Magnus Björsne

Executive Director AZ BioVenture Innovation Unit, CEO AZ BioVentureHub AB at AstraZeneca

Speaker

Dr Björsne graduated from the University of Lund and completed his postgraduate studies at Stockholm University, where he obtained his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry. With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr Björsne has held various managerial positions within the AstraZeneca R&D organization. In 2006, he joined the Strategic Planning & Business Development organization, where he has been leading the Cardiovascular Business Development team. This role involves overseeing the search, evaluation, and transaction of mergers and acquisitions, as well as licensing deals.

Since its establishment in 2014, Dr Björsne has been leading AZ BioVentureHub, a unique initiative that promotes open innovation. This program allows smaller biotech companies and academic groups to collaborate closely with the expertise and capabilities present within a large pharmaceutical company like AstraZeneca.

In addition to his industry role, Dr Björsne serves as an Associate Professor at the Gothenburg University Sahlgrenska Academy. He has also held board positions in SwedenBio and UN Global Compact Sweden, demonstrating his commitment to responsible business practices.