© 2025 Advanced Research and Training Academy (ARTA). All rights reserved.
LifeTech 2026
Quality and Innovation in a Changing World
Malta | 18–19 November 2026
Bringing Together Industry, Research and Real-World Applications
The Applied Research and Training Academy and the Institute for Cellular Pharmacology Ltd are pleased to present LifeTech 2026, an international conference exploring how strong quality cultures, effective management systems and scientific innovation can contribute to better organisational performance and real-world outcomes.
This year’s conference will place particular emphasis on quality culture and ISO 9001:2026, examining how organisations can move beyond compliance and embed quality into their leadership, people, processes, technology and everyday decision-making.
Across two days, LifeTech 2026 will bring together quality professionals, scientists, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, regulators and industry representatives. The programme will combine strategic discussion with practical examples from biotechnology, healthcare, laboratories, nutraceutical production, food, hospitality, engineering, education and professional services.
The second day will focus specifically on quality in biotechnology and health, exploring the journey from scientific research to finished nutraceutical products and healthcare applications, with dedicated sessions on ophthalmic research, ocular health, evidence, safety, regulatory confidence and patient outcomes.
Dates:
18–19 November 2026
Venue:
ARTA Campus, F25 Mosta Technopark, Mosta MST3000, Malta
Contact:
Conference Highlights
LifeTech 2026 will provide participants with an opportunity to:
- Understand the principal developments introduced through ISO 9001:2026.
- Explore the transition from ISO 9001:2015 to the revised standard.
- Examine how organisations can progress from formal compliance to a genuine quality culture.
- Learn how quality policies can be translated into effective everyday practices.
- Discover technologies, equipment and instruments supporting quality across different industries.
- Hear practical experiences and case studies from representatives of diverse sectors.
- Explore quality by design in biotechnology and nutraceutical development.
- Consider how scientific research can be translated into safe, consistent and useful products.
- Discuss quality and innovation in ophthalmic research and patient care.
- Build connections among industry, academia, healthcare, regulators and quality professionals.
- Participate in the LifeTech networking reception on the evening of Day 1.
Conference Themes
Day 1: Quality Culture Across Organisations and Industries
Day 1 will examine the changing quality-management environment following the publication of ISO 9001:2026. Sessions will consider the practical transition from ISO 9001:2015, the development of a strong organisational quality culture and the translation of quality policies into daily operations.
The programme will also explore the technologies, equipment and human resources required to establish, monitor and maintain quality across multiple sectors. Representatives from different industries will share experiences, challenges and examples of improvement achieved through effective quality management.
Day 2: Quality in Biotechnology and Health
Day 2 will focus on the role of quality throughout scientific research, biotechnology, nutraceutical development and healthcare.
Sessions will follow the journey from scientific concept and laboratory research to formulation, production and real-world application. Particular attention will be given to scientific evidence, reproducibility, safety, standardisation, responsible claims and regulatory confidence.
The programme will also include a dedicated focus on ophthalmic research and care, including the potential contribution of evidence-based nutraceuticals to retinal and ocular health.
Who Should Attend?
LifeTech 2026 will be relevant to:
- Quality managers, quality officers and internal auditors
- Senior managers and organisational leaders
- ISO 9001-certified organisations and companies preparing for certification
- Scientists, researchers and laboratory professionals
- Biotechnology and nutraceutical professionals
- Healthcare professionals and clinical researchers
- Regulatory and compliance professionals
- Food and nutraceutical manufacturers
- Hospitality, engineering and manufacturing representatives
- Educators, trainers and academic institutions
- University students and early-career researchers
- Technology, equipment and instrumentation providers
No single professional background is required. The conference is designed to encourage discussion and collaboration across industries and discipline.
Key Topics of Discussion
The conference will address topics including:
- ISO 9001:2026 and the future of quality management
- Transitioning from ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026
- Gap analysis and transition planning
- Leadership and employee involvement in quality
- Risk-based thinking and continual improvement
- Developing a sustainable organisational quality culture
- Translating quality policies into operational practice
- Competence, processes, infrastructure, equipment and measurement
- Technologies and instruments for quality across industries
- Quality by design in biotechnology and nutraceutical development
- Translating scientific research into finished products
- Evidence-based nutraceuticals and healthcare applications
- Quality and innovation in ophthalmic research and care
- Nutraceuticals in retinal and ocular health
- Scientific evidence, reproducibility and standardisation
- Product safety, consistency and responsible claims
- Regulatory requirements and public confidence
- Collaboration among industry, academia, healthcare and regulators
- Translating quality research into better patient and real-world outcomes
Provisional Conference Programme
The programme below provides an overview of the principal sessions planned for LifeTech 2026. Detailed session descriptions, confirmed speakers and presentation titles will be announced shortly.
Day 1 – Wednesday 18th November 2026
Quality Culture Across Organisations and Industries
- 08:30–09:00: Registration and Welcome Coffee
- 09:00–09:45: Session A1: Official Welcome and Opening Keynote Session
- 09:45–10:30: Session A2: ISO 9001:2026 and the Future of Quality Management
- 10:30–11:15: Session A3: From ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026
- 11:15–11:45: Morning Coffee Break
- 11:45–12:30: Session A4: From Compliance to Quality Culture
- 12:30–13:00: Session A5: Launch of the ARTA ISO 9001:2026 Training Programmes
- 13:00–14:00: Networking Lunch and Exhibition
- 14:00–15:00: Session B1: From Quality Policy to Operational Reality
- 15:00–15:30: Session B2: Technologies and Instruments for Quality Across Industries
- 15:30–16:00: Afternoon Coffee Break
- 16:00–17:00: Session B3: Quality in Practice Across Different Industries
- 18:00–20:00: LifeTech 2026 Networking Reception
Day 2 – Thursday 19th November 2026
Quality in Biotechnology and Health
- 08:30–09:00: Registration and Welcome Coffee
- 09:00–09:45: Session C1: Quality by Design in Biotechnology and Nutraceutical Development
- 09:45–10:30: Session C2: From Research to Nutraceutical Product
- 10:30–11:30: Session C3: From Scientific Innovation to Real-World Impact
- 11:30–12:00: Morning Coffee Break
- 12:00–13:00: Session C4: Quality and Innovation in Ophthalmic Research and Care
- 13:00–14:00: Networking Lunch and Exhibition
- 14:00–14:45: Session D1: Nutraceuticals in Retinal and Ophthalmic Health
- 14:45–15:30: Session D2: Quality, Evidence, Safety and Regulatory Confidence
- 15:30–16:00: Afternoon Coffee Break
- 16:00–16:40: Session D3: Can Quality Research Deliver Better Patient and Real-World Outcomes?
- 16:40–17:00: Session D4: Certificate Presentation and Conference Closing
Confirmed Speakers and Guests of Honour
LifeTech 2026 will welcome specialists and representatives from quality management, biotechnology, scientific research, healthcare, academia, industry and regulatory organisations.
Mr Stephen Duso-Bauduin
Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of France in Malta
Dr Gilles Gutierrez
Director, Institute for Cellular Pharmacology (ICP) Ltd and Texinfine Laboratories, Lyon, France
President, Applied Research and Training Academy (ARTA)
Dr Claire Baluci
Director, Institute for Cellular Pharmacology (ICP) Ltd
Principal, Applied Research and Training Academy (ARTA)
Mr George Cutajar
Director General (Standards & Metrology), Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA)
Dr Jacqueline Micallef Grimaud
Director, Quality Assurance Department, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST)
Mr Joseph Tanti
Managing Director, Tanti & Mallia Quality Consultants Ltd / Analytica Labs
Mr Albert Agius
Deputy Director, Quality Assurance Department, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST)
Dr Christian Cardona
Former Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, Malta
Managing Director, Krateia Ventures Limited
Prof Anthony Serracino Inglott
Chairperson, Malta Medicines Authority
Professor of Pharmacy, University of Malta
Prof Caterina Gagliano
Full Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Enna ‘Kore’, Italy
Dr Emilia Gallo
Orthoptist, University of Enna “Kore” / Morgagni – DSV Ophthalmology Centre, Catania, Italy
Prof Teresio Avitabile
President of the Italian Society of Ophthalmological Sciences (SISO)
Director, Ophthalmology Clinic at the University of Catania, Italy
Dr Gaetano Sirna
Director General, Policlinico Morgagni, Catania, Italy
Dr Antonello Rapisarda
Head, Morgagni – DSV Ophthalmology Centre, Catania, Italy
Founder and Vice-President, Mediterranean Ophthalmological Academy (MOA)
Dr Zaid Teebi
Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Department for Policy – Ministry for Health and Active Ageing
Director, The Allergy Clinic
Clinical Tutor, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen’s Mary University
Prof Francis Carbonaro
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Mater Dei Hospital
Visiting Associate Professor, University of Malta
Dr Charmaine Camilleri
General Manager, Hotel Fitch
Mr Matthew Bartolo
Clinical Director, Willingness Clinic
Ms Zsanett Kalan
Quality Assurance Manager, Institute for Cellular Pharmacology (ICP) Ltd
Mr Zachary Muscat
Business Account Manager & Field Application Scientist, Evolve Ltd
Mr Christopher Busuttil Delbridge
Managing Director, Evolve Ltd
Ms Maria Magro
CEO, Carmelo Abela
Mr Steve Shaw
Quality Assurance Manager, Neriku Catering
Mr Adrian Borg
General Manager, Neriku Catering
Why Attend LifeTech 2026?
LifeTech 2026 is designed to connect people who approach quality from different professional perspectives.
Participants will gain insight into the transition to ISO 9001:2026, learn from practical experiences across different sectors and explore how quality can support scientific credibility, organisational improvement, regulatory confidence and better real-world outcomes.
The conference will also provide valuable opportunities to develop professional relationships, identify potential research or industry collaborations and exchange ideas with specialists from Malta and overseas.
Registration for LifeTech 2026
Participants may register for either one conference day or for the full two-day programme.
- One-day attendance: €130
- Full two-day attendance: €220
- LifeTech Networking Reception: included for registered participants
The registration fee includes:
- Access to the relevant conference sessions
- Welcome coffee and scheduled coffee breaks
- Networking lunch
- Admission to the LifeTech Networking Reception
- Conference materials
- Certificate of participation
Sponsors
Xjenza Malta
Xjenza Malta is the government agency responsible for promoting and coordinating scientific research, technological innovation, and science communication in Malta.
Neriku Catering
Founded in 1969, Neriku Catering brings over 50 years of experience to delivering quality food and professional catering services.
Organisers
Applied Research and Training Academy
The Applied Research and Training Academy provides professionally oriented education and training designed to connect academic knowledge, industry practice and continuing professional development.
Institute for Cellular Pharmacology Ltd
The Institute for Cellular Pharmacology Ltd is a Malta-based organisation specialising in scientific research, biotechnology and the development and production of nutraceutical, cosmetic and related products.
Advancing Education. Empowering Innovation.
Sign Up for Course Alerts
Get notified when new courses launch so you never miss a learning opportunity.