Advisory Board

Morten Mølgaard Jensen Chief Executive Officer, Copenhagen Bio Science Park Morten Mølgaard Jensen is CEO of Copenhagen Bio Science Park in Copenhagen. He has previously held positions as Vice Director and Chief Operating Officer ofSymbion Science Park and has been responsible for developing the DanishGovernmental Growth Strategy and at the same time functioning as a personal advisor for the Minister of Economic and Business Affairs. He is a member of the FASILIS Monitoring Board - a transnational pilot project that aims to give Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the human health sector, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, easy access to a wide range of public and private research facilities in six human health clusters. He is also a former member of the Danish Innovation Council - a network of global innovators tasked with identifying and mapping Denmark’s opportunities and objectives in the global knowledge society. Morten Mølgaard Jensen holds a Masters degree in Economics, Business Administration and Commercial Law from Aarhus Professional Business School (1998) and is currently finishing a MBA from Henley Business School. With a solid understanding of innovation policies, Mr. Jensen today works with start-up companies, incubator-facilities and growth programmes for high tech innovative companies within Life Science.

Morten Mølgaard Jensen

Chief Executive Officer,
Copenhagen Bio Science Park

Morten Mølgaard Jensen is CEO of Copenhagen Bio Science Park in Copenhagen.

He has previously held positions as Vice Director and Chief Operating Officer ofSymbion Science Park and has been responsible for developing the DanishGovernmental Growth Strategy and at the same time functioning as a personal advisor for the Minister of Economic and Business Affairs.

He is a member of the FASILIS Monitoring Board - a transnational pilot project that aims to give Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the human health sector, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, easy access to a wide range of public and private research facilities in six human health clusters. He is also a former member of the Danish Innovation Council - a network of global innovators tasked with identifying and mapping Denmark’s opportunities and objectives in the global knowledge society.

Morten Mølgaard Jensen holds a Masters degree in Economics, Business Administration and Commercial Law from Aarhus Professional Business School (1998) and is currently finishing a MBA from Henley Business School. With a solid understanding of innovation policies, Mr. Jensen today works with start-up companies, incubator-facilities and growth programmes for high tech innovative companies within Life Science.

Professor Mart Saarma Director of Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki 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.

Professor Mart Saarma

Director of Institute of Biotechnology,
University of Helsinki

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.

Werner Christie Science and Technology Counsellor, The Royal Norwegian Embassy 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.

Werner Christie

Science and Technology Counsellor,
The Royal Norwegian Embassy

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.

Magnus Flyrin Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE Manager Life Science, Chubb Sweden Magnus Flyrin heads the Life Science Industry Practice in Sweden for Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE. Magnus has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry including 13 years working in the Life Science sector. He has worked as both an underwriter and a broker and has extensive knowledge of complex Life Science risks and solutions such as Human Clinical Trials and Products Liability. The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is a global insurance carrier with 120 offices in 26 countries with a specialism in insuring the Life Science industry’s unique property and liability exposures. Chubb has for many years worked with European clients to develop customised insurance products that meet clients’ needs as well as the legal and regulatory requirements of the industry.

Magnus Flyrin

Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE
Manager Life Science, Chubb Sweden

Magnus Flyrin heads the Life Science Industry Practice in Sweden for Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE.

Magnus has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry including 13 years working in the Life Science sector. He has worked as both an underwriter and a broker and has extensive knowledge of complex Life Science risks and solutions such as Human Clinical Trials and Products Liability.

The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is a global insurance carrier with 120 offices in 26 countries with a specialism in insuring the Life Science industry’s unique property and liability exposures. Chubb has for many years worked with European clients to develop customised insurance products that meet clients’ needs as well as the legal and regulatory requirements of the industry.

Christian Ekström Trade Commissioner Embassy of Canada in Sweden 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.

Christian Ekström

Trade Commissioner
Embassy of Canada in Sweden

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.

Dr Ken Larkin Business Development Manager London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC). 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.

Dr Ken Larkin

Business Development Manager
London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC).

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.

Carl Viel President and CEO Québec International 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).

Carl Viel

President and CEO
Québec International

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).