Nordic Life Science 1
a self-described “tech nerd” has been the head of
Vinnova, the Swedish government agency for innovation. Darja Isaksson, heralded as a “supertalent” by Resume magazine, has expertise in digitization, design, business, and policy. These experiences inform her mission of innovation through public-private co-creation and her vision of social and economic sustainability. Corporate strategies and policies, she says, must recognize this: “Societal outcomes such as better health require sustainable companies capable of innovation. It’s a prerequisite to a globally competitive industry.” Isaksson “can steer Vinnova into new digital era,” says Jenni Nordborg, National Coordinator for Life Science Sweden. She was previously head of Vinnova’s health division, with Lars Hammerström from SciLifeLab research center now in that role. As director general, Isaksson oversees 200-plus Vinnova employees in Stockholm, Brussels, Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv. The agency annually invests about SEK three billion in research and innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic is, of course, affecting those investments. In light of the economic consequences of COVID-19, Isaksson says, “It’s crucial that we see initiatives to support the many valuable startups and scale-ups within life science and biotech in Sweden.” Vinnova has a budget for short-term efforts and is developing new strategic initiatives and is also working with existing projects to help them through the crisis.