The CAS Swiss Biodesign for MedTech Innovators provides future innovation leaders with tools to identify major market opportunities and invent high potential products in the field of MedTech, HealthTech and Invitro Diagnostics.

This course is modelled on the pioneering Biodesign training concept of Stanford University, that has been adopted by leading universities around the world. Participants will benefit from lectures by Stanford and local faculty, top tier MedTech innovators and medical experts, clinical immersion and an exclusive international network.

This training aims at aspiring corporate intrapreneurs and start-up entrepreneurs passionate about developing radically new medical technology.

Candidates must possess at least three years of professional healthcare experience in e.g. medicine, clinical research, product management, sales, business development, R&D, or software development.

The program is limited to 12 participants (max. 2 of the same company) to ensure a highly effective learning and coaching experience.

• Empowering future innovation leaders to initiate and successfully commercialize high-risk product innovations and drive change within your organisation
• Systematically identifying unmet needs and ideating innovative solutions
• Objectively validating needs, concepts and market potential
• Accelerating projects with in-depth understanding of design thinking tools
• Understanding board and investor criteria for compelling business cases
• Addressing common pitfalls in health technology projects in start-ups and corporations
• Benefiting from hands-on experience of serial-innovators and industry experts

The course will build upon the industry-leading Stanford Biodesign process and textbook:
Biodesign – The Process of Innovating Medical Technologies

• Design thinking
• Needs finding and selection
• Disease and current treatment standards
• Global health technology market
• MedTech regulation US and Europe
• MedTech regulation Europe
• MedTech reimbursement
• Business case analysis
• Patent search
• Funding options
• Clinical study overview
• Startup and corporate challenges
• Concept development and testing

Workshops, coaching and insider talks will provide ample opportunity for direct interaction with experts.

Methods of instruction include lectures, creativity workshops, study of genuine cases and interdisciplinary group work, e.g.:

• Several days of clinical immersion in clinics and operating rooms
• Interdisciplinary exercises and group work
• Shadowing and interviews of physicians, nurses and patients
• Coaching by senior industry experts and entrepreneurs
• Frequent presentations

An online test on the pre-readings (25%), a presentation of the customer needs validation to conclude Block I (25%) and the presentation and report of the final product and business concept at the end of Block II (50%).

Part-time course with classes from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm plus evening group work. Participants are expected to be proficient in oral & written English.

Institute of Marketing Management

• Tom Krummel, MD, Emile Holman Professor and Co-Director, Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, Stanford University
• Orestis Vardoulis, PhD, Stanford Biodesign Alumni, Stanford Pediatric Hospital
• Mathias Bonmarin, PhD, Senior Researcher, Computational Physics, ZHAW
• Philippe Etter, Msc, Senior Partner, Medidée
• Rainer Fuchs, Prof. and Head of Product Management, ZHAW
• Ulrich Geilinger, PhD, Seasoned Health Care Investor, HBM Partners
• Laurent Grandidier, MBA, former CEO Xeltis and serial-entrepreneur
• Patrick Griss, PhD, Executive Partner, Zühlke Ventures
• Jens Haarmann, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Health Care Marketing, ZHAW
• Christian Muehlendyck, MD, MBA, Director Health Economics & Market Access, Johnson & Johnson DACH
• Markus Ott, MSc, Head Global Market Access & Health Policy, Roche Diagnostics
• Jess Snedeker, Prof. and Chair of Orthopedic Biomechanics, ETH Zürich
• Philipp Tholen, VP Product & Operations AvaWomen
• Heiko Visarius, PhD, GM Visartis and Start-up Coach

• Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign
• ZHAW School of Engineering
• Cantonal Hospital of Winterthur
• Balgrist University Hospital

• Application period will start January 6th, 2020, with latest course information published
• One page motivational letter, CV and latest diplomas
• Two reference letters from supervisors / project partners
• Please email your complete application to biodesign.sml@zhaw.ch
• An early-bird fee reduction of CHF 1000.-- is applicable for applications received by March 1st
• Don't hesitate to contact the program management for any questions