Åsa Sjöholm Timén, Director Business Development at AstraZeneca, and Lisa Thelin, Head of Foresight at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), join as external board members, while Jonas Larsson, Professor and Deputy Head of the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, joins as a new board member bringing insight into researchers’ needs and perspectives.

Over the past two decades, SmiLe Venture Hub has supported life science startups in developing their innovations into investment-ready, scalable businesses and in building relationships with investors and industry partners. The three new members strengthen SmiLe’s ability to help companies take innovative technologies to international growth and, ultimately, to market and to patients. Their appointments also mark a shift in SmiLe’s governance, with the board now including external members alongside representatives from Mats Paulsson Foundation, the City of Lund, Lund University, and Region Skåne.

Sjöholm Timén brings around 30 years of experience from the life science industry, including two decades in business development across big pharma, biotech startups, CROs, and consulting. She has also been part of the SmiLe community while heading Business Development at Truly Translational Sweden AB, a SmiLe alumni member. Her experience offers a broad perspective on startup and pharma needs, as well as on how companies, technologies, and business opportunities are assessed in a global life science environment.

Thelin brings a broad perspective on innovation, competitiveness, and Sweden’s wider innovation system, drawing on experience across industries and sectors. She will help strengthen SmiLe’s international position, strategic partnerships, and ability to help companies grow from Sweden into Europe and global markets.

Larsson brings a strong understanding of the conditions for research and innovation within Swedish life science. Through his involvement with the Faculty of Medicine, SciLifeLab, and Medicon Village Innovation, he offers insight into the opportunities and challenges researchers face in translating scientific discoveries into innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Having benefited from being part of the SmiLe ecosystem myself, I’m eager to give back by contributing to the continued development of the community and to the success of the companies within it. SmiLe has supported many life science entrepreneurs in innovative ways and has earned recognition as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs. I am looking forward to contributing my experience from the industry and sharing perspectives on business development, including the basis for fruitful transactions and collaborations,” says Sjöholm Timén.

“I am very pleased to welcome Åsa, Lisa, and Jonas to SmiLe’s board. Their combined experience will provide valuable strategic perspectives as we continue to develop SmiLe and strengthen our position as an internationally recognized startup hub. I look forward to working with the entire board and drawing on their different perspectives as we continue to strengthen our support for life science startups,” says Ulrika Ringdahl, CEO of SmiLe Venture Hub.

SmiLe Venture Hub’s board is chaired by Pia Kinhult of Mats Paulsson Foundation and the European Spallation Source, and includes board members Anders Almgren (City of Lund), Daniel Kronmann (Region Skåne), Sjöholm Timén, Larsson, and Thelin, as well as deputy board members Magnus Nilsson (Lund University) and Jan Annerstedt (City of Lund).