Alex Rogers
Ngaio Bealum
Alex Rogers, Executive Producer of the International Cannabis Business Conference, welcomes Berlin GIF conference attendees and provides an overview of the conference schedule, including the panels and speakers that will be providing presentations and interviews. Ngaio Bealum will be the Master of Ceremonies.
The importance of cannabis research as a market driver
Every major industry on the planet has dedicated significant financial resources and time toward research and development. Research and development play a key role in helping any large industry reach its full potential and to help sectors of the industry evolve in a meaningful and profitable way. Unfortunately, cannabis research has lagged behind research in other international industries due to historic prohibition policies. A. Prof. Dr. Draško Veselinovič, President of the Board at the Slovenian Business & Research Association, will discuss the importance of cannabis research as a market driver in his conference keynote address. A. Prof. Dr. Draško Veselinovič is a financial economist and a previous CEO of many international financial institutions. He is also the founder and longtime General Manager of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange. Since 2015 he has promoted research and innovative EU-financed projects in Brussels while managing the nonprofit Slovenian Business and Research Association.
Dr. Drasko Veselinovic
Creating partnerships to push the cannabis R&D sector forward
Jamie Pearson
Lisa Haag
David Hyde
Daniel Haymann
Falk Altenhöfer
Governments around the world have historically prohibited cannabis and those prohibition policies have created a significant gap between the public and private sectors as it pertains to the emerging cannabis industry. For the cannabis industry to reach its full potential, and in the process, help governments achieve their goal of eliminating the unregulated market, public entities need to form partnerships with private cannabis companies. Public private partnerships are especially vital for cannabis research and development, which is the backbone of the emerging global industry, particularly in the medical sector. Panelists will discuss what public private partnerships involve, as well as what types of public entities are best suited for such partnerships.
A brief overview of Germany’s new cannabis law
In November 2021, Germany’s governing coalition introduced a measure that would permit cannabis distribution through licensed dispensaries. The commercial model with dispensaries was later declared legally unfeasible due to EU regulations and Germany’s model was limited to decriminalization with home cultivation and growers’ associations. Additionally, in November 2023 Germany’s government decided to lift all restrictions on the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Germany. Internationally reputed German cannabis lawyer Kai-Friedrich Niermann will provide an overview of the changes and the expected consequences of Germany’s new law and will shed light on the question of whether there will be another German ‘green rush’ similar to what occurred in 2017 and 2018.
Kai-Friedrich Niermann
Business planning & fundraising fundamentals
Due to the current capital-stressed economic environment, understanding what an investor is looking for in an investment opportunity and being prepared to present a viable business proposition have become critical to any startup’s ability to secure capital. While the cannabis industry remains a high-growth sector with increasing interest from investors looking to hedge against diminishing returns in other mature sectors, the level of due diligence and general expectations of new and more sophisticated investors entering the space is higher than ever. Introducing a market-validated value proposition, backed by a solid business plan, and presented via a polished investment deck, is fundamental to any successful capital raise. This one-hour interactive seminar introduces the fundamental questions that sophisticated investors seek answers to and how entrepreneurs should prepare in today’s highly competitive global capital market.
Giadha A. DeCarcer
The hidden gem of cannabis R&D
Jakob Jež
Gašper Friškovec
Petra Marinko
Ascoc. Prof. Andreja Čerenak, PhD
Božidar Radišic
Slovenia is already one of the top international research and development hubs for multiple large industries, including the global pharmaceutical industry. Home to some of the best academic institutions on earth, Slovenia already possesses the necessary knowledge and facility resources to become the world’s top destination for cannabis research and development efforts. A coalition of leading policy and industry advocates are working diligently to achieve policy modernizations in Slovenia that will yield sensible regulations for cannabis R&D. Panelists will provide an overview of current efforts in Slovenia, in addition to providing examples to demonstrate why Slovenia is poised to become a top international cannabis R&D hub.
Developing narrowly tailored pharmaceutical products for evolving demand
Alex Revich
Calvin Rasode
Peter Homberg
Medical cannabis products exist in several forms, ranging from products involving raw flower material to pharmaceutical-grade products derived from the cannabis plant. As research continues to unlock more knowledge about cannabinoids and other compounds contained in the cannabis plant, medical product developers in the biotech sector will have more options to consider when creating cannabis-derived medications. Panelists will discuss the current state of the cannabis biotech sector, what types of products patients can expect in the future, in addition to emerging medication delivery methods and strategies.
Past trends and new opportunities
A review of investment trends during the past 10 years and how to best approach this next chapter of opportunities in different jurisdictions.
Claudia Della Mora
Exploring potential opportunities in Europe’s expanding cannabis industry
This presentation will focus on the economic opportunities for cannabis in Germany and the broader EU market. It will present data on total addressable markets and supply and demand expectations in the early years of legalization. It will also examine commonalities in policy and potential market entry strategies for cannabis operators. There is a lot of potential, for those with focus and discipline.
Beau Whitney
Finish the day off with some top level networking and drinks in the foyer of the 5 star Hotel Adlon Kempinski. The legendary hotel is located in the heart of Berlin’s city center, directly opposite the historic Berlin Brandenburg Gate.
