Collaboration and open innovation play pivotal roles today within the life science industry, contributing to advancements in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical research.
Publish date:2023-10-19–Text:
LIZELOTTE EDVINSSON
While no single actor is capable of solving the needs alone, collaboration is not always easy. Working across company boundaries requires a shift from control to trust, according to Julian Goy, facilitator and collaboration expert.
He works with groups to perfect their approach to innovation whether it be to generate novel ideas, or bring new products, services, or processes to life.
We meet up with Julian in his office at Sahlgrenska Science Park, where he has been with his company Infogov Sweden AB for a few years now. Soon he takes on the assignment as an Innovation Community Facilitator at Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen and starts commuting on a weekly basis.
“I’m a big fan of West Coast Life Sciences. A lot is happening in this area, Göteborg, Skåne and Copenhagen. And Oslo for that matter. There is a strong desire to collaborate and do things together," says Julian.
Open innovation is quite new within the pharmaceutical industry, especially in comparison to other sectors such as aerospace and automotive, where collaboration has been a longstanding practice.
"Not all smart people work for your company. We need to tackle a range of common challenges together, competitors, suppliers, and clients."
For instance, there's a growing demand for increased flexibility in pharmaceutical production. This, in turn, calls for the development of industry-wide consensus, according to Julian.
"To meet and discuss is easy, but if a change doesn't come about and you don't make progress, you have failed. Therefore, it’s necessary sometimes to be provocative as a facilitator. It’s often rewarding, and I just love to see ideas come true!"
