Orsolya Symmons

Programme Manager at European Innovation Council

Speaker

Orsolya is a programme manager with over 15 years overall experience in biomedical research, biotechnology and science management, devoted to advancing the European biotechnology and healthcare innovation ecosystem. She joined the EIC, having previously worked on the Innovative Health Initiative for COCIR, one of the partnership’s founding industry associations.

Orsolya’s research background is in molecular biology, with a PhD from EMBL and the University of Heidelberg (Germany), postdoctoral work at the École normale supérieure de Lyon (France) and the University of Pennsylvania (USA), and additional research experience in Hungary and the UK. She subsequently transitioned to research management, working as scientific coordinator and as head of fish facility at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Germany, before moving to the Brussels environment.

She also co-founded a successful Hungarian biotech company, providing her with insight of the practical hurdles of developing a small business in Europe to the point of sale. Orsolya has co-authored numerous highly cited research articles and is passionate about science communication, with experience in blogging and crowdfunding-based storytelling for public engagement.