Jornt Mos, Master student of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences & Science Based Business at Leiden University
Innovation is becoming more important every day, especially in the area of medical science and healthcare. Science Based Business allowed me to gain and develop my knowledge and skills in how to bridge the gap between fundamental research and business.
"Combining science with innovation and business
After receiving my Bachelor degree in Bio-Medical Sciences from the University of Groningen, I was interested in looking beyond the onset of disease. I wanted to become more knowledgeable about drug discovery and the transition to business. Leiden University was able to offer me exactly that: the combination of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences with a Science Based Business (SBB) Master specialization.
The SBB program is dynamic, engaging, and very relevant
The SBB Fundamentals courses cover the most crucial aspects of business and are as interesting and enjoyable as they are intensive. The SBB program follows the case-method teachings of the Harvard Business School allowing students to be fully engaged in the interactive lectures and business case discussions. Personally, this is what made the SBB program one of my favorite experiences during the Master. By analyzing original business cases from the Harvard Business School, INSEAD, the London Business School and other top ranked business schools around the world, you are continuously being challenged and required to apply the knowledge you gained from the lectures. As a science student, this was one of the best possible ways for me to learn quickly about the fundamentals of business. The multidisciplinary SBB class is also a great feature of the program. Being able to address the business cases in a group of students from different study backgrounds encourages you to think in new ways, to discuss these cases in-depth and to learn about the different approaches to finding a solution. This dynamic added a lot of value to the discussions in class and the courses in general. Overall, the SBB program differentiates itself from other university business courses by its strong focus on innovation and science as a driving force of business. Considering the continuous growth in (bio)tech-based and science-based start-ups and companies, this makes it a very relevant program in my opinion.
Putting my knowledge into practice at Novartis through the SBB internship
I was excited about being able to do a business internship for the SBB program. The six-month SBB internship allows students to put into practice what they have learned during the Fundamentals courses. It is also a great opportunity to gain experience in a business environment and to orientate yourself on the possibilities for a future career in business. From August 2016 until February 2017 I am doing an internship in Portfolio Management at Novartis and I am based in the city-like headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. During the internship I am working in a team of Technical Project Leaders and Portfolio Managers who are responsible for managing and developing the innovative Biologics portfolio.
A virtual tour of the Novartis campus in Basel: http://campus.novartis.com//
The Biologics Technical Development & Manufacturing division: http://btdmstory.com/
Innovation up close: the SBB business trip to Boston, USA
Following the SBB Fundamentals, we had the opportunity to participate in a business trip to Boston in the summer (July, 2016). During this trip we visited several start-ups/companies, innovation centres, networking events and universities (Harvard Business School and MIT) in the Boston area. The week-long trip was organized by and for SBB students and alumni and was an excellent way to experience the innovative culture of different businesses and organizations up close.
Looking back, I can say with confidence that the Science Based Business specialization was the right choice for me. It has helped me to explore, and prepare for, the possibilities for a career outside of research."
By Jornt Mos, Spring 2016 participant in the SBB Fundamentals course.