- Member of the Novartis Executive Committee and President of Operations Steffen Lang, Ph.D., participated in the panel Navigating the Global Flux: Disruptions and Prospects in Trade, Economy and Industry Dynamics at the 19th Bled Strategic Forum.
- In the panel discussion with Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič and other distinguished guests, Lang emphasized Novartis’ prominence as a major employer, economic player and investor in Slovenia.
- He also pointed out that the Slovenian team handles more than half of Novartis’ priority innovative medicines at different stages of development, production and service delivery, greatly contributing to the implementation of the company’s strategy.
Ljubljana, September 3, 2024 – Steffen Lang, Ph.D., member of the Novartis Executive Committee and President of Operations, took part in this year’s Bled Strategic Forum. In the context of the forum panel Navigating the Global Flux: Disruptions and Prospects in Trade, Economy and Industry Dynamics, Lang discussed the challenges of the European pharmaceutical industry and the future of innovation. He emphasized the significant contribution of the Slovenian sites to Novartis’ global success as well as the important role Novartis plays as a top employer, economic player and investor, and how it is the first and leading pharmaceutical company for innovative medicines in Slovenia.
As a global, innovative pharmaceutical company, Novartis is a major contributor to the European economy, with innovative pharmaceuticals dramatically outperforming other high-tech sectors in Europe in terms of turnover. The pharmaceutical industry directly employs 840,000 people in Europe and indirectly creates three times as many jobs. Steffen Lang stressed the importance of innovation and the efforts it entails: “Innovation is not something to be taken for granted. It requires significant investment in research, development, production and, of course, in people and knowledge. Research-driven pharmaceutical companies are not only crucial for patients, they contribute to the local economy, foster collaborative relationships with universities, create opportunities for service companies, and employ talent, encouraging creativity and promoting science.”
Since 2003, Novartis has invested over 3.4 billion euros in Slovenia; its trust in local expertise and strong commitment to further advancing the local sites is evidenced by the fact that Novartis in Slovenia currently has ongoing projects with a total value of over 500 million euros.
In fact, the sites in Ljubljana and Mengeš handle more than half of Novartis’ priority innovative medicines in different stages of development, production and service delivery. Novartis is also the only company in Slovenia with the capacity for the full production cycle of innovative biologics, from R&D to delivery. The company employs over 3,600 people in Slovenia and ensures access to all Novartis’ core innovative medicines for local patients.
Steffen Lang stressed that a stable, well-regulated, and predictable economic environment that cultivates competition and stimulates innovation is vital for the success of Novartis, as well as for the entire European economy. He said the key to becoming future-ready is in focusing on talent development: “At Novartis, we believe that innovation is driven by individuals equipped with the right knowledge and skills, in a conducive working environment. The path to excellence starts with an effective education system, continues with the lifelong development of hands-on expertise, and is fueled by a supportive organizational culture. This comprehensive approach enables us to nurture and develop a pool of talent to take on any challenges the future may bring.”