iL‒CURRENT
March 26, 2026
Responses to GENESIS 26:
“It’s all about connections”
Around 130 participants from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Turkey gathered in Heidelberg in mid-March for GENESIS 26, the LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY organized by InnovationLab (iL). The unanimous feedback: an extraordinary event that brought together leading representatives from science and industry in the fields of drug screening, 3D cell models, and organ-on-a-chip technologies.
“And that is precisely the goal of events like GENESIS 26: to bring together people from different disciplines who might not normally sit in the same room. Because innovation rarely happens in isolation. It happens when researchers, engineers, startups, and industry partners exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and discover unexpected connections. Because ultimately, conferences like this aren’t just about presentations. They’re about connections,” says Dr. Reza Taale, Cluster Manager at InnovationLab and organizer of GENESIS 26.
The participants’ feedback was turned into hard cash: For every feedback form received, the iL team donates to the Heidelberg Waldpiraten Camp run by the German Children’s Cancer Foundation.
Below, we have compiled a selection of reactions to GENESIS 26 :
Dr. Sylvia Boj, keynote speaker and Chief Scientific Officer at Merck/HUB Organoids:
“The insights into organoids and organ-on-chip technology were extraordinary and demonstrated just how rapidly this field of research is advancing. I was also particularly impressed by the strength of Heidelberg’s innovation ecosystem.”
Dr. Hafsa Munir, speaker and head of the Young Investigators Group for Stromal Immunology at the DKFZ:
“Two aspects stood out. First, the focus was clearly on the patients; second, we’re all concerned with the question of how we can standardize technology and replicate human tissue. All the participants were very interested in the topics, which made it clear that we can’t tackle this field on our own. I really enjoyed the selection of presentations.”
Dr. Hafsa Munir, speaker and head of the Early-Career Research Group on Stromal Immunology at the DKFZ, during her lightning talk. Photo: InnovationLab | Lukas Adler
Dr. Kurt Glöckler, participant and Account Manager for RMS at ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions:
“LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY GENESIS 26 is an excellent platform for fostering collaboration between research and industry. The diverse approaches to fighting cancer can benefit us all and encourage industry partners to develop more effective systems. Topics related to cancer prevention would also be of great interest, such as how diet affects the development of cancer.”
Dr. Jasper Van Hoorick, speaker, co-founder, and CEO of BIOINX, a biotech materials specialist and spin-off of Ghent University and the Free University of Brussels:
“This event was full of surprises and had a very interdisciplinary focus. Bringing together different areas of expertise will be key to advancing the collective fight against cancer. A fantastic event—in a fantastic location. I reconnected with many partners in the life sciences field—and met many new people in this broad field.”
Dr. Jasper Van Hoorick networking during GENESIS 26. Photo: InnovationLab | Lukas Adler
Professor Haikun Liu, speaker and chair of the first session, head of the Department of Molecular Neurogenetics at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and founder of AIPTO TechBio GmbH:
“One of the most valuable insights from GENESIS 26 was seeing how many researchers in the field of bioengineering are working on more effective and predictive disease models.
This challenge is being tackled from many different angles—including standardized frameworks and scalable models. This convergence of approaches creates exciting new opportunities to advance the field.
In terms of added value and networking, events like GENESIS are always inspiring because they facilitate unexpected collaborations. This year was no exception—I reconnected with colleagues from previous years and met new researchers.
These encounters have already sparked new ideas for future collaborations, which is always one of the most exciting outcomes of such events. And of course, I would very much like to participate in GENESIS 27. I look forward to being there again.”
Marc Massoth, Director of the Heidelberg Office for Economic Development and Science:
“With GENESIS 26 , InnovationLab brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies. As a representative of the economic development agency, I can say that events like this are essential. We need strong companies and new ideas to ensure the continued success not only of Heidelberg, but also of Germany and Europe. Knowledge, responsibility, and application—these three guiding principles make Heidelberg one of Europe’s leading life sciences hubs.”
Dr. Safaa Altves, participant, postdoctoral researcher at BITAM, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey:
“As a researcher, I traveled from Turkey to attend. And I found the experience to be extremely enriching. The atmosphere was both professional and lively. The size of the event allowed for high-quality networking without feeling overwhelming. The diversity of the presentations provided a real ‘big picture’ of where life science technology is headed. My work focuses on microbiome-host interactions and organoid models (specifically my IBIS project on inflammatory bowel disease and microbial metabolism).
I see great potential for future discussions on organoid applications in microbiome research. Integrating microbial niches into these platforms represents the next stage of development.
GENESIS 26 has definitely inspired my current research direction. I look forward to seeing how InnovationLab continues to bridge the gap between engineering and biology.”
Michael Hofmeister, participant, Research and Development Department at Biomol GmbH:
“I would attend the GENESIS Conference again next year, as the event is a great opportunity for Biomol to get to know the organoid network in the Rhine-Neckar region and stay up to date on current trends in organoid research.
I learned that the region has a very broad presence in organoid research, both in academia and in the startup sector.”
Pascal Welzen, participant and business developer at MosaMatrix, a spin-off from Maastricht University:
“The symposium was fantastic—a great mix of scientific presentations, spin-off companies, and larger firms. It gave a clear picture of where the field is headed. The number of participants was just right, too—not too small and certainly not too large! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the ‘table sessions’...
...
...one of the best meetings I’ve ever attended. Thank you very much for organizing it.”
Oliver Tress: “A man of exceptional caliber”
Dr. Oliver Tress, speaker and business developer at ZEISS Microscopy:
“I had the privilege of speaking at GENESIS 26 – The LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY, where I presented ZEISS as a valuable partner for researchers and highlighted our innovative software solutions.
The event brought together approximately 130 participants from academia and industry in a remarkable way, with a special focus on organ and tissue engineering. I am convinced that this highly innovative sector will deepen our understanding of rare diseases and accelerate breakthroughs in cancer treatment. It was inspiring to see how many companies presented their advancements in organ-on-a-chip technologies, thereby highlighting the essential synergy between research and commercial application.
The event’s format was exceptional: it brought new players into the community and fostered connections that will significantly shape the future of the industry. It was a great pleasure to exchange ideas with so many dedicated people committed to this important research, and I look forward to participating in the next LIFE SCIENCETECH DAY in Heidelberg.”
On stage at the Forum in Heidelberg: Dr. Oliver Tress, speaker and business developer at ZEISS Microscopy: Photo: InnovationLab | Lukas Adler
Dr. Jens Hansen, speaker and co-founder of the Göttingen-based startup Histomography GmbH:
„GENESIS 26 war für uns als Start-up sehr wertvoll: Wir konnten unsere Technologie live zeigen, auf der Bühne pitchen und direkt mit den Wissenschaftlern ins Gespräch kommen und netzwerken. Genau diese Mischung aus Sichtbarkeit, Feedback und relevanten Kontakten hat den Tag für uns rund gemacht. Das Event war hervorragend organisiert. GENESIS 27 wird vorgemerkt.“
This website is not part of the Facebook website or Facebook Inc. Furthermore, this website is not supported by Facebook in any way. Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc. We use Google remarketing pixels/cookies on this website to communicate with visitors to our website again and ensure that we can reach them with relevant news and information in the future. Google places our ads on third-party websites on the internet to communicate our message and reach the right people who have shown interest in our information in the past.