CCRM Nordic is a not-for-profit organization that is currently in the process of establishing an entirely new infrastructure to support the commercialization of advanced therapies, such as cell and gene therapy, at GoCo Health Innovation City. They are backed by an industry consortium and in 2023 they were granted funding by Vinnova. We sat down with CEO Fredrik Wessberg to talk about the incredibly inspiring work he and CCRM Nordic are doing.
The laboratories in which CCRM Nordic will conduct both production and process development work are the main core of the organization. But they also support with business development as well as other areas that relates to the commercialization of these kind of products.
- The single most important part of our organization, however, is the competent staff that will deliver and lead the work we are doing, says Fredrik Wessberg.
Currently, there are five people working at CCRM Nordic and they will most likely have doubled in numbers before the end of the year. All of which are working with various expertise to establish the center where Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) development will be conducted.
- Cell therapy is exceptional as it creates new possibilities for curing diseases that we today cannot cure but rather treat to minimize the symptoms and effects. The fact that we in the future will be able to cure these diseases is the “cool” part of cell therapy and something that will enable us to live longer and healthier lives, says Wessberg.
At GoCo there is a strong focus on collaboration and CCRM Nordic itself, as a business, is the perfect example of a successful outcome of collaboration and cooperation. The organization is backed by both Vinnova, Sweden’s Innovation Agency, and an industry consortium which together with the work and support from academia and the health care has made CCRM Nordic possible.
- We would not exist if it weren’t for collaboration. The entire foundation of CCRM Nordic builds upon collaboration between large and small businesses, academia, health care, and the government, explains Wessberg.
Furthermore, Wessberg emphasizes the importance of collaboration within Life Science by explaining how it is almost a requirement to collaborate between different parties to become successful today. Regardless of if you’re a large business or a small business, all parties need to collaborate and help each other. Wessberg thinks it is key that businesses in Life Science dare to be more open and for example share data between partners and even competitors to further advance development in the future.
- I am looking forward to working with anyone who wants to work with us. Small businesses, large businesses, academia, individual researchers - CCRM Nordic is available for anyone who could benefit from our services, says Wessberg.
Further, Wessberg believes that the encouragement of collaboration, openness, and the sharing of information within the industry will develop the Swedish Life Science field. By enabling companies to collaborate with other parties in the country they will be able to stay and advance innovation right here.
- Sweden is a small country that has a lot of great research, we are good at innovation, we are good at early development, however, we are not so competitive at translating and commercializing those innovations and ideas. We need better pre-conditions to develop our projects further within Sweden, so we are not forced to move our ideas or find our partners somewhere else, says Wessberg.
A lot is happening within the industry in Sweden and Wessberg means that we are now seeing improvements and investments that possibly will help us catch up to the development level of larger countries around the world. Which of course relates to the establishment of CCRM Nordic here in Sweden.
- The fact that we can find help and collaborating partners here in Sweden or the Nordics instead of having to go to other European countries, USA, or Asia will help us shorten lead times and reduce costs of projects in the future, explains Wessberg.
The location of GoCo Health Innovation City works well for CCRM Nordic as it is close to collaborating partners as well as a good place to find clients. Additionally, Wessberg highlights his trust in the new city center of GoCo and the fact that what was planned and promised at the beginning of the city planning process, in 2017, is already happening in the area. This makes GoCo an attractive environment to be in for CCRM Nordic. Besides, he expects that the addition of CCRM Nordic’s GMP lab in the area is incredibly important as it is now a scarce resource, and it will enable smaller businesses to maintain and advance their ideas and work here in Sweden.
When asked Wessberg describes GoCo Health Innovation city with the three words Collaboration, Innovation, and Courage.
- I look forward to watching GoCo become a lively city center, which it now has all the right conditions to flourish into. A place for cross-border collaboration where businesses can gather inspiration, energy and new opportunities. I think it will be the key to breaking down barriers and finding successful collaborative Life Science projects in the future, concludes Wessberg.
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