Chemspec Europe has unveiled further details of its highly anticipated conference programme, offering attendees fresh insight into the key themes, sessions and new interactive formats shaping this year’s event. Taking place on 6–7 May 2026 alongside the exhibition at Koelnmesse in Cologne, the programme has been designed to reflect the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the fine and speciality chemicals industry today.
A focused two-stage conference structure
Across the two days, attendees can expect more than 30 expert-led sessions, delivering a comprehensive mix of strategic insight and technical depth.
The 2026 conference programme has been refined into two clearly defined streams delivered across two dedicated stages, helping attendees quickly navigate to the content most relevant to their role and business priorities.
The Strategy Stage will address the broader business, regulatory and geopolitical landscape shaping the sector. Sessions will explore topics such as government policy and industry support, global trade dynamics, supply chain resilience, compliance frameworks, and the path to net zero. A highlight session on Wednesday, “First China, now India: Is there room for other markets to compete?”, examines how companies outside of China and India can develop new strategies for advanced, sustainable, and digitally enabled chemical manufacturing. Other sessions will cover scaling and partnering for the future and insights into trade disruption and tariff risk, giving decision-makers a comprehensive view of how to strengthen competitiveness in a global market.
Complementing this, The Moleküle Hub will focus on technical innovation and application-driven content. Wednesday opens with the keynote “Navigating global chemical regulations – what to expect in 2026–2027”, providing insight into upcoming regulatory developments affecting global supply chains. The stage will also feature sessions across pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and sustainable materials, highlighting breakthroughs in digital R&D, continuous manufacturing, and green chemistry. Attendees can expect practical guidance on AI-powered formulation, smart manufacturing, next-generation biopesticides, circular chemistry, and continuous-flow production., equipping technical professionals with actionable strategies to accelerate innovation and improve performance.
New interactive roundtables added for 2026
New for 2026, a series of peer-led roundtable discussions will provide a highly interactive forum for professionals across R&D, procurement, manufacturing, sustainability, regulatory affairs and corporate strategy.
These sessions are designed to encourage open dialogue and the exchange of real-world experiences, covering topics such as embedding sustainability at the molecular design stage, leveraging patent analytics for competitive insight, reducing energy intensity through process innovation, and navigating complex global regulatory frameworks. Moderators leading the discussions include Tobias Kirchhoff, Managing Director, BCNP Consultants; Dr. Silvan Berg, Head of Customer Success EMEA, Lexis Nexis; and Sorosh Ziarati, Regulatory Affairs Coordinator, Global Product Compliance Group, bringing deep expertise to each topic.
The roundtables offer a valuable opportunity for participants to engage directly with peers, share practical insights and explore collaborative solutions to common industry challenges. With limited capacity, attendees are encouraged to register their interest to take part now via the Chemspec Europe matchmaking platform.
Industry expertise at the forefront
The programme will feature a strong line-up of industry leaders and technical experts from across the chemical value chain. Confirmed speakers include representatives from organisations such as: BASF, Lonza, Dassault Systèmes, E.ON, Global Product Compliance Group, Corning, Verbio, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Newcastle University, among others. Experts from these organisations will share case studies and practical insights across areas including digital transformation, sustainable manufacturing, regulatory compliance and advanced materials innovation.
To help attendees and exhibitors make the most of the wealth of expertise at the show, the Chemspec Europe matchmaking platform is now live. The tool enables users to identify key industry contacts, schedule one-to-one meetings in advance, and connect with the right experts to exchange knowledge, and forge valuable partnerships.
Navigating the market with confidence
Christiane Beck, Event Director for Chemspec Europe, said: “Chemspec Europe’s conference programme has been carefully designed to reflect the realities of today’s market, where companies must balance innovation, sustainability and resilience while responding to increasing regulatory and geopolitical complexity. By refining the programme into two focused streams and introducing new interactive formats such as roundtables, we are creating more opportunities for meaningful knowledge exchange. Whether attendees are looking at overcoming industry challenges, exploring digital transformation in R&D, or building more sustainable supply chains, the programme delivers both the strategic insight and technical expertise needed to navigate a rapidly evolving market with confidence.”
Chemspec Europe 2026 will take place on 6–7 May at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
For more information on the conference programme and to secure your ticket, visit: www.chemspeceurope.com
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