The 2026 Veeva R&D and Quality Summit will bring life sciences leaders to Boston on October 20–21, with pre-conference programming beginning October 19. This year’s agenda points to a more practical discussion of AI: how it can support work already happening in Veeva, and what organizations need in place to use it responsibly. 

Veeva’s 2025 summit introduced a broad AI roadmap for the Vault Platform. This year, the sessions move closer to implementation. Across the agenda, speakers are expected to explore how connected data can support AI-enabled work. They’ll also examine workflow design and human oversight in regulated environments. 

What to Expect 

Here’s a look at the themes likely to shape the conversation at this year’s Veeva R&D and Quality Summit. 

AI Moves Closer to Day-to-Day Regulated Work 

Veeva’s agenda suggests that AI is moving from a platform vision to a more visible part of regulated work in Veeva. Organizations will want to listen for where Veeva is drawing the line between assistance and autonomy. They’ll also want to understand how the platform will ensure users remain accountable for decisions in GxP processes. 

The conference will open with customer perspectives from Merck on implementing Vault AI across a connected Vault Platform. Eli Lilly will also discuss agentic AI in regulatory operations. Those sessions should offer a useful view of how large organizations are approaching AI-enabled ways of working while still managing governance expectations. 

Sessions to watch: 

• Merck: Pioneering Vault AI to Accelerate Innovation 
• Eli Lilly and Company: Reshaping Regulatory Operations with Agentic AI 

Connected Clinical Operations and Data 

Clinical teams will see continued attention on reducing friction between systems and the people who use them. The agenda includes sessions on automated clinical data flow, as well as Veeva AI support for clinical research associates. Together, they point toward an operating model where teams can spend less time reconciling information and more time responding to the work that needs attention. 

Sanofi’s session on a connected, patient-first clinical ecosystem should be especially relevant for organizations assessing how process changes can support their clinical technology investments. As AI capabilities become more available, the underlying data and workflows will determine whether those capabilities are useful in practice. 

Sessions to watch: 

• Sanofi: Transforming Together for Sites, Patients, and Pharma 
• Innovation Theater: Automate End-to-End Clinical Data Flow 

Quality Modernization Meets AI Readiness 

Quality sessions are likely to focus on a familiar challenge: how to improve efficiency without weakening oversight. A biopharma panel will examine quality’s role in creating business value in the AI era, including practical lessons on scaling AI and maintaining governance. A separate session on AI-supported batch release will look at how sponsors and CDMOs can reduce manual work around supplier records. 

These discussions should be a useful reminder that AI readiness depends on more than a new capability. Teams need to understand the intended use of each workflow. They also need an assurance approach that matches the risk involved. 

Sessions to watch: 

• Biopharma Panel: Where Quality Goes Next: Efficiency and Value in the AI Era 
• Innovation Theater: Connecting CDMOs and Sponsors Through AI for Faster Batch Release 

Regulatory Teams Explore New AI-Supported Workflows 

Regulatory operations has a prominent place on the agenda, from agentic AI to eCTD 4.0 publishing. These sessions will likely focus on how teams can accelerate routine work while retaining the traceability needed in a regulated process. 

For organizations evaluating these capabilities, the key questions extend beyond the demonstration. What is the intended use? Which decisions can the technology support? Where should human review remain in the process? The answers will inform both implementation priorities and validation planning. 

Sessions to watch: 

• Eli Lilly and Company: Reshaping Regulatory Operations with Agentic AI 
• Innovation Theater: Publish eCTD 4.0 Submissions within Veeva RIM 

The Platform Conversation Shifts to Adoption 

The strongest takeaway may be that platform value comes from how people work within it. Veeva continues to position the Vault Platform as a connected foundation for data and content. This year’s sessions should give attendees more detail on how AI can support automation within regulated work and also provide a clearer view of effective platform operations. 

Organizations should use the summit to look past individual feature announcements. Consider which workflows create the most manual effort today and then identify where a connected platform and a well-defined process could help teams make better use of new capabilities. 

Looking Ahead to the Veeva R&D and Quality Summit 

With more than 100 breakout sessions and product deep dives, the 2026 Veeva R&D and Quality Summit agenda offers a useful opportunity to compare how peers are approaching AI and what we’re seeing from a regulatory perspective. 

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