About BII
About BII
About BII
Embracing start-ups
Do you want to bring life science research to the market?
BII offers entrepreneurially-minded researchers or anyone with a research-based idea help to bring interdisciplinary ideas to life and research to market. We offer state-of-the-art facilities and various funding opportunities, as well as partnerships and programs with technical, scientific and commercial experts.
Our main focus is medtech, pharma and biotech. We envision that strong collaborations, a passion for science, and an open mind will foster research-based innovation and viable start-ups. BII does not work for profit but for the benefit of human welfare and society around the globe.
Any questions? Check out our FAQ.
BII is a Novo Nordisk Foundation initiative. In the first three years of operation, until the end of 2020, BII has been granted DKK 392 million. After this establishment phase has been evaluated, the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors will decide whether to establish BII as an independent foundation and grant funding for the next seven years of operation.
Read more about the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Meet the BII team
Collaboration is key to us, so please get in touch
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Jens Nielsen
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Bobby Soni
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MH
Markus J. Herrgård
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Thomas Hoffmann
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BK
Birgitte Bosse Knudsen
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Bo Heinemann
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Brian Rosenberg
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Casper Linnemann
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Cathrine Nygaard Christensen
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Christian Brix Tillegreen
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Elias Høgfeldt Daugaard
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Giles Dudley
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Helle Clausen
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Jeroen Bunck
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Hervør Lykke Olsen
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LW
Linda Westerlund
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Louise Clemmensen
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LF
Louise Faurby
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Maria Gøtz Konradsen
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MJ
Maria Henriques De Jesus
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Marie Vedel
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Mette Hvistendahl Munch
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Nina Isaxon-Plougmann
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Paulina Mikkelsen
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Sofie Lorentzen
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Thomas Nagy
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VV
Vignesh Vetrivel
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Zia Winther
Board of directors
Meet the BII Board of Director in the three-year establishment phase
Sten Scheibye, Ph.D., is the Chairman of the BII board of directors under the three-year establishment phase. He was a member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s board of directors and Chairman of the board from 2013 to 2018. He holds a MSc in Chemistry and Physics from 1978 and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from 1981, both from the University of Aarhus, Denmark. In 1983, he obtained a BComm from Copenhagen Business School. From 1995 to 2008, Sten Scheibye was President and CEO of Coloplast A/S, Denmark. Before joining Coloplast in 1993, he served as Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing in Leo Pharma A/S, Denmark. He joined this company in 1981. Sten Scheibye is Chairman of the Danish Industry Foundation, RMIG, Knud Højgaards Foundation, Højgaard Ejendomme A/S and Healthcare DENMARK.
Chairman
Bo Ahrén is the vice-chair of the BII board of directors under the three-year establishment phase. He was a member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s board of directors from 2005 to 2017. Bo Ahrén is pro-vice-chancellor of external engagement and professor of clinical metabolic research at the Department of Clinical Sciences in Lund. He conducts research on diabetes and has been involved in developing new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes. He has previously been chief of medicine at Region Skåne and head of the research clinic at Skåne University Hospital in Lund.
Vice-chairman
Hans Schambye is a biotech executive with a background in corporate strategy, financing and management, drug discovery and development. He has an extensive biological understanding of diseases, experience with pharmaceutical business development and market analysis for drug products and portfolio management.
Board member
Martin Bonde has + 25 years of international experience from the biotech industry and has held several leadership positions as CEO for e.g Vaccibody AS, Epitherapeutics Aps, Natimmune A/S, Combio A/S, Torsana Biosensor A/S, and Ostemeter Biotech A/S.
Board member
Robert G. Urban has over 25 years of international experience in the healthcare industry. In 2018, Robert retired from Johnson and Johnson as the Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, LLC. Prior to joining J&J, Robert was the founding Executive Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was previously the CEO of Acretia Inc, he has also held founding and executive positions at ZYCOS Inc and Pangaea Pharmaceuticals. Robert has served on the Board of diverse companies and not-for-profit organizations.
Board member
Senior management professional with +25 years of R&D and business development experience from the bacteria and enzymes industry. He is a co-inventor on a number of patents as well as publisher of several scientific papers and publications with WWF, WEF and the German Bioeconomy council.
Board member