BII strengthens international profile with new board member

BioInnovation Institute (BII) is adjusting the composition of its Board of Directors as part of a strategic strengthening of the institute’s international profile. The change follows BII’s ambition and recent announcements regarding the establishment of new funds focused on investments in the United Kingdom and Italy and is intended to support the organization’s continued expansion.

Danish biotech entrepreneur Hans Schambye is stepping down from the board in connection with his appointment as CEO of Boost Pharma. He is succeeded by American business executive Jim Glasheen, Chief Executive of Cambridge Enterprise, the innovation arm of the University of Cambridge.

Chair of the Board Marianne Philip emphasizes that the change is a natural consequence of BII’s development:

“Hans has played an absolutely central role in the success we have achieved since our establishment in 2017. With his extensive experience in translating research into commercial solutions and his strong network within the Danish biotech sector, he has been an invaluable part of the board’s work,” she says, and continues:

“As we expand our European activities, we have wanted to add further international competencies to the board, and we are therefore very pleased to welcome Jim Glasheen.”

Hans Schambye looks back on his time on the board with pride:

“It has been a pleasure to help develop BII from vision into a strong platform for Danish biotech and life science. BII has created a unique environment where research is translated into companies with international potential. I look forward to following the institute’s continued growth and to continued collaboration across the industry.”

BII will continue to work closely with Hans Schambye through his engagement in the Danish biotech sector and as Chair of Dansk Biotek.

Strong international experience on the Board

With the appointment of Jim Glasheen, BII strengthens its international outlook and network. Glasheen has more than 25 years of experience from leading innovation and investment environments in the United States and the United Kingdom and has contributed to establishing and developing a number of biotech companies, including Atalanta Therapeutics and Clade Therapeutics.

His experience in scaling research-based companies and building international partnerships is expected to become an important asset in BII’s next phase of growth.

Chief Executive Officer Jens Nielsen at the same time underlines that BII continues to have its strongest and most pronounced focus on Denmark:

“We will continue undeterred to strengthen collaboration with the Danish universities and develop programmes and value offerings tailored to creating the strong Danish companies of the future within areas such as pharma and health technology, quantum technology and new biosolutions.”

With the new board composition, BII stands strengthened in its ambition to both develop Danish life science companies and expand BII’s international presence in the years ahead.