Novartis Associates in Slovenia to receive the Prometheus in Science Award for Communication Excellence
- The first virtual Novartis Hackathon in Slovenia, also referred to as Innovation Day, was recognized as the 2020 Best Communication Practice in Science.
- The Slovenian Scientific Foundation, a national non-profit institution for accelerating and promoting science in Slovenia, has been presenting the awards since 2003.
- By receiving this award, Novartis in Slovenia demonstrates its excellence in communicating science and raising awareness of science as an important aspect of the economic and social development
The interdisciplinary team consisting of three Novartis associates in Slovenia, Miha Homar, PhD, Senior Researcher, Leon Rižner, Scientist, and Iva Pilko, P&O specialist, in collaboration withJakob Gajšek, Chief Executive of the Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI),received the Prometheus in Science Award for the first virtual Novartis Hackathon in Slovenia. We organized it under the auspices of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health) together with the Ljubljana University Incubator. The event brought together more than 40 various faculty experts undergoing training and demonstrating their knowledge in two different specialties. Participating experts operating across various areas of science were tackling two challenges. The first was to predict the bioavailability of an active therapeutic agent, its structure and physicochemical properties. The second challenge was augmented reality and data visualization in pharmaceutical technology.
"Novartis in Slovenia recognizes the importance of continuous communication and maintaining contact with young talents, especially nowadays when we operate in the virtual world most of our time. The first Novartis Hackathon in Slovenia demonstrated that the event can also be held virtually providing the same quality and efficiency, and this is why we received the Prometheus in Science Award for Communication Excellency," said Iva Pilko.
At the Slovenian Science Foundation Academy Ceremony, 17 Prometheus in Science Awards for Communication Excellence were presented to individuals or groups demonstrating exceptional achievements in communicating science to various audiences. Prometheus in Science Award is the highest and the only prize presented to researchers, artists, teachers and journalists, who use their work to communicate science with various audiences and place special emphasis on science in general public.
So far, Novartis Associates in Slovenia have received four Prometheus in Science Awards. In 2019, Vesna Stergar, PhD, and Dušan Teslič, PhD, received the award and Zlatko Pflaum, PhD, received a special honorary title of the Star of the Slovenian Science Festival. The first Prometheus of Science was received in 2016 by a team of Darja Ferčej Temeljotov, Ph.D., Zdenko Časar, Ph.D. and Katarina Klemenc for communications excellency of the Regional BioCamp 2015 project.
This award reflects the company’s devotion to development and scientific advancement in relation to broader public and builds meaningful connections between academics and industry.
Novartis is the leading provider of medicines in Slovenia, where Lek d.d., Novartis Pharma Services Inc., Podružnica v Sloveniji and Sandoz d.d., operate. Together we are building and maintaining the reputation of a dynamic, ethical, and trusted pharmaceutical company. Lek develops, manufactures, and markets effective, safe, and high quality medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients. With our knowledge, quality, and experience we have gained an important role in Novartis' organizational structure, especially in the Novartis Technical Operations, Global Drug Development, Novartis Business Services, and the generic division Sandoz. We are the leading Sandoz development center, and one of the key development sites for technologically complex projects. We invest a great deal in the development, education, and training of our employees. Over the last nine years, the company has created more than 3,350 new job opportunities, making us one of the biggest employers in Slovenia. Novartis invested in Slovenia more than EUR 2.7 billion since 2003.
About Sandoz
Sandoz, a Novartis division, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. Our purpose is to pioneer access for patients by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical needs. Our ambition is to be the world’s leading and most valued generics company. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2020 sales of USD 9.6 billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.
Sandoz is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @SandozGlobal at http://twitter.com/Sandoz_Global.
About Novartis
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com.
This press release contains statements and conclusions based on projections of Lek’s future business operations. These estimates are derived from the best information currently available. In case these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results could prove different from those projected.
For additional information contact:
Gregor Makuc
Communications & External Engagement
Lek Pharmaceuticals d. d.
Phone: +386 1 580 22 43
gregor.makuc@sandoz.com
