Business Aspects of Technology: Biotechnology

3 ECTS credits
86 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4012663FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Business Technology and Operations

Educational team

Thomas Crispeels (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

27 contact hours Lecture
59 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The aim of the course is to familiarize the students with the characteristics and trends of the modern biotechnology and life sciences sector. In other words, the business side of the applications of modern biotechnology like their commercialization, technology transfer, business development, regulation and funding will be highlighted.

The course contains several parts:

In this course, we start with an overview of the history and profile of the modern biotechnology industry, its predominant business models, the financial environment, current and future developments and the role of regulations and government in the industry. We then turn to firm-specific topics such as financial management of biotechnology companies, business development and IPR strategy.

Importantly, not only the characteristics of mature companies are covered, but the emphasis of the course is on topics of relevance to young, starting biotechnology companies and emerging life science projects. Opportunities and challenges concerning intellectual property and its application in a high-technology sector like biotechnology will be discussed.

During the course, we invite a number of guest lecturers from the biotechnology industry. Attending these guest lectures is mandatory.

It is recommended to take a course in "biotechnology" before participating in this course and to have basic knowledge about entrepreneurship and business management.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Slides and readers, Thomas Crispeels, Marc Goldchstein

Additional info

The default course language is English.

Teaching Methods

Lecture: collective contact-dependent moments during which the lecturer engages with learning materials
Seminar, Exercises or Practicals (Practical): collective or individual contact-dependent moments during which the students are guided to actively engage with learning materials
Independent or External Form of Study (Self): independent study

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

Lecture: 27 hours

classical lectures: 15 hours (5 x 3 hours)
guest lectures: 12 hours (4 x 3 hours)

Self: 59 hours

keeping up with the course material during the semester and run through background information amounting to 1 hour per hour lecture: 27 hours
preparation oral exam: 32 hours (4 days of 8 hours)

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

Students will:

gain a clear view on the definition, size and the importance of the biotechnology sector.
gain an insight in the history, current situation and trends within the biotechnology sector.
obtain an insight in the key drivers of the biotechnological industry and its relevant companies.
gain an insight on the relevant dynamics that have an influence on the start up and strategy of biotech companies and (university) spin-offs.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral Exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: Gesloten boek, 3 open vragen, 20 minuten voorbereidingstijd

Additional info regarding evaluation

Not applicable.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context