It´s a people thing. That is what they keep telling us, the international investors and companies we speak to about why the Nordics has become such a powerhouse for innovation. It’s also what we hear from the delegates, who answer reviews about why they have chosen to attend Nordic Life Science Days and to come back, year after year.
We know it is true, yet it is ambiguous in nature; what exactly does this “people thing” entail? And what does it mean that our partnering meeting is described as “more human” than larger, more international partnering events? We recognize that this element is important, both to you and to us, so let us explore what it is about and truly harness its power.
When looking at successful life-science hot spots in the world, there are some ingredients that are consistently present. Research tells us that a strong science base, combined with a stimulating environment for entrepreneurship, are must-have ingredients in the mix. Nevertheless, many places in the world have these elements without ever successfully taking off. It is the same within a company or an organization; you can have all the right elements in place, the visibly, policies, budgets, and physical infrastructures, and still lack real push for innovation – there’s no spark.
We believe that it ultimately comes down to the individual: who is committed to their mission on a personal level? It comes down to those who share goals and visions and who will do anything to reach them, because they believe in making a difference and in making a difference together.
There is a term for this kind of individual in all the Nordic languages – they’re called eldsjäl in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian, and tulisielu in Finnish. The words used across the Nordics translates directly as “soul of fire” – someone who is deeply driven and passionate about a cause. And this is what fuels the powerhouse of innovation in the Nordics!
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It is indeed a people thing. To partner with someone means to embark upon the same journey, to navigate the same storms together, to trust in your partner when times are harsh. We advise our member companies to choose business partners as carefully as they would a spouse, because if you find the right one, it could be the beginning of a long-term relationship in which you completely one another’s other´s strengths, competences and weaknesses.
That is how we power-up, through genuine partnerships. And we are excited for the genuine partnership between Novo Nordisk and SwedenBIO, where we will do just that: power-up together for Nordic Life Science Days 2022, and we will do it in Malmö, just across the bridge from Copenhagen where the global healthcare company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered today.
The fact that Novo Nordisk is our chosen key event partner reflects the value to the innovation landscape of the Nordics that this company offers. Its financial commitment to invest in and support up-and-coming life science-companies is flavored with that soul of fire that sparks innovation. It takes one to know one. Novo Nordisk was also founded by such people who wanted to make a difference to patients, and many of the innovations brought to market have been developed by equally passionate individuals at Novo Nordisk and partners.
For Nordic Life Science Days this spring, we are working together to provide not only the possibility to partner-up with the paragons of Nordic life sciences, but also to challenge the way that partnering meetings like this function in a post-pandemic era. We are committed to making it innovative, human and productive.
Quite an exciting journey to embark upon!
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