CPHI Frankfurt 2025: A Global Stage to Connect and Learn

This year’s show, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, has grown further incorporating representation from the whole bio/pharma supply chain and providing networking opportunities for a global audience, reveals Tara Dougal, Event Director.

Set to take place between Oct. 28–30, 2025, CPHI Frankfurt is expected to deliver a deluge of opportunities to connect with bio/pharma industry peers from all across the global drug development and manufacturing value chain. Given the sheer size of the event, which is growing exponentially year-over-year, a huge amount of planning is required and there are a lot of event happenings that should not be missed, specifies Tara Dougal, Event Director — Pharma at Informa Markets.

“Of course, [at the show] we have all of our well-known and loved zones, giving you the opportunity to meet with partners from across the global supply chain. We're anticipating around 166 different nationalities being at the show, so it's very much a global stage for pharma these days,” Dougal says. “Beyond the show floor, we have over six content theatres spread across the show, ranging from topics on sustainability, sustainable practices, or manufacturing efficiencies, packaging and drug delivery trends, so it's a fantastic place not only to do business and to meet new and prospective clients, but also to really update your knowledge and pharma, and hear from some really inspirational speakers.”

Networking is a key aspect of the European-based event for many attendees, with requests for additional networking opportunities growing each year, particularly in an informal setting on-site, points out Dougal. “So, [this year] on day one and two, we’ll be running free-to-attend happy hours in our Galleria, offering a nice opportunity to chill out after a busy day at the show and hopefully meet some interesting new contacts,” she adds.

The event has grown from its beginnings as a small molecule show to incorporate all the different aspects of the bio/pharma supply chain, Dougal mentions. At CPHI Frankfurt 2025, the exhibition zones, which include contract services, finished dosage formulation, APIs, excipients, ingredients, machinery, packaging, integrated pharma, envelope the end-to-end supply chain, she notes.

“Something new for this year is we have launched some small-scale zones in Hall 4.0,” Dougal continues. “We do see emerging opportunities around cleanroom and contamination, around labeling, AI [artificial intelligence], and tech as well, and we've grouped some of these new exhibitors together in what we're calling the cross-sector collaboration hub. So, these are really exciting new zones. We believe there's a lot of potential there, and we hope to grow them in the coming years.”

Furthermore, sustainability has been an increasingly important topic for both CPHI and the wider industry, Dougal remarks. “We started off, a few years ago, having a couple of conference sessions scattered throughout the program, but these were so well received that we understood the topic needs more attention and a dedicated track, which is why we have the standalone theater now,” she says.

The theater is located in Hall 4.0, adjacent to the sustainability center, which is where Informa’s internal sustainability team will be located and available to help attendees get started on their sustainability strategies, Dougal emphasizes. “This team have also worked on launching the Sustainability Collective — a group of over 150 industry professionals from all different walks of life — with the goal of bringing people together, to talk about and disseminate best sustainability practices and to see how we can advance the industry,” she explains.

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About the Speaker

Tara Dougal is Event Director — Pharma at Informa Markets, where she leads the CPHI Europe event.

Tara brings over 12 years of extensive event management experience spanning roles in New York, London, and Amsterdam. She previously held the position of Content Director before advancing to her current leadership role. At CPHI, Tara plays a crucial role in creating connections and inspiring partnerships across the global pharmaceutical community, championing innovation at the heart of pharma through both in-person and online events.

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