Nordic Life Science 1
founded in 2006, has developed over the years int
o a strong life science cluster, producing world-class research in cancer immunotherapy, a broad pipeline of preclinical and clinical stage assets, exciting new innovations, entrepreneurs, collaborations, and partnerships. The national non-profit organization has close to 100 members, ranging from first-rate academic laboratories and clinical centers to startups, small and medium enterprises and global pharmaceutical companies. The cluster is located next door to, and collaborates with, the Oslo University Hospital and its Institute for Cancer Research, as well as the Norwegian Cancer Registry. It also has a long-term schoolindustry collaboration with Ullern Upper Secondary School. The oncology cluster has also made a name for itself on the global arena and strengthened its position as an international knowledge and innovation hub within the field of cancer. A lot of credit for this should be given to the cluster’s Head of International Affairs, Jutta Heix. She is responsible for the establishment, facilitation and coordination of internationalization and innovation initiatives engaging Norwegian and international partners from academia and industry. Jutta Heix speaking at the UiO Oslo Life Science 2019 - Health industry conference. “The best part of my job is having the opportunity to create, conceptualize, and implement various initiatives and projects and see them develop and make an impact. I truly enjoy connecting people, expertise and ideas to advance oncology innovation in Norway and beyond, and thereby help individuals and organizations on their path forward,” she says. A deep interest in molecular biology led Jutta to study biology, first in Bonn and then at the University of Heidelberg for her Diploma and PhD thesis at the German Cancer Research Center. “During my time there I entered a very enriching collaboration with the University of California in Berkeley, where I did part of my PhD work, and where I also had my first contacts with the biotech industry,” she says. Jutta’s first role in the industry was in strategic business development at Roche Diagnostics. Then she joined an exciting joint-venture between BASF and Lynx Therapeutics, exploiting the potential of the massive parallel signature sequencing technology invented by Nobel Laureate Sidney Brenner for drug