Cambridge Judge and AstraZeneca Promote Biotech Startups

In partnership with AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, the Entrepreneurship Centre at University of Cambridge Judge Business School is highlighting its innovative UK biotech startups. A commitment to scientific innovation and entrepreneurship is vital at Cambridge Judge, and AstraZeneca’s mentoring collaboration, where executives share their expertise with students, is at the heart of the effort.

As for why AstraZeneca chose to share its knowledge with Cambridge Judge, it’s more than merely a philanthropic exercise. It’s about challenging the thinking within the company and exposing workers to new approaches and challenges. Also, it’s because they desired the opportunity to strengthen their science-led partnerships.

“The opportunity to strengthen and forge new science-led partnerships was a significant driver behind our decision to move one of our three strategic R&D centres and global headquarters to Cambridge, UK, to benefit from the city’s rich, bioscience ecosystem,” read the article.

However, the Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge isn’t the only partnership the company has. They are also in collaboration with Accelerate Cambridge and the HRH The Duke of York’s Pitch@Palace initiative, a biennial competition for UK entrepreneurs. For both, AstraZeneca provides hands-on support, which includes training, mentoring, and engaging fledgling life sciences businesses.

“We do not operate in an ecosystem of bio-science alone, but also of businesses–and it is this that has prompted very different type of partnership for AstraZeneca, with a number of business mentoring initiatives to support life science entrepreneurs,” they explain. “Through these schemes, employees across AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, are able to share their expertise in areas such as business development, marketing, intellectual property and early development and innovation alliances, with the next generation of biotech start-ups in the UK.”

And, so far, the partnerships have been successful. Already, more than 60 people from AstraZeneca and its research and development arms have participated in the programs with Cambridge, which has also benefited more than 75 startups. As for what AstraZeneca has gained, they’ve received inspirations from entrepreneurs, and they’ve been opened up to a range of new opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

“It’s exciting to be around fledgling biotech businesses as part of our work with Cambridge Judge Business School,” said Mene Pangalos, the Executive Vice President of IMED and Business Development. “We benefit hugely from their entrepreneurial thinking and it allows us to have a hand in shaping the future of our industry.”

regions: London

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