and interactive seminars.

“The 2019 Leaders of Tomorrow class is a stellar group of young biotech leaders spanning 43 countries.” said Mohamad Ali Najia, President of GapSummit 2019, and PhD candidate and NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology program. “We have identified eight gaps to focus on this year, including R&D Productivity, AI and Digital Health, Bench to Market, Biosecurity and Bioethics, Sustainable Healthcare Economics, Sustainability and AgTech, Global Bioeconomies, and Frontiers in Biotech. We also look forward to talks from a line-up of world experts representing a diverse array of perspectives and expertise in the biotech community.”

GapSummit 2019 official program will start from Mon 17th of June, with the first keynote from Dr. Dawn Tilbury, Assistant Director for Engineering, National Science Foundation. Other confirmed speakers include Dr. Victor Dzau, President, The National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Penny Heaton, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, Bertrand Bodson, Chief Digital Officer, Novartis and Dr. Robert McCarroll, Head of Open Innovation, Bayer Crop Science.


The selected young leaders have already been working remotely in small groups since February on Voices of Tomorrow (VoT), a bio-innovation business plan competition. “VoT was designed to provide a platform for LoTs to develop breakthrough solutions to one of the gaps in biotechnology,” said VoT Director Chris Ghadban, “with special focus on relevant issues which impact our partners and sponsors today.” The 8 finalists will be judged by domain experts in a pitching competition on the last day of the official program and take home seed funding and McKinsey mentorship, among other prizes, which will help them continue to develop their venture.

About
GapSummit is the flagship event of Global Biotech Revolution, an international youth-led organization dedicated to connecting bio-leaders across generations, regions, and cultures. The annual event has formed an unique network of global young leaders that are engaged in creating a meaningful impact in tackling the current challenges & gaps in the bioeconomy.
Further details on GapSummit 2019 including a list of speakers can be found on the event website: gapsummit.com

Gapsummit 2019 is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Biogen, Bayer, AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Pfizer, Amgen, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, McKinsey & Company, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Image credit: Elise Wilcox

Media Contact
Journalists interested in attending are encouraged to email Petar Todorov, Vice President of GapSummit at petar.todorov@gapsummit.com for more information.