KI Innovations has announced a new collaboration with AstraZeneca Exchange Mentoring to help start-up companies access big pharma insights.

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

“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.

Keep it simple

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,” says 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.”

Photo of the KI Innovation team at the event “20 years of Innovation”, held in March 2019.