< PreviousPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/COMANICIU DAN30-33_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:14 Page 1Pharma Business International 31www.pbiforum.netTRAINING & DEVELOPMENTPharmaceutical companies havealways reached for high standards,but their customers now often expectthem to go above and beyond theirlegal requirements to ensure absolutequality before they award contracts. Thismeans manufacturers need to ensuretheir equipment and procedures areabsolutely exceptional.Although the investment in training andtechnology requires some short termexpenditure, the long term results can behugely impressive, with companies ableto compete at the very top level and bewell-placed to land major contracts. Themost successful companies in thepharmaceuticals sector are those whichhave benefited from innovation andinvestment in a high qualityinfrastructure.The pharmaceutical industry, like mostothermanufacturingsectors, is constantly inneed of a steady stream of new talent,both to replace those who are lost to theindustry through retirement and to ensureemployees are well equipped with up todate knowledge of their roles and theindustry as a whole. Initiatives such asthe See Inside Manufacturing scheme inthe UK helps achieve this by raising theprofile ofmanufacturingand providing an excellent opportunityto identify new recruits – as well asdeveloping existing employees who getthe opportunity to pass on their skills.There are plenty of examples of howstronger links between businesses andWhen it comes to talent, thepharmaceutical industry is ruthlesslydemanding. The future might be inperil, however, with more childrenopting away from STEM subjects.The nextgeneration32 ÁPHOTO: ANYAIVANOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM30-33_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:14 Page 2TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT32Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.neteducational establishments are reaping the rewards for employersand employees alike. Many are working together as part ofIndustrial CASE Studentships, to support cutting-edge researchinto some of the current pressing medical and biologicalchallenges.The studentships fund four-year collaborative PhD projectssupervised jointly by a member of academic staff and an industrialpartner. Studentships are principally based at the academic partner,with a mandatory placement at the non-academic partner for aminimum of three and up to eighteen months. The University ofLeicester has been awarded four of these studentships, allowingbusinesses to take advantage of burgeoning medical and biologicalresearch talent.The biggest problem comes as a result of a decline in manycountries of graduates within fields applicable to the industry – orsciences in general. Within the UK this is very pronounced, andother countries are finding similar results. Initiative such as STEMare working to make science subjects more appealing to youngeraudiences, in hopes that this will create a long term solution, but itdoes little to prop up problems in the short term. Short-term solutions are limited to two realistic options. Firstlythat companies invest more in their recruitment strategies, toattract the best talent available – limited as it may be. Headhuntingand aggressive marketing campaigns might help to take talent fromrivals, but the risk is that such actions can cause rifts betweencompanies who might have before had positive relations. Alsothere is the fact that employees who were tempted away by acompany have already proven that they will move where the grassis greenest, meaning that a counter-push by another companymight have them moving on once more. The other option is to invest more in developing the skills ofexisting or new employees to fill the gap in the market. This issomething of a medium-term approach, as the training might takesome time in its own right, but it still should end in the sameresults. In these cases employees might be more willing to stayloyal to the company, as they have invested in helping theemployee expand their skills. This can also boost motivation andmorale within the organisation. That said, it can be as expensive asrecruitment itself, especially if it’s a large number of people beingtrained up. In addition, there is the risk of the employees failingsuch programmes or struggling to absorb material. In many cases this is something which can be mitigated withcareful planning, however. Employees should be interviewed andselected based on their merits, including likeliness to stick to thecourse, invest their time in learning outside of work time – andoverall previous performance for the company. Employees whohave proven their worth in the past will surely do so again in thefuture, so why not train them to take over more important roles?30-33_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:15 Page 3Pharma Business International 27www.pbiforum.netTRAINING & DEVELOPMENTPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ANDREI_R30-33_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:15 Page 434Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netThere has been speculation about the impactthat political shocks such as Brexit will have onthe industry. But research by the organisers ofVitafoods Europe paints an overwhelminglypositive picture, with excitement aboutconsumer awareness and developing marketson the rise.Given the mood of optimism, it seems fittingthat this year’s Vitafoods Europe, the globalnutraceutical event, is expected to be thebiggest ever. The first event took place in 1997– there were 100 exhibitors, and just over 1,000attendees. This year, there are expected to beover 1,000 exhibitors and over 18,500 visitors. The stature of Vitafoods Europe has growntoo. It is firmly established as the place to befor anyone who wants to do business, sourcenew ingredients and products, learn andnetwork in the global nutraceutical industry.They will have access to a range of attractionsacross four key market areas: ingredients & rawmaterials, branded finished products, contractmanufacturing & private label, and services &equipment.As well as being a key sourcing event,Vitafoods Europe helps visitors make the mostof opportunities and overcome challenges. Boththe main trade show and the newly revampedVitafoods Education Programme offer a wealthof expert advice.There will also be plenty of innovation onshow in the New Products Zone, and theSpringboard Pavilion will provide a space toengage with entrepreneurs at the cutting edgeof the nutrition sector. For visitors who like theirinformation bite-sized, the unique VitafoodsLaunchpad will offer concise, highly focusedexhibitor presentations about the latestproducts and ingredients. New for 2017, the Vitafoods InnovationVITAFOODS EUROPE 2017Political and economic uncertainties have failed to dent optimism at thisyear’s upcoming Vitafoods Europe event, taking place 9-11 May 2017 atPalexpo, Geneva.34-35_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:15 Page 1Pharma Business International 35www.pbiforum.netCentre, in association with analyse & realize, will offer freeconsultations on product development, scientific marketing,licensing opportunities, regulation and market access. As well as showcasing new products and ingredients,Vitafoods Europe helps visitors learn more about the markets inwhich they operate, with hundreds of industry figures offeringvaluable business insights, as well as addressing complex legal,regulatory, and ethical issues. The Vitafoods Europe Education Programme will run alongsidethe exhibition. Previously known as the Vitafoods EuropeConference, it will deliver targeted, high-value content focusedon delegates’ individual business roles.Based on feedback from last year, the Programme will beseparated into three distinct platforms to give delegates moreflexibility to access content aligned with their particular areas ofinterest. For those seeking high-level technical knowledge, therewill be seven R&D Forums which will showcase the latest appliednutrition science. Other popular features returning in 2017 include the VitafoodsTasting Centre, where attendees will be able to experience newfunctional foods and beverages for specific health needs, and thePackaging Innovation Centre, which will cover advances inpackaging technology, with a focus on design, delivery systems,convenience, labelling and sustainability.For more information about visiting and exhibitingat Vitafoods Europe 2017 visitwww.vitafoods.eu.com. 34-35_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:15 Page 236Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netThursday 20 – Friday 21 April EyeforpharmaPhiladelphia 2017Sheraton Philadelphia SocietyHill HotelThis innovative event will bring together sixin-depth pharma conferences to tackle the keyissues and challenges of 2017 and beyond.The sessions will focus on: commercialleadership; patients as partners; customerexperience; commercial model innovation;pharma’s tripe aim, and digital transformation.For more information, visitwww.eyefrpharma.com. Monday 24 – Tuesday 25 AprilDigi-tech Pharma 2017Hotel Novotel London This event is designed for senior levelattendees from various companies includingpharmaceutical, biotechnological,biopharmaceutical, diagnostics, solutionprovider and government institutions. Amongthe key highlights of the conference are bigdata analytics and pharma; internet of thingsand pharma, as well as digital marketingtrends and clinical trials in a digital world. Formore information, emailfazmina@corvusglobalevents.com. Tuesday 25 – Wednesday 26 AprilPrecision MedicineCongress LondonOver two days, this congress will bringtogether 175 senior level attendees fromacademia, research institutes and pharmacompanies to discuss the current challengesand future perspectives of precision medicine.It will provide an ideal platform to participate informal 1-1 meetings and informal networkingdrinks with other key industry figures, as well asproviding opportunities to exchange ideas withsome of the most influential professionals inthis growing field. For more information, visitwww.precisionmedicine-congress.com.Monday 8 – Tuesday 9 MayPharmaceutical FreezeDrying Technology Copthorne Tara Hotel, London Gathering a room of senior scientists andheads of pharmaceutical engineering, the fifthannual Pharmaceutical Freeze DryingTechnology provides an ideal forum to discussthe latest advancements in pharmaceuticallyophilisation, welcoming regulatory guidancefrom the NIBSC-MHRA and expertise from thelikes of Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche,Novo Nordisk and more. For more information,visit www.pharmafreezedrying.com/epr.Monday 29 – Wednesday 31 MayNanomedicine and DrugDelivery 2017Hyatt Regency, Osaka, JapanThis year, industry experts and employeesalike will converge on Osaka to share theirinsights and explore the recent developmentsin the twin fields of nanomedicine and drugdelivery. As the industry evolves, these twoPharmaEVENTSWednesday 10 – Thursday 11 MayLab-on-a-Chip &Microfluids 2017Holiday Inn City Centre, Munich This conference will feature three tracks, andas a multi-track event, delegates will haveunrestricted access to all conference tracks andnetworking opportunities. Made up of‘Biosensors, Microfluids & Lab-on-a-ChipTechnologies’, ‘Point-of-Care-Diagnostics 2017’and ‘Organic-on-a-Chip Europe 2017’,delegates will have unparalleled industry accessand experience. For more information, visitwww.selectbiosciences.com.© Shutterstock / science photo36-37_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:22 Page 1booming fields will become more prevalentand commonplace. Stay abreast of the latesttrends and advancements with this eventorganised by ConferenceSeries. For moreinformation, emailnanodelivery@conferenceseries.net.Sunday 21 – Monday 22 MayWorld Congress onBiotherapeutics Mexico CityThis conference invites participants fromacross the globe to attend and share theirinsights and convey recent developments inthe flourishing field of biotherapeutics. Theconference presents far-famed scientists,proficient researchers, students and delegatesfrom a variety of countries. For moreinformation, emailbiotherapeutics@conferenceseries.net. Wednesday 31 May – Thursday 1JuneChemspec Europe 2017Munich Trade Fair Centre,Germany Chemspec Europe is the internationalexhibition for fine and speciality chemicals.Known for its focussed profile, the event is theplace to be for international experts of the fine,custom and specialty chemicals industry.Purchasers and agents looking for highlyspecialised products and bespoke solutionswill find leading companies from all over theworld presenting a maximum range of fine andspeciality chemicals for many differentapplications and industry. For moreinformation, visit www.chemspeceurope.com.Monday 26 – Wednesday 28 JuneEuropean PharmaCongressMadrid, Spain The ninth annual European PharmaCongress includes keynote presentations, oraltalks, poster presentations and exhibitions.Tuesday 25 – Wednesday26 AprilBioProcessInternationalEuropean SummitRAI, Amsterdam BioProcess InternationalEuropean Summit is the foremostbioprocessing event, bringingtogether attendees from all majordepartments in bioprocessing, cellculture, downstream manufacturing,vaccines, viral safety and cell linedevelopment. For more information, visit www.lifesciences.knect365.com.www.pbiforum.netPharma Business International 37Pharma Europe-2017 is a specially designedcluster Pharma conference. The main theme ofthis Pharma conferences is ‘Latest Updates ofEuropean Pharmaceutical Policies: The Impactof developing and Marketing Drugs, itsRegistration & Approval’ which covers a widerange of critically important sessions. For moreinformation, visit www.europe.pharmaceuticalconferences.com.Chemspec Europe 2017© Shutterstock / angellodeco36-37_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:22 Page 2FEATURESResearch & DevelopmentAccuracy and MeasurementSecurityImport and ExportCollaborationFundingNext issue:Deadline - 31st May 2017REGULARSNewsEventsPharmaBUSINESS INTERNATIONALVisit us atwww.pbiforum.netwhere you’ll find thelatest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to ournewsletters so you can have thelatest news emailed to yourinbox, in betweenprinted issues?@pbiforumwww.pbiforum.netcompany/po-business-international38_Layout 1 10/04/2017 11:22 Page 1Next >