KI Innovations and AstraZeneca join forces to support life science start-up companies in the Nordics

AstraZeneca Exchange Mentoring initiative provides business-to-business mentoring to help start-up companies and entrepreneurs convert their ideas into long-term success

Both KI Innovations and AstraZeneca are committed to growing and strengthening the Nordic Life Science sector. As part of this effort, KI Innovations has announced an exciting new collaboration with AstraZeneca Exchange Mentoring to help start-up companies access big pharma insights.

“This is a great opportunity for the start-ups at KI Innovations and we are pleased to enter this partnering program with AstraZeneca. We see clear benefits for our companies and projects as they are given the opportunity to utilize the expertise of AstraZeneca in a flexible structure and free of charge,” says Mats Ferm, Business Coach at KI Innovations.

The idea is to keep it simple. AstraZeneca mentors work with established incubators, such as KI Innovations, and respond to queries from linked companies. Mentors in turn offer insights to these companies on a wide range of topics, including trial design, diagnostics, digital health, medical devices, drug screening experiments, and commercial potential. Support is typically provided through one-time advisory sessions.

“Our goal is to focus where we can help to make a difference,” said Elisabeth Björk, AstraZeneca Senior Vice President, Late Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca. “We know that innovation does not happen in isolation. By collaborating with KI Innovations and other important incubators, we can share pharmaceutical industry knowledge and perspective with start-ups and early entrepreneurs in the region, and help them to move towards sustainable and successful growth.”

For more information about the collaboration, please contact

Mats Ferm: mats.ferm@kiinnovations.se

About Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB

KI Innovations is an innovation office and incubator and a wholly owned subsidiary of Karolinska Institutet’s holding company. KI Innovations helps inventors create value from research findings in life science by evaluating and verifying projects with commercial potential as well as supporting startups and commercial projects with business development. Karolinska Institute’s innovation system offers training, coaching, professional networks, financing, entrepreneurial expertise, and business development, as well as incubation opportunities for projects and companies in life science.  For more information, please visit www.karolinskainnovations.ki.se

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/karolinska-innovations-ab/

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit astrazeneca.com or www.astrazeneca.se and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/AstraZenecaSE.