The Business of Biotech: Insights, Strategies & the Future of lnnovation

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is delighted to invite Professor Nektarios (Aris) Oraiopoulos to deliver a seminar on April 28, 2025 at The University of Hong Kong. Details are as follows:

 Speaker:

Professor Nektarios (Aris) Oraiopoulos Judge Business School University of Cambridge Bio Nektarios Oraiopoulos is a professor at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. His research and teaching activities aim to improve the discovery and development of new medicines by identifying optimal organisational structures and processes for data-driven, capital efficient, and objective decision-making. His research has been invited for presentation in numerous academic conferences, has won multiple awards, and has been published in the flagship journals of the field. In addition to his academic work, Nektarios has worked closely on research projects with numerous executives from the biopharmaceutical industry, both in large pharmaceutical organisations and small biotech companies. He has also co-authored the book, From Breakthrough to Blockbuster: The Business of Biotechnology (Oxford University Press, 2022) and is currently working on a follow-up one titled “Tackling the Affordability versus Innovation Conundrum: How Entrepreneurs are Making Medicine More Innovative, Affordable, and Accessible” (Oxford University Press, 2026).

Lecture Abstract:

In this talk, we explore the biotech industry’s evolution over the past four decades, discovering the origins of transformative medicines that have dramatically improved the treatment of the most severe diseases. We highlight how academic research, venture capital, capital markets, and pharmaceutical companies have collaborated to foster an environment in which entrepreneurial biotech ventures created novel medicines with remarkable efficiency. We will also showcase how specific companies, from biotech startups to venture capital investors, achieve excellence in decision-making. Finally, we will discuss emerging trends in the global biotech landscape, focusing on the growing impact of AI and the significance of East-West partnerships. These developments continue to redefine the industry’s trajectory, offering new opportunities for discovery and collaboration.

Organizer:

Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), HKU Business School
Techno-Entrepreneurship Core, HKU Business School

Supporting Organization:

YNot Ventures Inc.
General Chamber of Greater Bay Area Young Entrepreneurs Association

Enquiry:

Please contact us at [email protected] for any enquiries.

About CIE:

Sponsored by HKU Business School, the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is committed to connect research and practice, and create a vibrant and diverse community of entrepreneurs and innovators to drive positive changes in Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area.

With our teams and resources inside and outside Hong Kong, we aim at bridging the ecosystems in China and overseas.