InnoScot Health will recommence its educational series of webinars on Wednesday 25 September with a session entitled Beyond the idea: Business tools to support healthcare innovators in achieving success

Introduced by the formal NHS Scotland partner’s Head of Project Management, Gillian Henderson, the free to join webinar will look beyond the idea with a focus on entrepreneurial business tools, and skills and strategies for success. It will include an introduction to lean canvas and business model canvas, showing their value in refining and positioning a concept, and exploring market fit.

Gillian will draw on more than 15 years of experience in medical device development, as well as her involvement in a number of Scottish SMEs and medical device start-ups.

She will be joined by guest speaker Alix Mackay, Director of Business Development, Pharma at CPI - a well-known life sciences events speaker in her own right and expert coach with over 20 years’ experience in the sector.

During the webinar – hosted on Microsoft Teams – Alix will utilise her own hands-on experience to share what entrepreneurial tools for innovators look like in practice while providing an overview on the importance of elements that are instrumental in bringing a product to commercialisation and laying the foundations for further success.

CPI works with big pharma companies and high-growth enterprises to scale up new medicines, develops vaccine production capacity, and navigates the complex regulatory pathways needed to get to market.

Alix leads the team responsible for bringing CPI’s capabilities to industry in the innovative fields of Biologics, Ribonucleic acid (RNA), Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulation, Oligonucleotides, digitalisation, and sustainable manufacturing.

Prior to joining CPI, Alix advised high growth enterprises and start-ups on market strategy. She has guided and coached over 100 CEOs and academic entrepreneurs across the UK, working with key stakeholders including innovation centres, Academic Health Science Networks, and government agencies to help them support the life sciences community.

Alix’s career began in the biopharmaceutical industry where she held a number of senior commercial roles including leading the UK launch of Amgen’s therapeutic monoclonal antibody for the treatment of osteoporosis, a joint venture with GSK.

She has served as a member of Scotland’s Industry Leadership Group for Life Sciences, the Commercial Advisory Board for the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre and is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Gillian said: “After a summer pause, we are delighted to be recommencing our well-received series of webinars which continue to aid healthcare innovators’ learning at a time when fresh, effective thinking is vital.

“We believe this will be a very insightful, practical-based session which will support those with ideas who are looking for the best tools and advice to take them to the next level. Combining clinical and commercial insight is key to translating innovative healthcare ideas into real-world products and services.

“Alix’s huge expertise will undoubtedly be very useful in that sense. Her experience is incredible, and she will offer a really strong bank of first-hand information for attendees who are looking to identify the right toolkits for them to develop healthcare value propositions.

“Taking place from 12-12.45pm, the webinar will be rounded off by a Q&A section, allowing attendees to probe and receive guidance on their own projects or areas of interest.”