BII Magazine - The Digital Edition
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BII Magazine
- the digital edition

W

ho came up with the idea of BioInnovation Institute back in 2016? What does it feel like to raise a series A investment? How does BII work with venture capitalist firms to select the best start-ups?

You will find the answers to that and a lot more in this digital edition of BII Magazine. A deep dive into what we came from and an outlook on the future of life science entrepreneurship.

We hope you enjoy!
The BII team

Take a deep dive into BII’s magazine

BII Events & Community

magazine quote

“When we were in the planning phase with BioInnovation Institute, the important question was if there really were enough innovative ideas and entrepreneurs to warrant what is probably the largest incubator in the Nordic region. Now, two years into the life of BII, I am very impressed with both the quantity and quality of research projects and start-ups with commercial potential supported by BII. This is very positive, as it will eventually lead to new innovative products and solutions that can benefit people and society.” Lars Rebien Sørensen, Chairman of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors.

BII start-ups and alumni

A few of the start-ups we have had the privilege to work with since 2018.

Looking for insights?

2016
The idea of BII comes to life at the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Dec. 2017
The BII Playbook is approved by the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors
Jan. 2018
A team of 5 is hired to unfold the BII Playbook
Mar. 2018
The construction of BII’s labs and offices in the center of Copenhagen begins
Jun. 2018
The BII team expands to 11 people
Jul. 2018
Sten Scheibye is announced as Chair of the BII Board of Directors
Sep. 2018
BII opens the first calls
Sep. 2018
The first eight start-ups join the BII pilot program
Nov. 2018
BII cuts the ribbons to the new lab and offices
Nov. 2018
BII hosts the very first DemoDay, presenting the portfolio to the ecosystem
Feb. 2019
Professor Jens Nielsen becomes CEO of BII
Mar. 2019
The event series Talks at The Square is launched, featuring CRISPR pioneer Dr. Feng Zhang
Jun. 2019
BII welcomes project number 50 project
Aug. 2019
BII accumulates EUR 13.5M in funding given to start-ups and early projects
Sep. 2019
STipe Therapeutics raises a series A investment as the first BII start-up
Nov. 2019
Dr. Robert Langer visits BII and becomes Chair of BII’s Scientific Advisory Board
Jan. 2020
The Novo Nordisk Foundation increases BII’s funding with additional EUR 10M in the three-year establishment phase
Jan. 2020
BII Faculty is launched
Sep. 2020
BII funds project number 78
Sep. 2020
BII accumulates EUR 45M in funding for early-stage projects and start-ups
Sep. 2020
The Novo Nordisk Foundation announces the establishment of BII as an independent Foundation
Dec. 2020
BII becomes an independent foundation
Sep. 2021
The first batch of start-ups enters the BII Venture Lab program
2030
BII’s incubator grows to encompass up to 500 people

Dig into BII’s Fact & Figures

BII’s founders and funding

The Novo Nordisk Foundation may decide to award up to a total of EUR 470M (DKK 3.58B) over a 10-year period to BII.

BII has been awarded EUR 90M (DKK 674M) in funding for 2021-2022 by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to establish BII as an independent foundation.

BII’s annual funding activities are expected to increase significantly, starting in 2021.

Our projects and start-ups

BII start-ups and projects bring out innovative ideas in therapeutics, bioindustrials, and health tech.

The start-up teams in BII’s programs say that they apply for three main reasons: network, funding, and expertise.

Series A: STipe Therapeutics is the first BII start-up to raise a series A investment. In September 2019, the company closed a deal for EUR 20M (DKK 150M).

Community and network

BII has had several distinguished, international speakers at in-house events: the most cited engineer in history, MIT professor Robert Langer; CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang; Nobel Prize Winner Frances Arnold; Co-founder of Zymergen Zach Serber; and acclaimed MIT professor Linda Griffith.

BII’s business developers have lived and worked in 27 different countries.

Amongst our partners are the law firm Plesner, the IP consultancy Zacco, the patent law firm Høiberg, and the strategy consulting and investment banking firm, Back Bay Life Science Advisors.

500 by the end of 2023, BioInnovation Institute expects to host an ecosystem of up to 500 people.

Board of Directors for the BII Foundation

Sten Scheibye
Chairman, PH.D., Chemistry and BCom
Member of the Board of Directors of Novo Nordisk A/S from 2003 and Chairman 2006 to 2013, member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors and Chairman from 2013 to 2018. 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.
Marianne Philip
Vice-Chair, Partner at Kromann Reumert, Lawyer, JD, L.M.
Member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2014 and Vice-Chair since 2018. Marianne Philip serves on several boards including as Chair of The Committee on Foundation Governance and is among others experienced in company and foundation law, investments and corporate governance.
Bo Ahrén
Board member, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Lund University, Ph.D, MD.
Member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2005 to 2017. Bo Ahrén has previously been Chief of Medicine at Region Skåne in Sweden, head of the research clinic at Skåne University Hospital in Lund and Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. He conducts research on diabetes and has been involved in developing new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.
Hans Schambye
Board member, CEO at Galecto, Inc. MD PhD
Serial entrepreneur with a background in drug discovery and development, corporate strategy, financing, and management. Hans Schambye has an extensive experience in managing biotech companies, based on in depth biological understanding of diseases and pharmaceutical R&D.
Martin Bonde
Board member, CEO at Inthera Bioscience, Ph.D., Chemistry
With + 25 years of international experience from the biotech industry, Martin Bonde has held several leadership positions as CEO for e.g. Vaccibody, Epitherapeutics, Natimmune, Combio, Torsana Biosensor, and Ostemeter Biotech.
Regina Hodits
Board member, Managing Partner, Wellington Partners, Ph.D.
An influential investor in the European VC industry with + 20 years of experience, focusing on early-stage and growth deals in life sciences. Regina Hodits serves as the Spokesperson for the Board of the German PE and VC Association.
Robert G. Urban
Board member, Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology
Former Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC. Robert G. Urban was also the founding Executive Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and he has served on the board of various companies and non-profit organizations.
Thomas Schäfer
Board member, EVP & CSO & board member, Chr. Hansen A/S, Ph.D.
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.
Birgitte Nauntofte
Board member, CEO of The Novo Nordisk Foundation, Ph.D
Birgitte Nauntofte has served on several boards and science committees. She currently serves as committee member of Recommendations on foundation governance. Before joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, she had the position of Vice Dean at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

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