As CPHI Frankfurt 2025 prepares to welcome more than 60,000 pharma professionals, event director Tara Dougal shares what’s new this year – from emerging focus zones and sustainability initiatives to expanded networking opportunities and the biggest content programme yet.

Can you share what attendees can look forward to most at CPHI Frankfurt this year?

Community! This is that one time of the year that the entire market comes together under one roof. It’s an opportunity to step out of your day to day routine and connect with the global industry. This will actually be my 10th CPHI but every time I go on-site the scale of the show never fails to impress me.

Are there any new themes or focus areas that make this edition of CPHI stand out from previous years?

In Hall 4.0, we’ve launched several small-scale emerging zones such as Coldchain and Logistics, Cleanroom, AI & Teach and Suppliers within the sustainability sector. These zones are designed to reflect industry evolution, foster cross-sector collaboration, and address emerging challenges and opportunities.

What are some of the key industry trends or challenges you expect to be highlighted at the event?

Our content programme covers the latest industry updates across the supply chain, from packaging and drug delivery, to manufacturing and clinical innovation, but I really think partnering continues to be top of mind for our industry, particularly given the situation on the other side of the pond. CPHI serves as a platform to connect with existing suppliers and partners to renew relationships, but also to meet prospective partners for future collaborations.

Can you tell us about any exciting speakers, panel discussions, or workshops planned for this year’s event?

This year we have a bigger content programme than ever before, with 6 theatres across the show floor, and a brand new Leadership Summit featuring an impressive line-up of C-Suite speakers. Big thanks to our content theatre sponsors, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Fujifilm, Catalent, SK Pharmateco, and Siegfried. We have really seen interest and engagement in content rising over the years, showing a clear need from attendees and exhibitors for insights into where the market is heading. The programme is hugely diverse with sessions on the how the Global Economic Outlook is affecting pharma, to AI applications and important regulatory updates, such as the Critical Medicines Act. Honestly there are too many sessions or speakers to choose from, so I really encourage everyone to head to the CPHI Frankfurt website to look at the agenda, and plan which sessions to add to your schedule.

What role does innovation play at CPHI Frankfurt, and how can attendees engage with cutting-edge developments?

A great place to see what’s coming out of the industry is to visit our Start-Up Market in Hall 4.0. It’s been really exciting to see how this relatively new part of the show has grown so much in the space of two year – we welcomed 40 start-ups in 2023, this year we have over 100 joining the show in Frankfurt. I would also recommend anyone coming to the show looks into the CPHI Celebration, which is hosted on 28th October, the first night of the show. We will be announcing winners across 14 categories, and this event is a real celebration of pharma excellence and innovation.

Sustainability has become a big topic across industries, how is CPHI incorporating this into the event?

Sustainability is not new to CPHI, but has been growing for us year on year. We have a entire theatre dedicated to sustainability, where you can understand challenges and opportunities around sustainability, and how to make your own business more sustainable.

We also launched The Sustainability Collective last year, and this continues to grow and develop, led by our brilliant Sustainability Team

As organisers, we’re also conscious of our own impact, and this year we are reducing carpet in strategic locations, limiting the amount of printed materials on-site, and of course we have our Better Stands Programme, whereby we work with our Exhibitors to reduce the impact of stand building.

Networking is a huge part of any trade show, what new opportunities or formats will be available this year?

Absolutely, and this year we have introduced a new pass designed to help visitors network more effectively. With our Networking Accelerator Badge, you’ll have access to the full attendee list pre-show, a dedicated space to book and host meetings on-site, as well as all the privileges of our Leaders passes.

Back by popular demand are our Happy Hours on days 1 and 2, a perfect opportunity to relax after a busy day touring the halls, and connect with peers and colleagues in a more informal setting.

For first-time visitors, what tips would you offer to make the most of their CPHI experience?

Plan ahead. It’s an incredible show, but it’s huge and it’s very easy to visit and only just scratch the surface of the multitude of features, opportunities and initiatives that we have running. Our event app is perfect for creating an on-site schedule, where you can arrange meetings, decide which content sessions you’d like to join and reach out to new contacts.

Finally, how do you see CPHI evolving in the next few years to continue supporting the pharmaceutical industry’s growth?

We will be building on the launch of some of our new zones in 2026, one of which being AI & Tech. It’s so interesting to see how this has been evolving over the years, and the potential it offers for identifying drug candidates, increasing speed to market and creating important manufacturing efficiencies. We’re always looking at how we can grow and develop the show to match the needs of the market, so stay tuned, more to come!

Looking ahead, Dougal said CPHI will continue to evolve in step with industry needs, with new zones such as AI & Tech already planned for 2026 to help pharma companies accelerate innovation and collaboration.