Annual
Industry
Summit.

Plant Cell Institute
Plant Cell Summit
Oxford (UK), 29–30 September 2026

100 leaders convene to define the direction of plant cell culture and co-create the Oxford Declaration on Plant Cell Production.

Register About the Declaration

Co-creating the foundations of plant cell culture

The Goal

Why this summit exists

Plant cell production is emerging as a credible industrial response to the resource constraints that will define the next decade. Science is no longer the question. The challenge is how the field organises into something investable, standardised, and scalable.

This summit is designed to both showcase progress and structure it. The focus is on the critical bottlenecks that stand between scientific capability and industrial deployment, from scale-up and infrastructure to regulatory pathways and market access.

The PCI Plant Cell Summit convenes the people who can shape the industry and co-create the Oxford Declaration, a concise set of objectives designed to align the field and accelerate its industrialisation across applications from food and cosmetics to nutraceuticals and biomaterials.

100
Invited participants
20+
Countries represented
6
Objectives
Oxford college green landscape

"The future of resilient, scalable production begins with getting the science, standards, and industry aligned."

The Programme

A Summit for the Plant Cell Culture Industry.

Programme Draft · Oxford, 29–30 September 2026.

View full programme →
Radcliffe Camera, Oxford
Oxford · September 2026
Day 01 · Tuesday 29 September 2026
Plant Cell Culture. From Research to Industry.
  • Welcome
  • Industrialisation

    Explore what it will take to build a commercially viable PCC industry, from process design and scale-up to performance, cost and reliability.

  • Research

    Hear from leading scientists on the breakthroughs, technologies and capabilities that could transform plant cell culture over the next decade.

  • Collaboration

    Take part in interactive workshops exploring pre-competitive collaboration, shared infrastructure, data, and the future workforce needed to support industry growth.

  • Standardisation

    Help define the metrics, benchmarks and standards needed to make PCC more comparable, credible and investable.

  • Conference Dinner · Jesus College

    Join fellow industry leaders, researchers and innovators for an evening of networking and community-building in the historic surroundings of Jesus College, Oxford.

Day 02 · Wednesday 30 September 2026
Coordinating Plant Cell Culture. The Oxford Declaration.
  • Guest Keynote

    Gain insights from a leader who helped build an entirely new industry and discover what PCC can learn from that experience.

  • Commercialisation

    Discuss regulation, market opportunities, routes to market and the actions needed to bring PCC products successfully to customers.

  • Oxford Declaration Presentation

    Contribute to a landmark initiative aimed at defining a shared vision and priorities for the future of plant cell production.

  • Coordination

    Explore how organisations, investors, technology providers, researchers and companies can work together to accelerate industry development.

  • Oxford Declaration Adoption Ceremony

    Take part in the formal adoption of the Oxford Declaration on Plant Cell Production and help mark a defining moment in the development of the PCC industry.

The Voices

Speakers.

Industries, scientists, investors, and policy leaders shaping the field.

View all speakers →
Tal Govrin
Tal Govrin
CEO, Kokomodo
Israel · Industry
Frank Jaksch
Frank Jaksch
CEO, Ayana Bio
USA · Industry
Heiko Rischer
Heiko Rischer
Head of Plant Biotechnology, VTT
Finland · RTO
Reza Ranjbar
Reza Ranjbar
Head of Technology Strategy, CPI
England · Industry
See all speakers
Have Your say

The Oxford Declaration.

A shared roadmap, created by the people who shape the field, defining the direction and needs of plant cell production.

Objective 01
Industrialisation

Anchor a field designed for industrial-scale production.

Objective 02
Standardisation

Establish a shared foundation for comparability.

Objective 03
Collaboration

Activate pre-competitive collaboration across the ecosystem.

Objective 04
Research

Accelerate the translation from lab to market.

Objective 05
Commercialisation

Facilitate market access for plant cell-derived products.

Objective 06
Coordination

Shape a coordinated and investable global industry.

About the Declaration
The Audience

For Builders, Leaders and Investors of the Plant Cell Culture Industry.

INDUSTRY SCIENCE CAPITAL & POLICY Plant Cell Summit
Industry

Plant cell production companies, biotech operators, infrastructure providers, and corporate buyers with active mandates in the space.

Science

Senior academic researchers and translational scientists from research-active institutions with direct relevance to plant cell production.

Capital & Policy

Venture and strategic investors with active field mandates, alongside policy and standards stakeholders shaping the regulatory environment.

Who it is for

  • Operating leaders of plant cell production companies, founders, CEOs, CTOs, CSOs
  • Scientists with direct relevance to plant cell culture
  • Investors with active or imminent positions in the plant cell space
  • Policy stakeholders shaping the regulatory environment
  • Industrial buyers and corporates exploring plant cell-derived products
  • Suppliers to the sector (e.g. bioreactor and downstream equipment manufacturers) and consumable suppliers (e.g. media suppliers)
Highlights

More than just a conference.

People collaborating in workshop
Highlights
Working sessions

Challenge and co-develop the future of plant cell production in structured, outcome-focused groups.

Conference talks auditorium
Highlights
Talks

Focused interventions from leading stakeholders and scientists, held in the Digital Hub at Jesus College Oxford.

Conference dinner
Social
The Conference Dinner

An evening of networking and conversation in the historic, atmospheric setting of an Oxford college.

Oxford college quad
The Declaration
Outcome-driven

Every session contributes directly to the co-creation of the Oxford Declaration on Plant Cell Production.

Oxford, September 2026.
Join the Plant Cell Summit.

29–30 September · By invitation · Applications open 27th April 2026
Register Sponsor the summit
The Voices

Speakers

Industries, scientists, investors, and policy leaders shaping plant cell culture.

Confirmed speakers.
More announced soon.

The Plant Cell Summit brings together the most important voices in plant cell production. Founders building the companies, scientists defining new boundaries, investors funding the technology, and policy leaders shaping the environment.

Industry

Plant cell production companies, biotech operators, corporate buyers

Science

Senior academic researchers and translational scientists

Capital & Policy

Venture investors, strategic partners, regulatory stakeholders

Abhaya Dandekar
Abhaya Dandekar
Distinguished Professor, University of California, Davis
USA · Academia
Davoud Torkamaneh
Davoud Torkamaneh
Professor, Laval University
Canada · Academia
Eliodora Dal Monte
Eliodora Dal Monte
Business Development and Growth Strategies, ABR - Active Botanicals Research
Italy · Industry
Frank Jaksch
Frank Jaksch
CEO, Ayana Bio
USA · Industry
Heiko Rischer
Heiko Rischer
Head of Plant Biotechnology, VTT
Finland · RTO
Henrik Nausch
Henrik Nausch
Head of Department Bioprocess Engineering, Fraunhofer IME
Germany · RTO
Klaus Kienle
Klaus Kienle
Co-Founder & CPO, Food Brewer
Switzerland · Industry
Lucas van der Zee
Lucas van der Zee
Research & Design, Wageningen University
Netherlands · Academia
Nico Hawley-Weld
Nico Hawley-Weld
Head of R&D, Foray Bioscience
USA · Industry
Pamela Cruz
Pamela Cruz
Biotech Lead, Laboratoires Botanique Avancée
France · Industry
Prithvi Kordialbail
Prithvi Kodialbail
Strategic Leader, Extracellular
England · Industry
Reza Ranjbar
Reza Ranjbar
Head of Technology Strategy, CPI
England · Industry
Tal Govrin
Tal Govrin
CEO, Kokomodo
Israel · Industry
Tom Clement
Tom Clement
Founder & CEO, New Dawn Bio
Netherlands · Industry
Weslee Glenn
Weslee Glenn
VP of Innovation, Ayana Bio
USA · Industry
Will Milligan
Will Milligan
Founder & CEO, Extracellular
England · Industry
Yonatan Golan
Yonatan Golan
CEO, Brevel
Israel · Industry
Interested in speaking?

Share your expertise with the field.

We are actively curating our speaker programme. If you or someone you know would be a strong fit, we want to hear from you.

Get in touch
The outcome of the summit

The Oxford Declaration
for the Plant Cell Industry

Defining a new industrial biology paradigm for resilient supply of critical resources.

Jesus College Oxford
Signing declaration document

"A shared direction for the plant cell production industry."

The Plant Cell Institute convenes the innovators, scientists, investors and policy stakeholders shaping the future of plant cell production. Its purpose is to align the field around a shared direction.

The Oxford Declaration is the outcome of that process, a short document co-created with participants and signed at the close of the summit. A draft is shared in advance, and discussions during the summit are used to refine and align on its content.

The Declaration is deliberately concise. It is not a research agenda, a market forecast, or a policy paper. It sets out a small number of principles that define how the field will organise itself to become credible, investable and globally coordinated.

Participation does not require significant preparation. Attendees are invited to react to, challenge and improve an existing draft, rather than create something from scratch.

The Declaration is a statement of shared intent. It is non-binding and does not create any legal obligations or financial commitments for its signatories. Draft available below.

Objective 01

Industrialisation

Anchor a field designed for industrial-scale production.

The field will not reach its potential by retrofitting laboratory science to industrial realities. Processes, infrastructure and standards must be designed with scale as the primary goal, not an afterthought.

Objective 02

Standardisation

Establish a shared foundation for comparability.

Without comparability across institutions, trust cannot be established with investors, regulators or buyers. A shared evidence framework must be defined, starting with the highest-priority definitions and evolving iteratively.

Objective 03

Collaboration

Activate pre-competitive collaboration across the ecosystem.

Shared challenges should not be solved in isolation. Pre-competitive collaboration must focus on removing common barriers while preserving competitive differentiation.

Objective 04

Research

Accelerate the translation from lab to market.

The gap between scientific potential and market deployment is too large and too costly. Translation must become systematic, with a clear focus on removing the bottlenecks between discovery and commercial operation.

Objective 05

Commercialisation

Facilitate market access for plant cell-derived products.

Scientific progress without market access does not translate into impact. Friction between innovation and adoption must be reduced through alignment with buyers and regulators.

Objective 06

Coordination

Shape a coordinated and investable global industry.

A field that speaks with fragmented voices will not be taken seriously by capital, policy or markets. Coordination and a unified voice can facilitate this and the Declaration will guide its implementation.

Governance

How the Declaration is maintained.

The Declaration is maintained by the Plant Cell Institute on behalf of its signatories. It is reviewed annually at the Plant Cell Summit. Proposed amendments must be submitted no later than one month before each summit.

The Declaration is non-binding and does not create any legal obligations or financial commitments for its signatories.

Pre-publication draft

Access the Declaration

A draft of the Oxford Declaration is available to confirmed participants. The final version will be signed in Oxford in September 2026 and released publicly thereafter.
The draft will be available from 15 June 2026.

Request Access (PDF)
Plant Cell Institute, The Oxford Declaration on Plant Cell Production, Oxford, 2026.
The agenda

Programme

Two days in Oxford to impact the future of plant cell culture.

Plant science
Plant Science
Oxford venue
Oxford · Sept 2026
Lab plants
Biotech & Industry

Plant Cell Culture. From Research to Industry.

Tuesday 29 September 2026 · Draft programme, subject to confirmation.

Arrival & Coffee

Networking

Welcome

Opening: Why this Summit and opportunities

Keynote

Industrialisation

09:15 – 09:30 Designing processes for scale from day one Keynote
09:30 – 09:45 The real challenges in scaling and what can we learn from other systems Keynote
09:45 – 10:00 What industrial success looks like: Performance, Cost and Reliability Keynote
10:00 – 10:30 Panel discussion with the 3 panelists Panel

Coffee

Networking

Research

11:00 – 11:15 Understanding and improving cell performance Keynote
11:15 – 11:30 Accelerating PCC through genomics and advanced tools Keynote
11:30 – 11:45 Engineering new capabilities in plant cells Keynote
11:45 – 12:00 Which scientific breakthroughs could transform PCC? Keynote
12:00 – 12:30 What capabilities can research bring to accelerate PCC? Fireside Chat

Rapid Connections

2 min 1:1 chats between attendees

Networking

Lunch & Networking

Networking

Collaboration

Parallel workshops — choose your track

14:00 – 14:30 Defining the pre-competitive space: What should be shared vs protected? Workshop
14:00 – 14:30 Building shared infrastructure for the PCC industry Workshop
14:30 – 15:00 How can academia and industry collaborate more effectively? Workshop
14:30 – 15:00 How do we build a data-driven PCC industry? Workshop

Coffee

Networking

Standardisation

15:30 – 15:45 What should every PCC study measure and report? Keynote
15:45 – 16:00 Using digital tools and AI to improve reproducibility Keynote
16:00 – 16:15 What standards does PCC need first? Keynote
16:15 – 16:30 Creating reference materials, protocols and benchmarks Keynote
16:30 – 17:00 What must become comparable across the field? Panel

Day 1 Closing Remarks

Housekeeping info and what's next tomorrow.

Keynote

Guided Tour of Oxford City

Networking

Conference Dinner

Pre-dinner drinks from 18:30, followed by a traditional Oxford Formal Dinner in the historic Jesus College Hall.

Networking Formal

Pub Social

Networking

Coordinating Plant Cell Culture. The Oxford Declaration.

Wednesday 30 September 2026 · Draft programme, subject to confirmation.

Arrival & Coffee

Networking

Guest Speaker Presentation

Building a New Industry: Lessons from Alternative Protein for Plant Cell Culture

Keynote

Fireside Discussion with Speaker

Reflection & Audience Discussion

Fireside Chat

Coffee

Networking

Commercialisation

10:30 – 10:45 Navigating regulatory pathways Keynote
10:45 – 11:00 Identifying high-value market opportunities Keynote
11:00 – 11:15 Designing viable routes to market Keynote
11:15 – 11:30 Creating demand and industry pull Keynote
11:30 – 12:00 How do PCC products successfully reach the market? Panel

Oxford Declaration Presentation

Presentation of the Declaration's Objectives.

Keynote

Lunch + Declaration Signing

Sign the Oxford Declaration and shape the future of plant cell culture.

Networking Milestone

Coordination

14:00 – 14:15 Defining a clear and credible industry narrative Keynote
14:15 – 14:30 Aligning stakeholders across the value chain Keynote
14:30 – 14:45 Building an investable industry Keynote
14:45 – 15:00 What institutions does PCC need to succeed? Keynote
15:00 – 15:30 How do we organise a successful industry? Panel

Oxford Declaration Adoption Ceremony

The formal adoption of the Oxford Declaration on Plant Cell Culture.

Milestone

Closing Remarks

Keynote

Pub Social (Optional)

Networking

Draft programme · Subject to confirmation · Final joining instructions sent to confirmed participants

Sponsorships

Shape the Field.

Sponsor the Plant Cell Summit and support the future you want to shape.

Sponsorship

Support the Summit.

Sponsorship Enquiry

We offer a range of partnership tiers, each designed to give your organisation meaningful presence at a landmark event in the plant cell culture field.

Benefits include delegate passes, logo placement, Conference Dinner access, swag bag inclusion, press coverage, and more — tailored to your level of engagement.

Enquire
Oxford college green roof
Promote your Brand

Exclusive sponsorships.

One partner per opportunity unless noted. Available on first-come basis. Sold separately to tier packages.

Exclusive · One partner

The Conference Dinner

Naming rights, short address, branded menu cards, and table plan. The summit's defining social moment.

Enquire
Exclusive · One partner

The Pre-Dinner Reception

Naming, signature drink, branded coasters. The hour before the dinner begins.

Enquire
Multiple · Open

Student Seats

Sponsor three seats for postgraduates and early-career researchers to join the Summit.

Enquire
Exclusive · One partner

The Coffee Breaks

Branded service area and barista station across all breaks over both days.

Enquire
Exclusive · One partner

Swag Bag & Promotional Material

Place your branded materials and products in the delegate swag bag, distributed to all participants at registration.

Enquire
Exclusive · One partner

The Notebook and Pen

Official notebooks and pens, branded and distributed at registration.

Enquire
What we offer

Positioned next to the field.

Not visibility. Position. Every sponsor is chosen for alignment, not budget.

Connect with 100 field leaders

Founders, executives, industry leaders, investors and researchers in one room. Two days of shared sessions, networking, and the Conference Dinner.

Brand presence at a landmark event

On-site visibility, digital presence, and inclusion in all summit communications, including website, programme, and post-summit report.

Post-summit report

Included in the annual post-summit report distributed globally to participants, press, and partners.

Swag bag & promotional placement

Selected tiers include placement in the delegate swag bag. Your brand in the hands of every participant.

Enquire

Ready to partner?

Contact the partnerships team to receive the full prospectus and discuss which partnership is right for your organisation.

hello@pci.bio
Register

Join 100 leaders in plant cell.

Two days in Oxford to define the Oxford Declaration, alongside industry, science, and investment leaders. Limited to 100 participants.

Register Now
Participation tiers

Three tiers of participation.

All tiers include full 2-day access, all working sessions, Oxford Formal Dinner in a college hall, and the post-summit report.

Startup Pass
Reserved for early-stage startups with no more than 3 full-time employees.
£400
Register
Academia Pass
Reserved for universities, professors, academic researchers, and research and technology organisations (RTOs).
£550
Register
Standard Pass
For industry operators, corporates, infrastructure providers, investors, and all applicants not eligible for the Startup or Academia passes.
£800
Register

Accommodation is arranged separately. College accommodation options are available to registered participants, see Venue for details.

What to Expect

Shaping the future of plant cell culture.

Engage in focused discussions with industry, science, and investment leaders, and continue the exchange over a formal dinner in an Oxford college.

Formal dinner in an Oxford college hall
Oxford

The Venue and the City.

Two days in the heart of Oxford. The summit is hosted within a historic college, offering a setting shaped by centuries of academic and intellectual exchange.

The venue

Digital Hub,
Jesus College Oxford.

The Conference Venue is in the heart of Oxford, in walking distance to colleges, libraries, and Oxford train station.

Access

Venue fully accessible. Specific requirements should be noted on application form and will be addressed directly by the organising team.

Address

Full address and joining instructions sent to confirmed participants.

Radcliffe Camera, Oxford
Jesus College Oxford quad
The College

About Jesus College Oxford.

Founded in 1571, Jesus College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. It has a distinguished history of scholarship and was among the first Oxford colleges to admit women, marking a pivotal moment in the university's commitment to equal access.

The Digital Hub is one of the college's newest buildings, designed as a modern space for innovation, collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange — making it a fitting home for the Plant Cell Summit.

Getting here

Travel to Oxford.

By air

From London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW) & Birmingham (BHX)

Direct coach services run hourly from Heathrow and Gatwick to Oxford Gloucester Green (approx. 90 min). From Birmingham Airport, take a direct train to Oxford (approx. 1 hr 15 min).

By train

From London Paddington & via Eurostar

From London Paddington, approximately 1 hour by direct service with regular departures. Oxford station is a 15-minute walk or short taxi to the venue. From European cities, take the Eurostar to London St Pancras, then connect to Oxford via Paddington.

By road

From M40 motorway

Oxford is well-served from the M40. Note: central Oxford has limited and expensive parking. Arriving by public transport or using the Park & Ride is strongly recommended.

Detailed travel guidance sent to confirmed participants in joining instructions.

The Organiser

The Plant Cell Institute.

PCI is a global platform connecting industry, scientists and stakeholders to shape the future of plant cell culture.

Mission

What PCI does.

PCI focuses on three core functions:

  1. 1. Uniting a global network Bringing together leading companies, researchers, investors, and institutions to foster meaningful collaboration, align priorities, and support the development of a coherent plant cell culture ecosystem.
  2. 2. Lowering barriers to entry through shared resources Developing and providing access to knowledge, databases, and practical resources that enable new and existing players to navigate plant cell culture more efficiently and accelerate their entry into the field.
  3. 3. Coordinating cross-sector efforts on shared challenges Acting as a neutral coordination layer across organisations to identify bottlenecks, align efforts, and facilitate collective progress on key scientific, technical, and commercial challenges.
The team

The people behind the Summit.

Organisers

Juliane Hitzel
Juliane Hitzel
Organiser
Lisa Zillig
Lisa Zillig
Organiser
Philippe Jutras
Philippe Jutras
Organiser
Contact

Get in touch.

General enquiries

hello@pci.bio
Follow PCI on LinkedIn
For accredited media

Press

Accredited press attend the Plant Cell Summit under a separate programme. Accreditation reviewed on a rolling basis.

Accreditation

Apply for press access.

Open to working journalists, editors, and analysts covering industrial biology, climate technology, science, and policy. Access includes plenaries, panel discussion and the Declaration moment.

Request accreditation
Press releases

Recent releases.

  • 07 April 2026

    Plant Cell Institute confirms inaugural Oxford Summit for September 2026

    The Plant Cell Institute has confirmed the date and format of its inaugural Plant Cell Summit, to be held in Oxford on 29-30 September 2026.

  • Forthcoming

    First speakers confirmed for Oxford Summit 2026

    Speaker announcements and further programme details to follow. Contact hello@pci.bio for advance notice.

Press kit

Downloads.

Brand assets, background materials, and advance copies of the Declaration available to accredited press.

Compliance

Legal

Privacy, terms of use, and cookie policy for the Plant Cell Institute Plant Cell Summit.