Born in 1949, Professor Mart Saarma received his Ph.D. in molecular biology in 1975. He was the Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Estonian Academy of Sciences in 1980.
Since 1990, he has been professor and Director of the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki. Academician, Estonian Academy of Sciences (1990), Foreign Member of the Finnish Academy of Science (2000) and Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) 2005.
Prof. Saarma is also chairman of the Board of Directors of the Finnish Genome Centre, member of the Estonian PMs Council for Science and Technology, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Heidelberg Neuroscience Center and member of several other boards. He is the author of more than 150 scientific papers and 15 patents.
Since 1990, he has been professor and Director of the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki. Academician, Estonian Academy of Sciences (1990), Foreign Member of the Finnish Academy of Science (2000) and Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) 2005.
Prof. Saarma is also chairman of the Board of Directors of the Finnish Genome Centre, member of the Estonian PMs Council for Science and Technology, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Heidelberg Neuroscience Center and member of several other boards. He is the author of more than 150 scientific papers and 15 patents.
Professor Mart Saarma
Director of Institute of Biotechnology,
University of Helsinki
Director of Institute of Biotechnology,
University of Helsinki
Part of the International Investment Team for the East Midlands Development Agency, Melanie is responsible for attracting and retaining foreign investment into England’s East Midlands and raising the international profile of the thriving Healthcare and Food & Drink industries in this region.
Melanie is a Bioscience graduate from the University of Nottingham and began her career with West Pharmaceutical Services as a researcher before moving into Business Development. Melanie has extensive knowledge of the region’s healthcare sector and before joining emda, Melanie worked on a new initiative collaborating with the regional Universities promoting the region’s excellent bioscience innovation, research and commercial assets.
Melanie is a Bioscience graduate from the University of Nottingham and began her career with West Pharmaceutical Services as a researcher before moving into Business Development. Melanie has extensive knowledge of the region’s healthcare sector and before joining emda, Melanie worked on a new initiative collaborating with the regional Universities promoting the region’s excellent bioscience innovation, research and commercial assets.
Melanie Davidson
Business Relationship Manager,
High Technologies,
East Midlands Development Agency
Business Relationship Manager,
High Technologies,
East Midlands Development Agency
Niklas Lindberg started his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1991 and has worked at Astra with drug development in the CNS area as well as in AstraZeneca's global quality assurance unit.
He has also worked as head of quality assurance for Tripep AB, a biotechnological company, where he was responsible for successfully developing and implementing its quality assurance system. Niklas is actively involved in the Swedish Association of Research Quality Assurance (SARQA), the Drug Information Association (DIA) and SwedenBio's Clinical Working Group. He has been working at TFS since 2002, and is currently based in Stockholm. He was promoted the Country Manager position for the Swedish affiliate in February 2006. Niklas holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences from the Swedish University of Agriculture Science.
He has also worked as head of quality assurance for Tripep AB, a biotechnological company, where he was responsible for successfully developing and implementing its quality assurance system. Niklas is actively involved in the Swedish Association of Research Quality Assurance (SARQA), the Drug Information Association (DIA) and SwedenBio's Clinical Working Group. He has been working at TFS since 2002, and is currently based in Stockholm. He was promoted the Country Manager position for the Swedish affiliate in February 2006. Niklas holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences from the Swedish University of Agriculture Science.
Niklas Lindberg
Country Manager,
TFS Sweden
Country Manager,
TFS Sweden
Based in Paris, Dany is the Director, Business Development Europe for Invest Quebec, a Canadian regional business development bank.
His main areas of expertise are the financing and incentive packaging of industrial and R&D projects, site selection and export development. Dany has more than 13 years of experience in international business development, essentially dealing with C-level executives from all over Europe.
In the last 10 years, he managed to build up an impressive portfolio of industrial investments, now exceeding one billion dollars. Dany spend most of his career abroad through long-term assignments in Moscow, London and now Paris.
His main areas of expertise are the financing and incentive packaging of industrial and R&D projects, site selection and export development. Dany has more than 13 years of experience in international business development, essentially dealing with C-level executives from all over Europe.
In the last 10 years, he managed to build up an impressive portfolio of industrial investments, now exceeding one billion dollars. Dany spend most of his career abroad through long-term assignments in Moscow, London and now Paris.
Dany LaRochelle
Director, Paris Office,
Invest Quebec
Director, Paris Office,
Invest Quebec
Werner Christie is a former Minister of Health of Norway, and former chair of the Biotechnology Advisory Board of Norway. Werner is a Medical Doctor also educated in Social Science. He also has more than 13 years experience as a part-time farmer.
He has worked as a public health officer and hospital manager in Norway and has done research and published a textbook in the planning and management of primary health care. He has served on a number of boards for health care providers, investors and start-ups, including European Federation of Biotechnology and ScanBalt network of Biotech networks. He was for 5 years a special advisor in medical and Biotechnology for the Norwegian Trade Council, and served two years in that function in San Francisco. He chaired the development of WHO’s “Stop TB” initiative, a worldwide public – private partnership against tuberculosis, from its beginning until it included more than 40 global organisations.
He has worked as a public health officer and hospital manager in Norway and has done research and published a textbook in the planning and management of primary health care. He has served on a number of boards for health care providers, investors and start-ups, including European Federation of Biotechnology and ScanBalt network of Biotech networks. He was for 5 years a special advisor in medical and Biotechnology for the Norwegian Trade Council, and served two years in that function in San Francisco. He chaired the development of WHO’s “Stop TB” initiative, a worldwide public – private partnership against tuberculosis, from its beginning until it included more than 40 global organisations.
Werner Christie
Science and Technology Counsellor
The Royal Norwegian Embassy
Science and Technology Counsellor
The Royal Norwegian Embassy
Magnus Flyrin joined JLT Risk Solutions AB, Sweden in September 2007. JLT Risk Solutions AB is part of the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, plc, one of the world’s largest insurance brokers. JLT is the leading insurance broker for the Life Science Industry. Headquarter for the JLT Group and the JLT Life Science & Chemicals Focus Group is in London.
Magnus have more than 20 years of experience from the Insurance Industry related to international reinsurance and structuring of complex and customized liability insurance programs. Specialized in General and Products Liability, Recall and Human Clinical Trials for the Life Science Industry. Prior to joining JLT Risk Solutions AB, Magnus held the position as senior liability underwriter and Life Science Practice Leader (Nordic Region) for more than 8 years at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe S.A., Sweden Branch.
Magnus have more than 20 years of experience from the Insurance Industry related to international reinsurance and structuring of complex and customized liability insurance programs. Specialized in General and Products Liability, Recall and Human Clinical Trials for the Life Science Industry. Prior to joining JLT Risk Solutions AB, Magnus held the position as senior liability underwriter and Life Science Practice Leader (Nordic Region) for more than 8 years at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe S.A., Sweden Branch.
Magnus Flyrin
JLT Risk Solutions AB, Sweden.
Life Science Practice Leader,
Nordic Region
JLT Risk Solutions AB, Sweden.
Life Science Practice Leader,
Nordic Region
Christian Ekström has more than ten years of experience in international trade and business development, five of which have been devoted to the Life Sciences sector, including biotechnology and medical devices. Christian Ekström has been working in the Trade Section at the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm for nine years promoting Science & Technology, Strategic Alliances and partnerships as well as trade and investment.
In his current capacity as Trade Commissioner he provides leadership to Canadian Embassies´ life sciences specialists on the Canadian market strategy for six key European markets. Prior to joining the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade he worked for Swedish companies such as Volvo Car Corporation and Spectronic AB (mobile communication) as well as a French company, Latena SA.
In his current capacity as Trade Commissioner he provides leadership to Canadian Embassies´ life sciences specialists on the Canadian market strategy for six key European markets. Prior to joining the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade he worked for Swedish companies such as Volvo Car Corporation and Spectronic AB (mobile communication) as well as a French company, Latena SA.
Christian Ekström
Trade Commissioner
Embassy of Canada in Sweden
Embassy of Canada in Sweden
Jouko Uusitalo was born in 1968 and he has MSc in Structural Elucidation Chemistry. He is the founder and CEO of Novamass Ltd and also Member of the Board. He is currently finishing his executive MBA studies.
Before starting Novamass Jouko was a researcher in Prof. Olavi Pelkonen’s (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in University of Oulu) drug metabolism group. His responsibilities were on bioanalytical chemistry and method development for different in vitro and in vivo metabolism and drug interaction preparations using LC/MS techniques. He has contributed to over ten peer reviewed articles concerning drug metabolism, interactions and bioanalysis. Jouko’s current activities include Advisory board of BioForum Oulu, Steering groups of Oulu Inspires innovation strategy and National HealthBIO cluster, and management groups of several Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) projects and two EU research consortiums. His interests are in commercialisation of academic research and how to sell services as products.
Before starting Novamass Jouko was a researcher in Prof. Olavi Pelkonen’s (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in University of Oulu) drug metabolism group. His responsibilities were on bioanalytical chemistry and method development for different in vitro and in vivo metabolism and drug interaction preparations using LC/MS techniques. He has contributed to over ten peer reviewed articles concerning drug metabolism, interactions and bioanalysis. Jouko’s current activities include Advisory board of BioForum Oulu, Steering groups of Oulu Inspires innovation strategy and National HealthBIO cluster, and management groups of several Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) projects and two EU research consortiums. His interests are in commercialisation of academic research and how to sell services as products.
Jouko Uusitalo
CEO, Novamass Ltd
Oulu, Finland
Oulu, Finland
MD in 1982 and PhD in 1987 from the University of Oulu, Professor of Medical Biochemistry, University of Oulu 1990-, Chairman of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu 1991-2007, Scientific Director of Biocenter Oulu 1996-, Vice Director/Director of the Collagen Research Unit, a Centre of Excellence in 2000-2005, first Scientific Director of Biocenter Finland (newly-founded umbrella organisation of the 6 Finnish bioinstitutes) in 2006-2007, Vice Director in 2008-2009, Post-doctoral training at University of Medicine and Dentistry, Rutgers Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA 1982-1985 Member of the Research Council for Health in the Academy of Finland 1998-2003, Scientist Co-founder and Collaborator of FibroGen, Inc. 1993, Member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Scientific Computing 1998-, Vice Chairman 2005-2007, Chairman 2007-, Member of the Board of the Finnish Cancer Research Organization 2000-2008, Member of the Ministry of Education Working Groups Biotechnology 2000 and 2005, Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Finnish Genome Center 2003-2008, Member of the Science and Technology Council of Finland 2005-2007, Member of ESFRI Working Group on Research Infrastructures for Biological and Medical Sciences 2004-2008, Senior Associate Group Leader of the Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine (FIMM), 2008-2013
Professor Taina Pihlajaniemi
Scientific Director of Biocenter Oulu
University of Oulu, Finland
University of Oulu, Finland
Owned by the prestigious Royal Veterinary College, LBIC is the premier incubator for biotechnology companies in central London and is home to small start-ups as well as more established companies and international subsidiaries.
Ken graduated from the University of Warwick with a degree in Biological Sciences. He went on to obtain a Ph.D. in eukaryotic genetics at the Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park.
This was followed by Post-Doctoral research at the Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham where he was part of a research team studying the genetic and molecular basis of an inherited form of Muscular Dystrophy.
Prior to joining the London BioScience Innovation Centre, Ken worked for 8 years at the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) where he gained valuable experience in economic development and international investment as well as an in-depth knowledge of the global healthcare market.
Ken graduated from the University of Warwick with a degree in Biological Sciences. He went on to obtain a Ph.D. in eukaryotic genetics at the Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park.
This was followed by Post-Doctoral research at the Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham where he was part of a research team studying the genetic and molecular basis of an inherited form of Muscular Dystrophy.
Prior to joining the London BioScience Innovation Centre, Ken worked for 8 years at the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) where he gained valuable experience in economic development and international investment as well as an in-depth knowledge of the global healthcare market.
Dr Ken Larkin
Business Development Manager
London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC).
London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC).
Martin Spangenberg is the Sweden Country and Underwriting Manager of Chubb Insurance Company in Europe SE. Chubb Insurance is the leading insurer of Life Science Business. Since 1995, Chubb has had a unique team of underwriting, loss control and claim staff focused exclusively on this fast-paced industry.
Chubb Insurance in Europe is a subsidiary of Chubb Group of Insurance with headquarter in New Jersey, USA. Martin has more than 20 years of experience from the Insurance Industry mainly in the Casualty area including building complex global insurance programs for the Swedish industry.
Before taking on the additional role as Sweden Country Manager, Martin was responible for the Life Science Insurance underwriting at Chubb Insurance in Sweden.
Chubb Insurance in Europe is a subsidiary of Chubb Group of Insurance with headquarter in New Jersey, USA. Martin has more than 20 years of experience from the Insurance Industry mainly in the Casualty area including building complex global insurance programs for the Swedish industry.
Before taking on the additional role as Sweden Country Manager, Martin was responible for the Life Science Insurance underwriting at Chubb Insurance in Sweden.
Martin Spangenberg
Underwriting Manager
Chubb Insurance Company of
Europe SA.
Chubb Insurance Company of
Europe SA.
Originally from Quebec City, Carl Viel received his bachelor’s degree in economics and a corporate governance certificate from Laval University. He also completed training programs in entrepreneurship (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), leadership (NTL Institute) and coaching (Niagara Institute). After nearly 20 years in the private sector, he held managerial positions with various economic organizations, including as vice-president of Montreal International and general manager of Montreal InVivo, prior to joining POLE-QCA as CEO in 2008.
In parallel with his professional activities, Mr. Viel has been involved with a number of committees and charitable organizations, including as co-chairman of Rx&D Quebec from 1996 to 1999. As part of his extensive community involvement, Mr. Viel serves on the boards of Domaine Forget and the Violons du Roy and is vice-chairman of the board of the Quebec City Youth Centre Foundation (CJQ).
In parallel with his professional activities, Mr. Viel has been involved with a number of committees and charitable organizations, including as co-chairman of Rx&D Quebec from 1996 to 1999. As part of his extensive community involvement, Mr. Viel serves on the boards of Domaine Forget and the Violons du Roy and is vice-chairman of the board of the Quebec City Youth Centre Foundation (CJQ).
Carl Viel
CEO
Pôle Québec Chaudière-Appalaches
Pôle Québec Chaudière-Appalaches