20 Ene Our experience at Farmaforum 2025

As you may know, on 25th and 26th September, two of our colleagues, Sara and Andrea, represented Okomeds at Farmaforum, the leading forum for the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and laboratory technology industry, held at IFEMA in Madrid. Today we want to talk about our experience. Interested in knowing our thoughts?

Farmaforum – Some facts

Farmaforum held its eleventh edition in the halls of IFEMA (Madrid), consolidating its position as the most important event for the Pharmaceutical Industry in Spain. Since its launch, Farmaforum has expanded its scope to related sectors such as the biotechnology and cosmetics Industries, creating a unique space where people can share advances, ideas and innovative solutions.

The pharmaceutical industry and related sectors, such as biotechnology and cosmetics, depend on efficient and safe processes to launch innovative products. That is why events such as Farmaforum are essential in accelerating progress and optimising resources. However, for these advances to progress at lightning speed, translation is also an essential factor.

That’s why, for Okomeds, participating in Farmaforum was seen as an opportunity to connect with the industry, learn from experts and explain how accurate medical translations contribute to a healthier and more accessible future.

Farmaforum

Farmaforum

Our aims and objectives at Farmaforum

When we registered for the fair we had high expectations, and our goals were clear:

• Connect with experts and network.
• Connect with companies interested in medical translation services.
• Explain the value of professional medical translation, essential for the internationalisation of scientific advances and to provide access to health information worldwide.
• Network with colleagues and industry experts.
• Collaborate with specialists committed to improving multilingual communication in the sector.
• Keep up to date with the latest medical and technological developments.

Our Day at Farmaforum

After lots of planning and prior organisation, we carried out several key activities over the two days:

• We visited the stands sponsoring the fair.
• We showed genuine interest in the exhibitors’ activity, learning about their work and challenges.
• We explained the benefits of medical translation, highlighting how our solutions can support their needs. For example, talking about the importance for pharmaceutical companies of accurate clinical trial translation, medicine instructions or medical software translation.
• We spoke to experts about the languages they typically work in, their internationalisation processes and explained the importance of having translation providers on board.
• We left our mark, handing over a blister pack of sweets and our card, always asking for contact details to maintain communication.

Blister pack of sweets

Blister pack of sweets

What We Found: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Our experience at Farmaforum was enriching, but not without its challenges. Among many other things, we didn’t make as many contacts as we expected. Here are the details.

1. A less targeted audience

Most of the stands belonged to component, machinery and industrial management companies, which were not our target audience. Although we tried to adapt, they were not as receptive in many cases.

2. Difficulties in interacting with large exhibitors

Large companies occupied several stands and only communicated with clients and buyers who had scheduled appointments, which left us little room to establish contact.

3. Low attendance on the second day

The first day was busier, but on the second day, after 12:00, the fair was virtually empty. This underlined the importance of concentrating our efforts on the first day.

4. Competition and technological tools

Some attendees discussed using tools such as AI for translations, which led us to explain the difference between automated and professional translation, especially in a sector as sensitive as the medical and pharmaceutical sector.

5. Perception of a smaller size of the fair this year

Although the fair had around 200 stands, it seemed small due to the dominant presence of large companies occupying several spaces. In addition, feedback from attendees and suppliers suggested that in previous years more people had attended the event.

Was it worth attending Farmaforum?

Despite the challenges, we believe the experience was valuable:

• We were able to establish connections with some relevant contacts, albeit in smaller numbers than expected.
• We took every opportunity to highlight the value of professional medical translations, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.
• We gained key insights into the market and the needs of the industry.
• However, this edition leaves us with an important reflection: we need to be more strategic in selecting which events to participate in. It is possible that more specialised or larger events may offer better opportunities for our sector.

Looking ahead

Every experience is a learning opportunity. At Okomeds, we remain committed to bringing our medical translation service and solutions to those who need them most, adapting our strategies and exploring new avenues.

Have you attended Farmaforum or another similar event?