Programme: prevent

Searching for cutting-edge digital solutions to the world’s most pressing health problems

Collectively shaking up life sciences in tackling the world's most pressing challenges. How Novo Nordisk’s diverse team of digital experts work with pioneering start-ups across the globe.

The speed of innovation in today’s digital age across the life science industry is unprecedented. The pharmaceutical industry is no exception. At Novo Nordisk, we’re investing extensively in the latest technologies and digital tools to support the brightest minds in pursuing innovative digital solutions to the world’s most pressing health problems. Wherever possible, we want to prevent disease, period. This is our driving ambition when seeking out and fostering digital talents.

And that’s how our Digital Prevention Accelerator programme was born. To create a place for consultants, IT specialists, and others with a wide range of skills such as a strategic mindset, flair for new tech, digital aptitude, business acumen and, most importantly, a passion for creative solutions. Here, they’re invited to join us in working closely with start-ups already tackling the big challenge in life sciences. They’re tasked to challenge, support and inspire, by looking at things differently, to help find better ways to solve our biggest challenges using the latest digital advancements and tools.

A call for innovation

The first challenge the Digital Prevention Accelerator is addressing is the global issue of obesity. With over 650 million people worldwide living with obesity, discovering better methods to combat this challenge could be a game-changer.

The first step was an open global call to start-ups from around the world to submit their digital solutions that can empower individuals or societies to predict – or even prevent – obesity. Selected start-ups would receive funding and the support of Novo Nordisk to pilot their solutions and bring them to life.

The first step was an open global call to start-ups from around the world to submit their digital solutions that can empower individuals or societies to predict – or even prevent – obesity. Selected start-ups would receive funding and the support of Novo Nordisk to pilot their solutions and bring them to life.

The first-round response was inspiring. The proposals received were diverse and imaginative. The Open Innovation team from the Business Innovation Garage in Novo Nordisk scouted over 100 start-ups, received 74 applications, and invited eight start-ups to pitch their idea to a cross-functional leadership team. Each proposal approached the issue of obesity from a different angle – covering areas from mental health to biodata.

One start-up that received funding was Digbi Health. Their ambition is to prevent obesity by developing a digital solution that targets the disease’s root causes. To do this, they pull continuous digital data points from wearables and combine these with biological data such as gut microbiome samples and saliva.

More than medicine

The investment in, and the potential of, start-ups such as Digbi Health has been well received both externally and within Novo Nordisk. And internal backing to the accelerator programme is important, as it underlines the company’s commitment to innovation outside of just drug development, making the accelerator programme an attractive prospect for both start-ups, talents, and our organisation.

Working as part of the accelerator programme, employees probably experience more of a start-up vibe than they would expect from a typical life science company. There are no lab coats. No microscopes. You're more likely to find a business consultant or a cloud computing scientist than a biologist or chemist. The programme also has the added benefit of serving as an alternative entry point for people who might not have considered a career in the life sciences before.

If what we’re doing at the Digital Prevention Accelerator sounds intriguing, then you’ve come to the right place. The team is growing, and your talent’s might just be what we need. If you’re driven by strategic and creative problem-solving, then there's no better place to be in life sciences.