Summary
Business-driven Innovating in a volatile global market
In his 2024 report on European competitiveness, Mario Draghi warned that Europe risks structural decline unless it strengthens its innovation capacity, regulatory coherence, capital markets, and industrial strategy. Life science remains one of Europe’s most globally competitive sectors. Yet it now operates in an increasingly complex and politically shaped environment.
The competitive landscape for life science is now being shaped by changes in geopolitics, global pricing mechanisms (e.g. Most Favoured Nation (MFN)), technology and capital.
Innovation enablers are transforming the sector. Advances in AI, real-world data, digital platforms, and advanced analytics are redefining clinical development, regulatory pathways, supply chains, and patient engagement. Public–private partnerships, cross-sector alliances, and ecosystem collaboration are increasingly critical for scaling innovation and accelerating the translation of science into impact.
This Masterclass equips life science professionals with the strategic frameworks and capabilities required to lead in this evolving landscape. Developed by Atrium in collaboration with CBS Executive Foundation, the program integrates cutting-edge research, industry cases, peer dialogue, and practical tools.
Why this matters now
In an MFN-influenced environment, innovation is not just about discovering the next breakthrough therapy. It is about designing sustainable value creation models, leveraging AI and data responsibly, building cross-sector alliances, and leading organisations capable of competing in a structurally more complex and politically interconnected global market.
This Masterclass addresses precisely the intersection where science meets strategy, technology meets policy, and innovation becomes a decisive lever for long-term competitiveness.
Keywords
Most Favoured Nation (MFN)
Strategic Innovation leadership
Gen. AI, data science, and digital technology
Public-private partnerships in healthcare
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Course leader & lecturers
- Susie A. RuffCourse leaderCEO
Ruff & Co - Bernt Johan Illum Von ScholtenLecturerCorporate Vice President, Medical & Translational Science, Data Orchestration & Evidence
Novo Nordisk A/S - Frederik NielsenLecturerHealthcare Partnership Director
Novartis Healthcare A/S - Malene FischerLecturerDeputy Chief Executive - Research, Innovation & Education
Region Hovedstaden - Giacomo MarchesiniLecturerAss. Professor, Dep. Strategy & Innovation
Copenhagen Business School
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Is this course for you?
This course is for experienced professionals who work strategically with innovation, digital, or organisational transformation in a life science or healthcare organisation.
What you will learn
- How geopolitical shifts are challenging business models and services across the life science ecosystem
- How business innovation, leadership, and enterprise thinking accelerate the development of new business solutions
- How AI and Tech are transforming life science products and critical processes such as research, clinical trials, and product development
- How public-private partnerships in healthcare can open new pathways for scalable innovation and improved patient outcomes
What your company will get
- An employee who can challenge current innovation practices based on structural industry shifts as well as sound innovation leadership models and frameworks
- An employee who is up to date with how AI and technology are successfully applied in Pharma and Healthcare
- An employee who defines viable pathways for scalable innovation and improved patient outcomes through, e.g., public-private partnerships
Course calendar
Day 1
Keynote: Investor perspective: The Major forces of transformation in the Life Science industry – opportunities and challenges
Innovation Leadership in Life Science
- Innovation challenges and leadership
- Understanding open innovation
Strategising Innovation
- Making strategic choices for innovation
- Ecosystem drivers for innovation
- Developing innovation strategies
Organising innovation
Organisational designs for innovation
By Giacomo Marchesini, Ass. Professor, Dep. Strategy & Innovation, CBS
Action learning and group work:
Mapping innovation enablers and blockers
By Giacomo Marchesini, Ass. Professor, Dep. Strategy & Innovation, CBS
Day 2
Keynote: AI in Life Science – the current landscape and what the future might look like
- Current medical use cases with focus on solutions with clinical data
- Key challenges in development and implementation
- Ethical considerations
- AI in drug development – primarily for clinical studies
- Future prospects and key players
Tech Adoption – from Disruption to Integration
- Mapping tech opportunities: Innovation Radar
- Nurturing, Developing and Capturing Ideas
By Giacomo Marchesini, Ass. Professor, Dep. Strategy & Innovation, CBS
Data Science for Innovation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Brief introduction to ‘Data Science’
- Why is Data Science needed in the pharmaceutical industry?
- What is currently cooking in the Data Science space at Novo Nordisk
By Bernt Johan Illum von Scholten, Senior Vice President, Data Orchestration, Data Science at Novo Nordisk A/S
Action learning and Group work:
On Data Science and Tech as an enabler for Innovation
By Giacomo Marchesini, Ass. professor CBS and Susie A. Ruff, course leader
Day 3
Keynote: Key learnings from Patient pathway project- a public-private partnership in DK
By Frederik Knud Nielsen, Director of public-Private Partnerships, Novartis Healthcare A/S
Strategic Partnerships – how can they contribute to cutting edge innovation in healthcare?
- Best practices in managing partnerships
- Orchestrating partnerships
Innovation via Partnerships in a hospital setting - fireside talk with Malene Fischer, MD, PhD, Deputy Chief Executive - Research, Innovation & Education, Rigshospitalet
Action learning and group work on Public- private partnerships in healthcare
By Susie A. Ruff
Wrap up of Masterclass
Registration
Registration deadline3 Nov 2026
Lersø Parkallé 101
2100 København Ø
21,000 DKK
Course information
Literature
Prior to the course you get access to mandatory and/or optional readings via your personal Atrium log-in.
Prerequisites
Min. 5 years professional experience and preferably min. 1 year experience from the healthcare or life science industry.
Examination
There is no examination for this course.
Course leader
Ruff & Co
Lecturers
Novo Nordisk A/S
Novartis Healthcare A/S
Region Hovedstaden
Copenhagen Business School
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7 May 2026
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