Ideon Science Park’s growth program, Navigator Scale Up, is in full swing. Over a two-year period, five growth companies will receive tailored coaching and mentorship from four navigators – mentors – each. Each mentor contributes their specific expertise.
Depending on the needs of the companies in their growth phase, they receive management support according to an established model that supports growth and innovation. One of the main objectives of the program is to help companies create a sustainable structure for their operations.
The growing startup companies participating in Ideon’s program are Labbot, Devino, Jape, Österlengruppen, and KP Syd.
– With the help of Navigator, we can access the external expertise we need,” says Ola Svennesson, Finance, KP Syd. Together with their network, we can grow steadily on a thoughtful and sustainable platform.
KP Syd is a family business founded in 1936 and today operated by the third generation. Through the R&D company Ockham Technologies at Ideon in Lund, they develop new, sustainable, and innovative solutions in facility management with the intention of scaling up.
This year’s navigators consist of an experienced group with diverse competencies:
- Diana Tieger, Director Development & Engineering and Head of Program Office at BONESUPPORT, has worked for many years in R&D and product development within Medtech as an engineer, product developer, and personnel manager.
- Kerstin Jakobsson, an independent chairman, has over 35 years of experience in international business development from both large and small life science companies, in different positions including CEO.
- Håkan Stensson, from Ownership4, brings more than 35 years of experience in leading positions within the Medtech and pharmaceutical industries. He emphasizes marketing, sales, exports, and quality assurance.
- Neal Greenspan is a business developer at Ideon Science Park and Ignite Sweden, with over 10 years of experience in pitch training and 30 years of experience in marketing and communication.
- Pierre Elzukhi has extensive experience in entrepreneurship, strategy, and business management as a co-founder of IT companies Scalado and Raviteq. He has worked in roles such as CEO, business development, and investor relations.
- Annette Björkén contributes with over 20 years of experience in leading roles with global assignments in marketing and communication, branding, business development, innovation, and sustainable business practices in B2C companies such as Findus, Bona, and Cloetta. She is currently the Head of Insight and Innovation at Midsona.
- Elna Lambrér-Åström, an economist and authorized auditor, brings extensive experience in financial management as a partner at Deloitte & Arthur Andersson. Today, she works as a business advisor, CEO, and chairman as well as an outsourced CFO at Pila Pharma AB. She is also an investor in the “Women Investing Networking Group”.
- Carl Borrebaeck, professor of immunology at Lund University, is currently serving as chairman and board member in several biotechnology companies. Carl founded Alligator Bioscience in 2001 and is a co-founder of BioInvent.
Ingela Hansson currently works as Business Manager & Regional Manager at Avega. She brings her experience as a manager and leader with expertise in digital transformation, eCommerce, and information technology in various industries.
– Our mission since 1983 has been to create more companies based on research and innovation. We aim to support them for sustainable growth, says Lotta Wessfeldt, Vice President/Deputy CEO of Ideon. The growth program, Navigator Scale Up, is a proven concept that on average leads to 25% growth for the participating companies. We have access to some of Skåne’s sharpest growth leaders, so it feels truly exciting that the program is underway.
The program is funded by Vinnova and operated by the Navigator Scaleup foundation.
In total, 30 growing startup companies annually receive support in Sweden through Navigator Scaleup, and Ideon Science Park is one of six selected science parks to manage the program.
