South Dakota Biotech Summit to mark 20 years of innovation, look to the future

Twenty years after South Dakota Biotech began bringing together the people building one of the state’s most promising industries, its annual summit will return with a milestone message: The next two decades hold just as much promise as the first.

The 2026 South Dakota Biotech Summit will be Oct. 27 at The Catlin Hotel in downtown Sioux Falls, celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary with the theme “Innovation Pathways: 20 Years Forward.”

The full-day event will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, students and service providers for conversations focused on biotech’s progress in South Dakota and the opportunities ahead.

“This year’s summit is both a celebration and a call to action,” said Joni Ekstrum, executive director of South Dakota Biotech. “For 20 years, South Dakota Biotech has helped connect the people and organizations moving this industry forward. Now, we have an opportunity to look at what has been built and ask what it will take to accelerate the next stage of growth.”

The summit opens with Ekstrum leading “Twenty Years of Progress: Building South Dakota’s Biotech Ecosystem,” followed by an anniversary keynote fireside chat between SiouxFalls.Business publisher Jodi Schwan and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds titled “From Research to Results: South Dakota’s Role in America’s Innovation Future.”

The morning continues with a national security-focused conversation, “Risk, Resilience and the Next 20 Years: A National Security Perspective for Biotech Leaders,” featuring Andrea Thompson of the Andrea Thompson Group.

The agenda reflects how biotechnology now connects with a broad range of issues, from food and agriculture to healthcare, defense, data, workforce and advanced manufacturing.

“Biotech touches more of our economy than many people realize,” Ekstrum said. “It is part of how we think about health, how we support agriculture, how we develop new materials and technologies, and how we prepare for national and global challenges. The summit is where those conversations come together.”

A panel titled “AI at Work: Practical Integration Strategies for Biotech Operations” will explore how artificial intelligence can be applied in biotech settings. Speakers include Troy Ament, global industry leader at Palo Alto Networks, and Sam South, founder of Harvest AI.

That session will be followed by “The Next 20 Years of Possibility: Building South Dakota’s Biotech Future,” a forward-looking discussion about the workforce, infrastructure, capital, research capacity and partnerships needed to grow South Dakota’s biotech economy over the next two decades.

Panelists are scheduled to include Nathan Lukkes, executive director and CEO of the South Dakota Board of Regents; Bill Even, commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Jared McEntaffer, economist and CEO of Dakota Institute.

“For South Dakota to continue growing as a biotech state, it will take intentional work around talent, capital, infrastructure and commercialization,” Ekstrum said. “We have strong assets here, but the next step is making sure they are connected in ways that help companies form, scale and stay.”

A 20th anniversary awards lunch and recognition ceremony will highlight why South Dakota Biotech was founded, honor early champions and longtime contributors, and recognize people and organizations that have helped shape the industry.

“This anniversary gives us a chance to thank the founders, board members, companies, universities and partners who believed South Dakota could have a meaningful role in biotechnology,” Ekstrum said. “Many of them were building connections before the ecosystem was fully visible. Their work created the foundation we are building on today.”

In the afternoon, attendees will take part in “Innovation Connections Break: Meet the People Building the Next 20 Years.” The networking session is designed to help people quickly identify potential partners by interest area, including research partnerships, capital, workforce and talent, customers and end users, startup support, and policy or regulatory help.


That intentional networking reflects one of the summit’s most important purposes, Ekstrum said.

“Sometimes, the most valuable thing that happens at the summit is not on stage,” she said. “It is the conversation over coffee, the introduction between a researcher and a company, or the connection between a founder and someone who knows how to help with the next step.”

The afternoon also will feature “Built Here: Candid CEO Stories from South Dakota’s Biotech Journey,” a session designed to pull back the curtain on what it takes to build a company in a frontier industry.

Moderated by Eddie Sullivan, co-founder and president of SAB BIO, the session is scheduled to include Sam Sharma, co-founder of Grump Innovation sharing perspective tied to FDA approval in the medical device space, and Mark Luecke representing Houdek and Medgene.

A second afternoon panel, “Founder Readiness: The IP, Finance and Partnership Decisions That Can Make or Break a Company,” will focus on practical decisions that can shape the future of a startup or growing biotech business.

Panelists are scheduled to include Brooke Harms, an attorney with Ballard Spahr; Blaine Crissman; Mark Luecke or Sue Lancaster with South Dakota Innovation Partners; and Shane Farritor, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty member.

The summit will close with “The Next Chapter: Turning Possibility into Progress,” presented by Mark Stowers, South Dakota Biotech board president, followed by an anniversary reception with light hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

For Ekstrum, the day is designed to show both how far the industry has come and how much opportunity remains.

“South Dakota’s biotech story is still being written,” she said. “The 20th anniversary is a milestone, but it is not a finish line. It is a moment to bring people together, celebrate progress and make sure we are building the partnerships that will define the next 20 years.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with programming from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and an anniversary reception from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.

For those already working in biotech, the summit offers a chance to strengthen connections and gain perspective on where the industry is headed. For those curious about the field, Ekstrum said, it is an ideal entry point.

“You do not have to be a scientist to care about biotechnology,” she said. “If you care about South Dakota’s economy, workforce, research capacity, food systems, healthcare or innovation future, there is a place for you in this conversation.”

To learn more and register, visit here.