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 16 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

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.

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.

For more information, do not hesitate to arrange a one-to-one consultation call with the Program Head, Dr. Jens Haarmann.

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.

• Orestis Vardoulis, PhD, Stanford School of Medicine and Startup Founder
• Mathias Bonmarin, PhD, Prof., Head of Sensors and Measurement Systems Group, ZHAW
• Philippe Etter, Msc, Senior Partner, Medidée
• Rainer Fuchs, PhD, Prof., Head of Product Management, ZHAW
• Ulrich Geilinger, PhD, Health Care Investor, HBM Partners
• Laurent Grandidier, MBA, Serial-Entrepreneur and Startup Advisor
• Patrick Griss, PhD, Executive Partner, Zühlke Ventures
• Jens Haarmann, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Product Manager (Program Lead), ZHAW
• Christian Muehlendyck, MD, MBA, Director Health Economics & Market Access, Johnson & Johnson
• Markus Ott, MSc, Head Global Market Access & Health Policy, Roche Diagnostics
• Jess Snedeker, Professor and Head of Orthopedic Biomechanics, ETH Zürich
• Philipp Tholen, VP Product & Technology AvaWomen
• Heiko Visarius, PhD, MedTech Expert, Business Coach, Board Meber, VISARTIS Healthcare GmbH

• Prof. Dr. Michel Adamina, MBA, Professor of Surgery and Chief of Colorectal Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Winterthur

• Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
• Swiss Healthcare Startups
• Balgrist University Hospital
• Cantonal Hospital of Winterthur
• Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign
• ZHAW School of Engineering

• Permitted are graduates of universities of applied sciences or universities with at least three years of professional experience in technical, medical or business-related fields and sufficient knowledge of English (at least level B2).
• Professionals without a university degree can be admitted provided they have at least six years of the above-mentioned professional experience and corresponding further education certificates (higher technical college or higher technical examination with federal certificate/diploma). Also expected is a letter of motivation in englisch and sufficient knowledge of Englisch (at least Level B2).
• The final admission decision is made by the study management after an admission interview.

• One page motivational letter, CV and latest diplomas
• Don't hesitate to contact the program management for any questions
• Early-bird application deadline by May 2 (CHF 500 fee reduction)