BioCamp brings together high-potential STEM students and recent graduates with experts and senior leaders from the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. Over an intensive, hands-on experience, you’ll explore how science, technology, and business come together in real pharma industry - from research and development to manufacturing and digital. Expect interactive sessions, team challenges, and plenty of time to ask questions, get feedback, and learn what it’s really like to work on problems that matter to patients.

You’ll meet peers from life sciences and medicine as well as engineering, robotics, automation, and digital disciplines, because the future of healthcare is interdisciplinary. You’ll collaborate across perspectives, build new connections, and leave with a clearer view of where your skills can make an impact.

Group photo of BioCamp participants

BioCamp, September 28-30, 2026, Bled, Slovenia

Applications are open until May 20, 2026.

Register here

Your BioCamp experience includes:

  • Connecting science, tech, and business: You’ll collaborate with students from different fields and see how an idea can move from lab concepts to real-world healthcare impact.
  • Getting industry insight: You’ll learn how the global pharmaceutical industry works and how technology and digital tools are changing the way medicines are developed, made, and delivered.
  • Building something together: You’ll work on a real-world challenge together with a team and present your future-ready business case.
  • Learning from people who do the work: You’ll meet scientists, engineers, and senior leaders and able to ask them questions, get feedback, and hear what their careers really look like.
  • Growing your network: You’ll connect with talented students from across the region and leave with contacts you can keep building on.
  • Exploring what’s next: You’ll learn more about Novartis and discover potential career paths in Austria, Slovenia and beyond.

BioCamp 2026 topic

This year, the event will focus on neuroscience, with a spotlight on multiple sclerosis (MS). You’ll engage with leading experts across medicine, pharmacy, and patient advocacy, explore how Novartis is advancing innovation in this space, from established MS therapies to cutting-edge RNA-based approaches, before applying their interdisciplinary skills to develop and pitch solutions to a real-world challenge.

BioCamp FAQ

BioCamp is primarily intended for students (final-year undergraduates, master’s, MBAs, or Ph.D. candidates) or recent graduates from STEM-related fields, including:

  • Life sciences (e.g., biology, biomedical sciences, pharmacy, biotechnology)
  • Medicine and related healthcare disciplines
  • Engineering fields (e.g., automation engineering, robotics, systems engineering, biomedical engineering)
  • Information technology, programming, artificial intelligence, or data science
  • Other technology or scientific disciplines contributing to innovation in healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry

The program is designed to bring together a diverse group of talented young individuals from across the region and beyond to foster innovation and collaboration. Proficiency in English is required.

We look for people who bring:

  • Strong academic performance
  • Creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, and leadership potential
  • Curiosity about how science and technology can transform healthcare
  • A genuine interest in innovation in the pharmaceutical industry

Yes, absolutely. As long as you have a STEM background, you are more than welcome to apply. Prior experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry is not required. BioCamp is designed to showcase the many opportunities within the pharmaceutical field and brings together participants from diverse STEM disciplines to offer a broad, interdisciplinary perspective.

Selection is based on your application, academic achievements, and fit with the BioCamp experience. Each year, around 30-35 students are selected to join the event.

BioCamp runs as a three-day seminar with interactive workshops, expert sessions, and keynote speakers from Novartis and external organizations. You’ll work in multidisciplinary teams to build a business case around a real-world industry challenge.

The experience wraps up with a gala dinner and the announcement of the business case challenge winners.

Yes. There is no participation fee (attendance is by selection through the application process).

Novartis covers the costs of meals and accommodation for the time of event – September 28 - 30 (plus one additional overnight stay – until October 1, 2026).

Unfortunately, travel expenses to Slovenia cannot be covered.

More information: [email protected]

Get a glimpse of what BioCamp looks like.