External Innovation Lead, China

The China external innovation lead will interact with venture groups, biotechnology leaders, and academic researchers to identify, draw, and influence the direction of external research opportunities in support of the Biogen portfolio. The successful candidate will command expert knowledge of the external innovation landscape in China relevant to neuroscience drug discovery, therapeutic modalities, and drug discovery technologies. Deep knowledge of drug discovery, high business acumen, along with an outstanding ability to identify emerging scientific opportunities or assets which have the potential to offer breakthrough medicines will be essential characteristics of the successful candidate. The successful candidate will interact with external innovators in academia, patient groups, and venture to build novel collaborations and implement creative business concepts to enrich the Biogen portfolio. The China external innovation lead will collaborate with internal research/development and BD leaders to ensure alignment with research area and corporate strategies and shape early and advanced stage partnering strategies. The China external innovation lead will be a core member of the External Portfolio Innovation Unit (EPIU) and will represent the Unit in internal governance and scientific committees.

Responsibilities

• Establish links with key academic hubs of innovation in life sciences to identify emerging opportunities for research collaborations and provide connectivity between Biogen research lines and the regional scientific ecosystem.
• Partner with academic innovators and internal R&D leaders to establish high performing research collaborations in support of the Biogen portfolio and disease area strategies.
• Identify opportunities to partner with pre-competitive consortia in support of Biogen portfolio objectives.
• Partner with research foundations, venture groups, and academic institutions to explore and implement novel business paradigms to accelerate the translation of new science into assets and capabilities (e.g. seed, equity etc.).
• Establish a rich network of interactions with venture capital groups to gain insights on emerging and established biotechnology companies.
• Partner with emerging and established biotechnology companies to influence the research direction in support of the Biogen portfolio objectives.
• Through a rich network of interactions with biotechnology companies and venture groups identify in-licensing opportunities to support the Biogen portfolio.
• Partner with Biogen business development and R&D leaders to ensure excellence in diligence for in-licensing opportunities.

Qualifications

• Competency in leadership skills
• Demonstrated track record of delivery on successful drug discovery programs and development of scientific strategy required for execution.
• Experience with drug-discovery/development project leadershi

We are seeking an accomplished scientist, able to effectively engage scientific leaders across the research ecosystem in China. The China external innovation lead will create competitive advantage for Biogen by establishing Biogen as the research and development partner of choice.