Novartis International BioCamp provides forum for future research and business leaders to engage in scientific innovation
Today, Novartis highlighted its ongoing commitment to fostering research and innovation at the 2010 Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp).
- (1888PressRelease) September 01, 2010 - The three-day seminar brings biotechnology and business experts together with 60 selected students from leading international universities in 24 countries and territories.
First started seven years ago in Taiwan, the BioCamp has developed into an international forum for science and business students from around the world to learn, exchange ideas and work together in a highly competitive business environment. Previously hosted in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Cambridge, Massachusetts, today's seminar marks the first time International BioCamp is hosted at the state-of-the-art Novartis global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.
"Novartis BioCamp creates a forum for up-and-coming talent to directly experience what it takes to bring new therapies from the lab to patients," explained Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, "It's exciting to see BioCamp participants inspire and challenge each other during the program, generating new ideas around scientific innovation and improving patient outcomes."
During the program, International BioCamp participants interact with and learn from key Novartis scientists who lead the Novartis approach to drug discovery, exchanging thoughts on advancing innovation. Students will participate in high-level workshops and learn about breakthrough new medicines to address patients' unmet medical needs. Additionally, they will receive first-hand experience about starting and running a biotech company from entrepreneurs in the industry, helping them better understand trends and challenges in the biotechnology sector. BioCamp also provides students with the opportunity to explore career prospects in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
"At Novartis, our ultimate goal is to have the insights needed to bring the right medicine, to the right patient, at the right dose," said Dhavalkumar D. Patel, MD, Ph.D., Head of Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR) in Europe and Global Head of the Autoimmunity, Transplantation and Inflammation Disease Area. "BioCamp gives us an opportunity to expose top talent to both the art and science required to drive pharmaceutical innovation."
Students will also visit some of the newest Novartis laboratory facilities. The visionary Novartis Campus in Basel fosters innovation and creativity with workspace that encourages collaboration and teamwork. The Campus Project includes 10 new research and office buildings which are already open and plans are underway for several additional buildings. Currently, approximately 6,500 associates work at the Novartis Campus. Ultimately, the site will provide a work environment for some 10,000 associates.
On the final day of the program, BioCamp participants, working in groups, will present business cases to a jury of internal and external experts. The jury will select three individual winners and one winning team based on their contribution, performance, leadership and teamwork. This year, participants for International BioCamp were chosen through an application process in 14 countries as well as through 10 local and regional BioCamp programs run in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.
Workshops and presentations will be led by industry experts including Joseph Jimenez, Novartis CEO; Ann Fudge, Member of the Novartis Board of Directors; Dr. Dhavalkumar D. Patel, Head of NIBR Europe; Dr. Rino Rappuoli, Global Head of Research for Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics; Dr. Romeo Paioni, Head of Novartis Scientific and External Affairs, Novartis Pharma; Prof. Susan Gasser, Director of the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research; Prof. Francis Waldvogel, Chairman of the Novartis Venture Fund, as well as Dragan Grabulovski, Chief Science Officer of Covagen.
About Novartis
Novartis provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2009, the Group's continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 44.3 billion, while approximately USD 7.5 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 102,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
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