Bizkaia Technology Park Becomes a Hub for Discussion on the Operational Challenges of Modern Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Bizkaia Technology Park Becomes a Hub for Discussion on the Operational Challenges of Modern Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

• The event brings together over 300 professionals at the Faes Farma plant in Derio, in a highly technical environment focused on industry collaboration.
• Industry experts examine how to ensure product quality and safety in increasingly complex and automated environments.
• Digitalization, sustainability, and operational efficiency take center stage in discussions on the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Madrid, May 7, 2026 – Farmaforum, Spain’s leading forum for the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and laboratory technology industries, is today hosting the technical conference “Competitiveness of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plants” at the Bizkaia Technology Park.

Organized in collaboration with Konexio Biotech Consulting and Faes Farma, the event brings together more than 300 professionals at Faes Farma’s new Derio facility, further establishing itself as a key platform for addressing the sector’s operational challenges and fostering high-level professional networking.

Innovation and Strategy at the Heart of the Conference Program

The event was opened by Alex Granados, Operations Director at Faes Farma.
“Sharing technical expertise in state-of-the-art facilities such as the Derio plant creates value that goes beyond the company itself: it strengthens the sector, promotes collaboration, and accelerates responses to challenges such as digitalization, sustainability, and operational excellence,” the executive stated during his address.

Among the keynote presentations, Luisa Fernanda Ruiz Gatón (Viralgen) explored the transition of advanced therapies toward commercialization, while Virginia Sáez Martínez (i+Med S.COOP) discussed technological evolution from laboratory research to global impact.

Sustainability also played a central role, with Antonio Morata Gasca (Sylentis – Pharma Mar Group) presenting on the concept of “Sustainability by Design.” The morning session concluded with a strategic presentation by the host company entitled “Faes Farma: Back to the Future,” once again delivered by Alex Granados, Operations Director at Faes Farma.

Technical Workshops: Efficiency and Process Control

Running in parallel with the conference sessions, the event also featured three specialized workshops focused on plant operations:

• Tiselab: A session on continuous improvement in the Contamination Control Strategy (CCS), focused on efficiency and sustainability in disinfection and environmental monitoring.
• Vestilab: A workshop dedicated to risk mitigation during manual interventions in barrier systems (RABS and isolators), analyzing the critical role of technical garments.
• bioMérieux: A presentation on the new era of pharmaceutical quality control, highlighting how microbiological automation optimizes release times while ensuring maximum safety.

This conference forms part of Farmaforum’s annual calendar of specialized events, culminating in its flagship exhibition at IFEMA Madrid, recognized as Spain’s leading meeting point for the pharmaceutical industry, attracting thousands of professionals, companies, and international experts.

The event concludes with an exclusive tour of the Faes Farma plant in Derio, where attendees can gain first-hand insight into GMP-compliant areas and the facilities of this next-generation production center, regarded as a benchmark for innovation and industrial capacity.

Faes Farma has made the largest industrial investment in its history in Derio, allocating more than €200 million to the project. Covering nearly 60,000 square meters and equipped with cutting-edge machinery, the facility will double production capacity while incorporating high-value technologies and advanced standards in quality, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Contact

Christian Palencia Solórzano
Communications Director, Farmaforum
Tel. +34 91 630 85 91
Mobile: +34 600 39 27 54