Menu
Note: The list of speakers is subject to continuous updates and additions.
Venture Capital Investor & Board Member
Nina Rawal is a venture capital investor and non-executive board member. Previous experience includes setting up and leading Trill Impact Ventures, as well as roles as head of Life Science at Industrifonden; Vice President, Strategy and Ventures at Gambro; and Management Consultant at Boston Consulting Group in Stockholm and New York.
Nina holds a M.Sc. in Biomedicine and a Ph.D. in Molecular Neurobiology, both from Karolinska Institutet, including research work done at Columbia University and Hôpital de la Salpêtrière.
She currently serves on the board of Cinclus Pharma and on the investment committee of We Venture Capital. Recognition for her work includes the selection as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
CEO
QuNorth
More info coming soon.
CEO
RISE Medical Notified Body
The MedTech industry is vital to healthcare and innovation. This presentation highlights the evolution of EU medical device regulations and their impact on today’s regulatory environment.
Past safety failures led to stricter requirements and the transition from MDD to MDR, creating challenges for manufacturers and Notified Bodies. Today, more harmonised regulations and increased capacity have resulted in a more stable certification landscape.
The presentation concludes with a brief outlook on upcoming regulatory updates, including Annex VII and the AI Act, and highlights the risks of MDR transition bottlenecks along with key recommendations for manufacturers.
Åsa Betten is the CEO of RISE MNB and has played a key role in building the company from a start-up to its current status as a designated Notified Body for MDR with an established customer base.
President of Research, Education, Development and Innovation
Skåne University Hospital
EU competitiveness is under decline, most lately confirmed in a report edited by the former commissioner to EU, Mario Draghi.
A common denominator across all fields but in Life Science in special, are that strategies are developed on a national basis, therefore focusing on the competitiveness of each single nation itself.
While on one hand, every country is too small of a unit to take on the competitive units are much smaller than each country. Management scientists, like Robyn Teigland have pointed out that these environments, for being creative clusters, need to be close enough to promote real-life-contacts beyond just projects and across disciplines.
I will elaborate how this affects opportunities for EU in general and our cross-border region, Medicon Valley in special.
Stefan Jovinge is a Professor and specialist in critical care cardiology who worked in Sweden and the US, received his MD and subsequently a PhD from the Karolinska Institute. He also received a degree as Global Clinical Scholar in Epidemiology/secondary analysis 2026 from Harvard University and trained in Artificial Intelligence strategies from Massachusetts Institute for Technology 2017. He has a degree in Executive Leadership from the Stockholm School of Economics.
He has served as a leader in Healthcare and Research over the last 20 years of them eight years as a Thoracic Intensive Care clinician and Research Director in Michigan, US He holds an adjunct Professorship at Stanford University, Lund University.
Stefan Jovinge currently serves as a President of Research, Education, Development and Innovation at the Skåne University Hospital. He is an advisor to the Health Committee of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences and a Life Science advisor to the national Swedish government.
Chief Business Officer
BioInnovation Institute
During its 8 years existence BII has tested and tried out various models for supporting translational science into becoming viable start-ups.
In this talk Trine Bartholdy will present BII’s model and learnings and provide a few forward-looking consideration for how we across boarders could become even more successful.
Trine has + 20 years’ experience in the life science sector, working in the intersection between Life Science and Business. She is part of BII’s Executive Leadership Team, leading the Venture Creation Team, being responsible for the intake, creation and support of start-ups across Human Health, Planetary Health and Societal Resilience. Applying science for new therapeutics, health tech over biosolutions, climatech and quantum. Furthermore, her Team builds and runs selective Centers of Excellence in Partnerships with Industry, to drive innovation in areas of high unmet needs with local strong holds, e.g. Brain Health, Women’s Health and Bio Solutions.
Prior to joining BII, Trine worked as an Investment Director with EIFO followed by Sunstone Life Science Ventures, investing in health tech and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, she spent 6 years with Novo Nordisk working with the strategic planning of the R&D portfolio within metabolic diseases/obesity followed by initiating Novo Nordisk’s Digital Health journey. Also, she has served as a CEO in clinical organizations within Women’s Health. She holds a M.Sc. in Finance and Accounting (Copenhagen Business School) and a Certificate in Pharmaceutical Drug Development from European Center of Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM, Basel). Trine has evaluated various international research institution as international expert, and serves as scientific advisor for Berlin Charité/BIIH/Genovate and furthermore, she is on the Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant Committee for the Pioneer and Distinguished Innovator Grant Program.
BioInnovation Institute is a non-profit life science institute bridging the gap between academia and business, working with accelerator and incubator models. Established in 2018 by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, it has to date fostered +130 life science start-ups within pharmaceuticals, health tech and bio industrials. BII has recently added activities within Climatech, AI and Quantum to its focus areas.
Head of Large & Complex
Gallagher
Senior Insurance Broker
Gallagher
Innovation is the backbone of the life science industry – but every breakthrough comes with risk. In this seminar, Gallagher will introduce you to the unique risk landscape of life science from an insurance perspective, how to manage risks from early stage research to manufacturing, partnerships and global expansion.
Join us to discover how to turn risks into opportunities and how the right insurance strategy can support funding and growth.
Johan Berg brings +25 years of experience from the insurance industry, both as an underwriter and insurance broker, having worked closely with the life science industry including start-ups and listed companies with a wider global presence.
Isak Öjelid is a seasoned insurance broker specialized in the life science industry. With extensive experience supporting companies in the industry and hands-on experience across the full insurance value chain he manages pharma, MedTech and CRO companies.
Photo: Eva Garmendia
CEO
SwedenBIO
Despite the absence of any wholly Swedish big pharma companies, Sweden continues to punch above its weight in drug development and across a broad range of life science disciplines. Often described as “Sweden Incorporated,” the country’s nearly four thousand life science companies together form a highly resilient and innovation-driven industry. Over time, the sector has demonstrated sustained growth in terms of company numbers, employment, exports, and international engagement, underpinned by strong research infrastructure, public–private collaboration, and a highly skilled workforce. However, continued success is not guaranteed. Global competition for capital, talent, and R&D investments is intensifying, and Sweden’s future trajectory will depend on its ability to maintain attractive framework conditions for innovation and scaling, as well as strengthen its position in the EU policy arena. This keynote explores the current position of the Swedish life science industry, highlights key growth drivers and structural strengths, and outlines the conditions required to unlock its full long-term potential.
Jessica Martinsson is the Chief Executive Officer of SwedenBIO, the national industry association for Sweden’s life science sector. She brings more than 27 years of experience from across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Prior to SwedenBIO, she was a co-founder and CEO of Sprint Bioscience, where she also served as Chief Operating Officer. Her career includes work in industrial drug development at major companies such as Pharmacia & Upjohn and Biovitrum, and she has served on the board of Lipigon Pharmaceuticals. Martinsson holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Uppsala University. In addition to her leadership at SwedenBIO, she represents Swedish life science at the European level, chairing the SME platform within EuropaBio, which brings together small and medium-sized biotech companies across Europe.
Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking
DNB Carnegie Back Bay
The global life science landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by shifting geopolitical priorities, evolving trade and pricing policies, and changing capital flows. The United States is reassessing its stance on research funding, tariffs, and drug pricing, while China continues to accelerate its investment and capabilities across R&D and biomanufacturing. At the same time, macroeconomic uncertainty, regulatory divergence, and heightened geopolitical risk are reshaping how capital is allocated globally within life science. This presentation provides a high-level overview of these global dynamics and explores their implications for Nordic and European life science companies. It will highlight emerging risks and opportunities, examine impacts on market access and financing, and conclude with strategic considerations for Nordic decision-makers navigating an increasingly complex global environment.
Pieter van der Meijden is Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking at DNB Carnegie Back Bay, based in Stockholm, Sweden. He is part of a unified international healthcare team combining deep sector expertise with global investor reach across the Nordics, Europe, and the United States. The DNB Carnegie Back Bay healthcare franchise covers the full spectrum of life sciences and healthcare, including biotech and pharma, medtech and medical devices, diagnostics, health services, e-health, and consumer health. DNB Carnegie Back Bay advises corporate clients on M&A, partnering and licensing, and equity capital markets transactions, and works closely with global investors through a leading Nordic research and execution platform. The team is consistently recognized as the number one healthcare research provider in the Nordics and holds a leading position in Nordic equity offerings.
PhD, Head of CRO Services
Svar Life Science
Karin Enell Smith is the Head of CRO Services at Svar Life Science, an established life science company recognized for its deep expertise in inventing, developing, and applying the best assay technology for drug development and clinical diagnostics. At Svar, she leads the CRO Services, which supports preclinical and clinical drug development through comprehensive capabilities in bioanalytical services, biomarker discovery, and GMP QC testing. Her team partners with biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide to help accelerate the development of innovative therapies through high‑quality scientific services and regulatory‑compliant study execution.
She brings more than 15 years of experience in immune‑oncology and non‑clinical development across both pharmaceutical and biotech settings. Prior to joining Svar, Karin served as Director of Non‑Clinical Development, contributing to the advancement of multiple therapeutic antibody programs for cancer immunotherapy from early discovery through clinical phases.
Karin earned her PhD from the Department of Clinical Sciences at Lund University, where her research focused on the development of novel cancer immunotherapies.
In her current role, Karin is committed to strengthening Svar’s contribution to global drug development by expanding scientifically robust CRO collaborations and enabling sponsors to make confident, data‑driven decisions along their clinical journey.
Chief Digital Officer
PharmaRelations
As life sciences companies accelerate innovation, the workforce challenge is no longer only about hiring more regulatory, QA, or clinical professionals—it’s about equipping them with the digital and AI skills that define the future of innovation. This session examines how Denmark’s and Sweden’s national life science strategies set new expectations for workforce readiness. Yet, this readiness increasing requires a need for hybrid talent profiles: professionals who combine deep scientific competence with data literacy, AI-assisted workflows, and digital process understanding. This session will discuss key shifts in workforce competences, stressing AI-enabled capabilities and agility, to maintain life sciences companies’ competitiveness.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at PharmaRelations, Niels Buch Leander is an experienced digital leader and life sciences specialist with more than 15 years of consulting and executive experience across the biotech and pharmaceutical ecosystem. He is dedicated to accelerating digital transformation in biotech by bridging scientific discovery with data, technology, and operational scalability in R&D.
Throughout his career, he has worked closely with emerging biotechs and global innovators to build digital capabilities that enable smarter trial design, robust regulatory pathways, and patient‑centric development approaches. Niels is passionate about translating cutting‑edge technology into tangible value that helps biotech organizations advance their science and bring transformative therapies to patients faster.
Deputy Dean
Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM)
AstraZeneca, LUSEM, Medicon Village, and SUS (Scania University Hospital) entered into an agreement in 2025 with the intention to connect different aspects of life science in Lund, in Skåne and in the Region. Researchers and teachers at LUSEM are integrating with the other partners on topics such as Demography, Health economy, Data protection, Intellectual Property Rights, and management. During the first year of the agreement, a joint ambition to establish a Master in Life Science Management has emerged, and such a program is currently being processed at Lund University. The idea is to combine the industrial expertise of Medicon Village and AstraZeneca and the practical health knowledge of SUS with the very broad capacity available at the LUSEM and recruit top students from across the Globe to enhance the capacity-building for the benefit Scandinavian life science companies.
Dr. Andreas Inghammar is the Deputy Dean of Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM), and an Associate Professor in Business Law. He holds a LLD from Lund University and has been a visiting professor in both Italy (2018) and Cambodia (2015-2016). Inghammar research has primarily focused international and comparative labour market regulations, which has established him as a well-known academic scholar and the Swedish representative (National Expert) for the EU Commission funded European Labour Law Network. Inghammar is the Programme Director for the Master of European and International Trade and Tax Law (MEITT) at LUSEM.
In parallel to his academic career, Inghammar has been a co-founder and served as inhouse council and at board level positions in the pharmaceutical industry, working with corporate finance, corporate development and market communications.
https://portal.research.lu.se/sv/persons/andreas-inghammar/publications/
CEO
Genovis
Genovis’ journey illustrates how focused innovation can turn academic research into a scalable global business. This presentation highlights a few critical moments in the transition from research to market—product focus, customer trust, and strategic partnerships. It also reflects on the experience of building international reach while remaining based in Sweden.
Fredrik Olsson is CEO of Genovis and has been part of the company since its earliest days. With a background in engineering, he has played a central role in building Genovis from a research-driven startup into a globally recognized life science tools company. Over the years, he has worked across product development, manufacturing and the commercialization, launch, and global sale of Genovis’ products before being appointed CEO in 2015. Fredrik has extensive experience in translating scientific innovation into scalable, customer-ready solutions and has contributed to several scientific publications and patents.
Board Member
EFPIA – European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
CEO
Lif
The pharmaceutical sector has for long been a strong key driver for European competitiveness, health sovereignty, and workforce productivity. However current geopolitical tensions and intensifying global competition is strongly challenging the entire life science ecosystem. At this pivotal moment, bold actions and strategic investments are needed to assure sustainable European competitiveness, economic security, and access to new medicines.
Sofia Wallström is a seasoned executive with extensive leadership experience across Government and the Life Sciences sector. Former Director General of the Dental and Pharmaceutical benefits Agency (TLV) as well as the Health and Social Care Inspectorate. Senior official at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, and as Special Government Investigator on national healthcare and pharmaceutical policy. Brings a deep understanding of market access, pricing and innovation policy within the Nordic and European healthcare and business landscape. Passionate about fostering collaboration between industry, government and healthcare to ensure prosperity and health.
Owner
HCP Life Science Innovation
Consultant Neurologist, Professor
Lund University
Skåne University Hospital
High-quality biological samples are the foundation of reliable and reproducible life science research. However, maintaining sample integrity during long-term storage remains challenging. Temperature fluctuations, manual handling, ice formation, misplaced vials, limited traceability, unauthorized access, and system failures can compromise valuable collections and research outcomes.
Cryonoster technology, developed by HCP Life Science Innovation, addresses these risks through automated cryogenic storage and handling at storage temperature. Samples remain within controlled conditions during retrieval and processing, minimizing thermal exposure and ice contamination. Integrated digital tracking enables full traceability of each vial, while controlled access systems enhance security and compliance.
The system architecture is based on independently operating modules with built-in redundancy, reducing single points of failure and allowing incremental capacity expansion without interrupting ongoing operations.
This presentation will outline the technical principles of the platform and demonstrate how automated cryogenic handling, modular system design, and continuous monitoring improve sample safety, operational reliability, and scalability in research and biobanking environments.
Gesine Paul-Visse is a Consultant Neurologist and Professor at Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Sweden. She leads the Translational Neurology research group at Lund University, focusing on disease mechanisms and biomarker discovery in neurodegenerative disorders, with particular emphasis on blood–brain barrier pathology. Professor Paul-Visse is a clinical investigator in multiple frontline Parkinson’s disease trials evaluating growth factors and cell-based therapies. She is the Principal Investigator of the STEM-PD trial, a first-in-human study investigating the safety and feasibility of intraputaminal transplantation of human embryonic stem cell–derived dopaminergic neurons. Her work bridges preclinical discovery and clinical translation in neurodegenerative disease.
Hans-Christoph Paul, M.Sc., is an engineer and the owner of HCP Life Science Innovation, with more than 20 years of experience in biobanking and automated biobank systems.
He has worked in technology development since 1998 and has generated more than 20 patents. Since 1999, Hans-Christoph has served as an expert for the Danish courts. In the same year, he contributed to the development of the first German cryobank.
Managing Partner, Seed Investments
Novo Holdings
This presentation will describe Novo Holdings investment approach to build Nordic biotech companies with strong investment syndicates and sufficient capital base for drug development.
Søren Møller is Managing Partner of Seed Investments at Novo Holdings. He is responsible for Novo Holdings’ seed and quantum investments.
Prior to joining Novo Holdings, Søren served as Global Manager of Genomics at Novozymes A/S. Before that, Søren was CSO and VP of R&D at Exiqon A/S. During Søren’s tenure, Exiqon completed an IPO, and the company was acquired by Qiagen in 2016.
In his earlier career, Søren was occupied with cancer drug development as Head of Lead Identification at BioImage and as a research scientist at Novo Nordisk A/S.
Søren serves on the Boards of Directors of Reapplix, Orbis Medicines and Northsea Therapeutics.
Since 2008, Søren has been a Board Member of Danish Biotech and Active Owners Denmark.
Søren holds a MSc degree (1993) and a PhD degree in molecular biology (1997), both from the Technical University of Denmark.
Additionally, Søren has academic training as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Owner
Sedermera Corporate Finance
Markus will serve as a Panelist in the concluding discussion of Session 4, Funding & Investment – Financing Nordic Life Science Growth.
Markus Neuding is a former lawyer and seasoned entrepreneur with a background as Executive Vice President of Spotlight Group. He recently acquired Sedermera Corporate Finance, one of the Nordic region’s most active advisory firms in capital raising and M&A for growth companies, where he now serves as owner and principal. Markus has founded and built several companies, including the joint venture Angel Advisory together with the Nordic region’s largest angel network, Nordic Angels. He brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship, business development, exits and corporate finance.
Deputy CEO
Medicon Village Innovation
In her presentation, Sarah will share fresh findings from this year’s Skåne edition of the Life Science Barometer report, which will delve into the life science sector in southern Sweden and the sentiment among life science leaders on various topics such as short- and long-term investment priorities, value-generating assets, and how Sweden and Skåne are positioned as an engine for innovation in the life science sector.
Sarah Lidé has a wealth of experience in management consulting and ecosystem building within the public sector, healthcare, and life science sectors, including leading and facilitating strategic processes, understanding macro and industry trends and their implications for business, and driving multi-stakeholder engagement. In her current position as Deputy CEO at Medicon Village Innovation, she leads and facilitates various life science-related strategic initiatives on behalf of Medicon Village, which is Scandinavia’s leading science park focused on life science and is home to more than 180 ventures and 2 800 scientists, entrepreneurs, and professionals, all dedicated to developing solutions that contribute to human health and a better life.
Head of Public Affairs
Lif (The Danish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry)
In this talk, Carsten Blæsberg, Head of Public Affairs at Lif, will provide an update on the state of Denmark’s life science sector, covering its global footprint, challenges ahead, and the progress of the Danish national life science strategy.
CEO and Co-founder
Life Science Invest
Kristofer will share his ever growing list of “do’s and don’ts” regarding early stage funding. The talk will adress both the entrepreneurial- as well as the investor side. The thesis of the talk is that our ecosystem is not stronger than our weakest link and together we can avoid misstakes being made over and over again.
Pharmacist Kristofer Klerfalk is a serial entrepreneur that now leads Life Science Invest (LSI). LSI:s five funds are focusing on propelling Nordic life science companies forward. Kristofer is deeply dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, promoting better health and social care, and fostering innovation within organizations.
Partner
Trill Impact Advisory
What defines a VC-investable life science company? Are unmet medical need and peak sales potential the primary drivers, or do factors like scientific novelty, regulatory pathways, and commercial scalability play an equal role? Biotech investors constantly assess these questions to identify promising opportunities.
The Nordic life science ecosystem is a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation, supported by strong public funding, an early IPO culture, and active local investors. But does this model create challenges in attracting late-stage international investors, compared to other European markets where private capital enters earlier?
With Nordic life science companies raising nearly $2 billion in 2023, investor confidence remains strong. However, securing later-stage funding and global partnerships continues to be a hurdle.
As Denmark and Sweden drive biotech and medtech growth in the region, how can Nordic companies capitalize on their strengths while closing funding gaps? Navigating these dynamics is essential for startups aiming to scale and compete on a global stage.
Bita is a Partner at Trill Impact Advisory, focusing on Ventures. She has more than 15 years of professional experience from both life science R&D and venture capital.
Prior to joining Trill Impact, she was an Investment Director at Industrifonden. Her previous roles include consultant supporting the healthcare team at the Canadian pension fund CDPQ and consultant at Rosenblatt Life Science, specializing in pharmaceutical forecasting and valuation.
Bita holds a Master’s in Biomedicine and a Ph.D. in Molecular Oncology from Karolinska Institute, along with two post-doctoral fellowships at Karolinska and McGill University in cancer signal transduction. Additionally, she earned an MBA in Strategy and Business Valuation from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.
Talent Attraction Developer
The city of Lund – International Citizen Hub Lund
Learn more about the ‘Cross Border Talent Bridge’ project and how it secure more international life science talent to the Greater Copenhagen Region. The project addresses the skills shortage in the Greater Copenhagen region’s life science and tech sectors. The project is led by the City of Lund and Copenhagen Capacity and unites key players to attract and retain specialized international talent. By fostering cross-border collaboration, we aim to create a cohesive labor market, enhance global competitiveness, and develop sustainable talent strategies. Join us to explore how this initiative is shaping the future of talent mobility and regional growth in life sciences and tech industry.
Lisa Andersson moved from California, USA to Sweden more than 30 years ago to work as an English Consultant and with International Cultural Communication for Swedish industries. She has years of experience within the relocation branch, working firsthand with welcoming international recruited expertise to southern Sweden before taking on the challenge of creating International Citizen Hub for the city of Lund in 2015. Lisa is also co-creator and responsible for the Kick-Start Job program for spouses / partners of the recruited talent moving to southern Sweden where retention has been the focus. Lund is lead partner for the Cross-border Talent Bridge Project where the focus has extended into attracting specialized talent to the Greater Copenhagen area which is a shared endeavor by several key partners in both Lund and Copenhagen.
Managing Director Nordic
Medhouse
In today’s competitive life science industry, attracting and managing talent across generations is more crucial than ever. Organizations must go beyond traditional recruitment strategies and create environments where employees feel valued, heard, and aligned with company values. This talk explores how companies can authentically live their values daily, foster a culture of inclusion, and empower leaders to engage and develop talent effectively. By understanding generational differences and leveraging a people-centric leadership approach, businesses can build strong, motivated teams that drive innovation and long-term success in the life science sector.
Krister Sandström is an experienced leader from the pharmaceutical/biotech industry with over 20 years in leading positions. His career includes significant roles at MSD and Biogen.
Krister Sandström is currently the Nordic Managing Director at Medhouse, the leading recruitment and service company within Life Science in the Nordic region. His primary focus is on executive search and talent management, where he leverages his industry expertise to identify, attract, and develop top leadership talent. With a strong background in leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, Krister plays a key role in shaping the future of talent acquisition within the life science sector.
Krister holds a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, pedagogy, sociology, economics, and organizational leadership, supplemented by executive training from the Stockholm School of Economics and various leadership programs
Innovation & Business Strategies, Helping Organisations Thrive in an AI-Driven World
Passage2Pro
The life sciences sector is facing a growing talent shortage and skills mismatch—but what if the solution is closer than we think? In this talk, I’ll challenge you to rethink recruitment and retention by tapping into the hidden potential within your workforce, embracing global talent through remote and flexible models, and creating inclusive career pathways for academics entering the industry.
Building adaptable, high-performing teams will enhance innovation and long-term success by shifting expectations, redefining job roles, and focusing on skills rather than rigid qualifications. Let’s explore opportunities!
Tina Persson is an ICF PCC-certified Executive, Career, and Leadership Coach with a background in academia and industry. Specializing in innovation-driven strategies, business, and Adaptability Intelligence, she helps individuals, teams, and organizations thrive in a fast-changing world shaped by AI and technology.
With 20 years in academia and 8 years in recruitment, Tina has guided hundreds through successful career transitions. She is also a speaker, workshop facilitator, and expert in leadership & team coaching.
Managing Partner
Best Talent
Best Talent is a Scandinavian executive search firm specializing in identifying and recruiting top talent across Engineering, Pharma, Biotech, Medtech, and Life Sciences. Our mission is to match the ambitions of talented executives with visionary companies.
Janne Kofoed, Managing Partner, Best Talent is a seasoned executive search professional specializing in the recruitment and strategic counseling of top-tier talent within the Pharma, Life Science, Technology, and Engineering sectors. With deep expertise in headhunting, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a robust network.
Throughout her career, Janne has worked with global Top 5 companies in both Technology and Pharma & Life Science, playing a key role in major pharmaceutical projects and execution processes, particularly those involving automation and digitalization. Her contribution lies not only in identifying and securing exceptional talent but also in adding measurable value to organizations by leveraging her international business experience and commitment to finding the right match—where both IQ and EQ are considered critical to success.
Janne is an experienced national and international professional with strong intercultural awareness. She has a deep understanding of the Nordic and European business Environments. Known for her dedication, hardworking nature, and results-oriented mindset, Janne consistently goes above and beyond in her work, striving to deliver the best possible outcomes for her clients.
Senior Director, HR
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Mads Hougaard joined Ferring Pharmaceuticals in September 2022.
Mads is head of Human Resources in Denmark and is responsible for setting and implementing the people agenda.
Mads holds a Master of Science in International Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School and has worked with HR both in Denmark and abroad during his more than 20 years of experience. His specialties cover change management, talent management, leadership development, team development, performance management, coaching, talent acquisition, employee relations and rewards management.
Managing Director Healthcare Investment Banking
DNB
Swedish and Danish life science companies are globally recognized for their innovation, strong research ecosystems, and high-quality science. However, successfully expanding beyond the Nordic region—particularly into the U.S. and other international markets—requires a well-defined strategy. We will explore key considerations for Nordic biotech and medtech companies looking to scale globally, including navigating U.S. regulatory and market access challenges, structuring successful pharma partnerships, and attracting international investors. We will discuss what global investors seek in Nordic life science companies, how to position for competitive licensing and M&A deals, and strategies to secure funding for international growth. With insights from investment banking and dealmaking, this session will provide actionable guidance for companies aiming to transition from strong local players to global leaders.
Pieter van der Meijden is Managing Director Healthcare Investment Banking at DNB, soon to be DNB Carnegie, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The DNB Healthcare team combines in-depth sector knowledge, scientific background and business experience. Assisting corporate clients, with all types of M&A and ECM transaction processes as well as offering international investors high-quality analysis of life sciences and healthcare companies and trade execution through specialized marketing and trading services.
Regional Director, Nordics
Singapore Economic Development Board
The Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”) is a statutory board under the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry. The EDB is responsible industry development as well as partnering foreign companies in leveraging Singapore – as a commercial hub, manufacturing base and innovation node – to grow and internationalise in Asia.
Andy is EDB’s Regional Director for the Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) based in Europe, where he serves as the main point of contact for Nordic companies interested in tapping on Singapore as their gateway and springboard into Asia. Prior to his current role, Andy had taken on appointments across various industry and strategy teams at EDB, including Healthcare, Supply Chain and Connectivity, Consumer Businesses, and Aerospace.
International Business Coordinator
SWECARE Foundation
This talk will explore threats and opportunities based on the data from our yearly Health Barometer, a Swedish market survey being done every year together with Lif and Swedish Medtech with a focus on export and internationalization.
Ulf Borbos has more than 15 years of experience in the Swedish innovation system. Noth as operational manager for a Swedish Incubator as well as International Project manager at the national organisation Swedish Incubators & Science Parks. Now as International Business Coordinator at Swecare. In his current position at Swecare, he leads and facilitates various life science-related strategic projects and initiatives on behalf of Swecare.
Swecare was founded in 1978 by the Swedish government and the health care industry together as a semi-governmental non-profit organization. Swecare focus on enhanced export and internationalization of Swedish health care and life science. Today, Swecare has more than 100 Swedish companies and organizations in its network and with presence in Stockholm, Öresund’s, and Gothenburg region.
The members represent the entire health care spectrum – from the small startup company to university hospitals, regions, and global corporations, working with everything from biotech to medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and health care services.
Chief Commercial Officer
NorthX Biologics
As the global demand for advanced biologics accelerates, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) must strategically leverage their expertise to expand into new markets. NorthX Biologics strong foundation in cutting-edge modalities, such as extracellular vesicles, recombinant proteins, cell therapy, viral vectors, viruses, and plasmid DNA (pDNA), is a good start. However, true market expansion requires more than just technological capabilities; it demands a clear understanding of both strengths and weaknesses to establish a robust right to play in new geographies and therapeutic areas. NorthX Biologics is committed to establish itself as a Beyond CDMO, meaning a 100% dedication towards its customers.
Magnus Gustafsson works as CCO at NorthX Biologics, a Beyond CDMO providing process development and GMP manufacture of viruses, viral vectors, recombinant proteins, pDNA, extracellular vesicles and cell therapy. Magnus has previously had leading positions at 3PBiovian, Cytiva, and Cobra Biologics and has a scientific background, with more than 20 peer-reviewed articles, and has spent 15 years in various commercial positions executing intra- and extra scientific and corporate collaborations, sales management, project management, business development, partnership negotiations and agreements.
Magnus holds an MSc in Biochemical Engineering, a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics and an MBA in Business Administration.