Scientists Day – Scientific Achievements are always a result of cooperation

“At Lek and Novartis, the cooperation with academic and scientific institutions is of significant importance. We believe that companies and research institutions are natural partners in the development of science, basic knowledge and applied solutions to create economic progress and ensure sustainable social growth and well-being," said Robert Ljoljo, President of the Board of Management of Lek and Novartis Country President, at the opening of the Scientists Day.

The integration between academic research and economy is vital to the success of research. For decades, Lek has been playing an important and active role in shaping these relationships. “The cooperation with research and academic institutions is very valuable to us. Most of us have come from these institutions and we are glad to return to acquire new learnings and to upgrade and share them. Our partners include pharmacists, chemists and biotechnologists, as well as other professionals from diverse fields of research. Such interdisciplinary collaboration is priceless as it encourages the development of innovative ideas and young talents. That is why we can say that our achievements result from the cooperation of the entire Slovenian science," said Darja Ferčej Temeljotov, PhD, Head of Strategic Programs at Lek.

Lek in search for diverse partnerships to develop knowledge and innovation

Lek experts work with faculties, university career centers, and student organizations within a broader regional context. They regularly introduce expertise and work in the pharmaceutical industry to professors and students. Each year, Lek provides internship to more than 100 school pupils and students. In addition, they co-design study programs, participate in Slovenian and international student exchange programs across academic levels, and give lectures at faculties. As an employer, Lek is an active partner in the accreditation scheme of study and training programs aimed at reducing structural unemployment. They also establish partnerships with other successful companies in Slovenia to exchange experience and share best practices on innovation, operational excellence, digitization, new ways of working, and talent development.

While celebrating the Scientists Day, Prof. Borut Božič, PhD, President of the Governing Board of the University of Ljubljana, said: “The mission of the University is to create, preserve and transfer knowledge. In the study process, an individual picks up knowledge through education, while the wider society takes up knowledge through graduates. Being familiar with environmental challenges, including the economy, gives a greater meaning to research and the creation of new knowledge in the academic sphere. On the other hand, the economy itself requires and develops new knowledge by applying a different approach. While the economy focuses on operations using the existing knowledge to deliver a product, the academic sphere focuses on making the next step from the existing knowledge to new learnings. These differences are important to enhance the progress of the society, because it is the intersection of different operations of both spheres that drives the development. In order for this intersection to be as effective and efficient as possible, we need to know each other, work together, and trust each other. Only then can we successfully educate and support young people in their development to understand the differences between the two spheres and successfully build the present and the future on both of them."

For many years, Lek has been working closely with the Jožef Stefan Institute in many areas. “It is very important to us that Lek is one of the companies with the highest investment commitments in R&D. At the same time, it is one of the most important employers of highly-qualified personnel in the field of biomedical research in Slovenia. We believe that such cooperation can be further enhanced and backed up by the state. That is why I am very pleased that we are participating in the Scientists Day, which, in addition to the possibilities to strengthen our cooperation, provides an opportunity for younger colleagues to gain insight into the operation of such a company as Lek," emphasized Prof. Boris Turk, PhD, PhD, Head of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology at the Jožef Stefan Institute.

According to Prof. Božič, the collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana and Lek is very good. “Starting with individual product development projects, our cooperation has grown into a broader project, combining solutions to tackle challenges of innovative and new products by fostering professional and personal growth of employees including employed young researchers and their mentors. Each young talent is followed by two Lek mentors and two Faculty mentors with varied length of service to maximize and leverage the benefits of youthful enthusiasm with innovation and prudence with experience. On the one hand, this enables the Faculty to respond appropriately to the demands of the job market by adapting their study programs, since pharmaceutical knowledge base is rapidly changing. On the other hand, this type of cooperation provides long-term qualified staff to retain high value-added jobs in Slovenia," said Prof. Božič.