Lek’s ScienceBEAT Event Opens the Door to the World of Pharmaceuticals for a Second Generation of Students
- For the second year in a row, Lek, a Sandoz company, organised ScienceBEAT, a world-class scientific and professional event for students of science and business from Slovenia and abroad.
- The event gave young talents access to a global network of professional excellence in science and entrepreneurship.
- Through various projects, Lek reaches out to promising students and experts in different fields, enabling them to collaborate with foreign experts in the international environment of Sandoz’s global network, to acquire new knowledge and skills, to unleash their talents and creativity, and to build their careers.
The second ScienceBEAT, organised by Lek for promising Slovenian and foreign young experts took place between 11 and 13 September in Ljubljana, Maribor, and Lendava, and has successfully concluded. It offered participants access to leading experts and talented peers, and gave them a unique insight into the trends and challenges of the modern pharmaceutical industry.
Over a 3-day event 29 participants, selected from among 118 applicants from 16 countries, experienced the pulse of a global pharmaceutical company and leader in the development and manufacturing of biosimilars and generic pharmaceuticals.
The programme included visits to Lek’s sites in Ljubljana and Lendava, where they visited Development Centre Slovenia and production facilities, and got an insight into the work of top Lek and Sandoz scientists. The main part of the programme took place in Maribor, where participants listened to expert lectures, took part in skill development workshops, and gained practical experience by working in teams on a set pharmaceutical challenge, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in practice.
Among the participating teams, the mentors chose the one that convinced them the most with its breakthrough and innovative solutions. The winner of this year’s ScienceBEAT was Kaja Zajc, a graduate of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Pharmacy and a postgraduate student of the International IMB programme at the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana, who said, “I am proud and honoured to have been selected as ScienceBEAT’s Most Outstanding Participant. I am grateful to the excellent team that allowed me to fully demonstrate my skills and knowledge. I highly recommend attending the event, as the experience and knowledge gained are invaluable.”
The members of the winning Pink Pharmthers team, Lana Rakovec, Elena Ferraguzzi, Eva Cerkvenik, Matija Bajželj, Dragana Zaklan, and Đorđe Đukanović said, “We are surprised and happy to have been selected as the best team. We also sincerely congratulate all the other teams who, with their ideas and solutions, have demonstrated the enormous potential of our generation.”
The event also offered participants an exceptional opportunity to network, and to gain invaluable knowledge and expertise from world-renowned scientists who are pushing the boundaries in their fields. The keynote speaker was Nobel Laureate Sir Gregory P. Winter, an English biochemist best known for his research into the development of technologies for the production of humanised and human therapeutic antibodies. Miha Škerlavaj, Professor of Management at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana and Associate Professor of Management and Organisational Behaviour at BI Norwegian Business School, and Claire D'Abreu-Hayling, Chief Scientific Officer at Sandoz, also shared their extensive knowledge and experience with the participants.
Gregor Makuc, Lek’s Chief Executive Director, emphasised from the sidelines of the event that young talent is the foundation of our future development and progress. “I am proud that this year’s ScienceBEAT is being attended by a second generation of outstanding young professionals. I am delighted that we have put in place a long-term system for identifying outstanding young talent early, giving them access to the best mentors, to practical experience, and to an environment in which they can develop their potential. Their curiosity, creativity, and innovation are the factors that will take us forward, and help us shape new breakthroughs within the pharmaceutical industry and beyond.”
Jure Vajs, Head of Strategic Programs and head of the ScienceBEAT organisation team, added that the event is designed to encourage innovative thinking and collaboration, both key elements for success in the modern pharmaceutical sector. “ScienceBEAT is a platform that allows young talents to showcase themselves and connect with the industry in a very practical way. Our aim is to create an environment where students can test their theoretical knowledge against the real challenges we face in the pharmaceutical industry. By allowing them to share ideas and to work with top experts, we want to inspire young people to reach their full potential and to boldly embark on the path of innovation.”
ScienceBEAT is the recipient of the Golden Practice 2023 award, given by the newspaper Dnevnik for innovative and effective HR practice. More information about the event is available on the website www.lek.si/sciencebeat.
About Lek
Lek, a Sandoz company, is the first and oldest pharmaceutical company in Slovenia, developing, manufacturing and marketing effective, safe and high-quality generics and biosimilars for patients around the world. Our work is guided by strong ethical standards, innovative thinking and the breakthrough achievements of our world-class professionals. With more than 3,700 associates, we have been actively shaping the Slovenian, European and global research and development landscape for decades. We are building a culture of open dialog, and we proudly and responsibly hold the title of most reputable employer in Slovenia.
About Sandoz
Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose: pioneering access for patients. More than 20,000 people of 100 nationalities work together to ensure 800 million patient treatments are provided by Sandoz, generating substantial global healthcare savings and an even larger social impact. Its leading portfolio of approximately 1500 products addresses diseases from the common cold to cancer. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to 1886. Its history of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world’s first oral penicillin in 1951, and the first biosimilar in 2006. In 2023, Sandoz recorded sales of USD 9.6 billion.
Disclaimer
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