When you think of Osaka and Kyoto, you might picture temples veiled in mist or futuristic skyscrapers. Come September 2025, these ancient and modern marvels will hum with a different kind of energy: the gathering of the world’s sharpest minds in pharmaceutical logistics.
The Pharma Logistics Masterclass (PLMC™) will celebrate its fifth edition across these iconic Japanese cities — a fitting milestone for a programme that has evolved into a global benchmark where business meets academia. Since its founding, the PLMC has been a beacon for life sciences strategists, logistics innovators, and researchers, weaving together lectures, workshops, business games, use cases, and hands-on visits into one week of learning and collaboration.
Why Japan? Why now?
This year’s Masterclass feels particularly significant. Not only because Japan — the third-largest economy and a pharmaceutical powerhouse — plays host for the first time, but also because the Masterclass is uniquely linked to the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The Expo’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” dovetails perfectly with the mission of the PLMC: shaping the next generation of healthcare logistics.
Prof. Dr. Roel Gevaers of Antwerp University, Chair of the PLMC, sees this edition as more than just another stop on a growing world tour. “By linking the Masterclass to the World Expo, we amplify our ability to connect business and academia right at the intersection of global trends,” he said. After successful editions in Antwerp, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Dallas Fort Worth, the journey to Japan marks a natural yet profound expansion in the Masterclass’s international footprint.
Building on this momentum, Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero and Co-Chair of the PLMC, points to Japan’s unique strengths as the perfect backdrop for the Masterclass: “Japan is not only renowned for its cutting-edge research and development in high-value and chronic care medicines but also for its role as a home to major blue-chip pharmaceutical companies. This Masterclass will provide a unique opportunity to engage with key industry players and explore innovative logistics solutions.”
A week in the life of pharma logistics’ brightest minds
For four intense days from September 16 to 19, Kyoto University and the vibrant city of Osaka will become the playground for over 150 senior professionals and academics. Participants will dive deep into market trends, value chain strategies, sustainability models, digital transformation, and regulatory compliance.
Industry heavyweights like Kansai Airports, ANA Cargo, and Nippon Express Group have thrown their full support behind the event, not only as platinum sponsors but also as active contributors. Their expertise in temperature-controlled logistics, medical innovation transport, and digital transformation will fuel the discussions, turning abstract theories into tangible strategies.
One unique highlight will be the certification ceremony at the World Expo itself, followed by a farewell dinner at the Belgian Pavilion — a symbolic nod to the Masterclass’s European academic roots blending with Japan’s forward-looking vision.
Yet what makes this edition truly exceptional is the backdrop: Japan itself. Logistics may run on precision and compliance, but innovation thrives on inspiration — something Osaka and Kyoto offer in abundance. Kyoto’s centuries-old culture of craftsmanship and Osaka’s reputation as a bustling commercial hub mirror the dualities participants wrestle with daily: heritage versus disruption, tradition versus reinvention.
Participants will find themselves networking and absorbing the lessons of a society that has mastered balancing the old and the new — a vital skill for a life sciences logistics sector facing AI revolutions, green mandates, and shifting global health priorities.
Not just another conference
It would be a mistake to lump the PLMC into the overcrowded world of corporate conferences and symposiums. It’s a deliberate, almost artisanal experience. Every edition builds on the last, fueled by collaboration, and a culture of continuous improvement. As Prof. Dr. Koen Vandenbempt, University of Antwerp, put it – The masterclass “blends real-world expertise with analytical rigour,” creating a dynamic synergy.
Further information about the Masterclass, including registration details, is available here: Pharma Logistics Masterclass – Pharma.Aero
