- Novartis in Slovenia has received the national gold award for innovation, traditionally presented by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.
- The award was granted for an innovative technology that accelerates development and enables the assignment of longer shelf life to innovative biological medicines for clinical trials, thereby paving the way for faster patient access to breakthrough therapies.
- The recognition reinforces Novartis Slovenia’s position as an innovative company that improves and extends lives worldwide through the development of advanced technologies and the production of breakthrough therapies.
Ljubljana, September 17, 2025 – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia has once again awarded Novartis in Slovenia the national gold award for innovation. The highest national recognition in the field of innovation was given for a technology that significantly accelerates the development of biological medicines and enables faster access to breakthrough therapies for patients. Through innovations that push the boundaries of possibility, Novartis experts are co-creating the future of medicine and setting new standards for accessibility and quality of medicines.
The gold award was given for the innovation titled “Stability Time Machine for Biological Medicines”, which addresses one of the key challenges in the development of biological medicines: predicting their long-term stability under storage conditions. This breakthrough technology enables reliable multi-year predictions of medicine behaviour based on short-term monthly data, significantly shortening development time and accelerating the introduction of new therapies. The mathematical model allows for faster and more reliable decisions, assignment of longer shelf life, and thus quicker patient access to advanced medicines.
“The result of years of work is a practical tool that transforms the development process of biological medicines. It enables reliable long-term predictions from short-term data, thereby accelerating clinical research, shortening time to patients, and reducing environmental impact. The technology, already integrated into the development of medicines for cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and autoimmune diseases, not only strengthens Novartis’ global competitiveness but also helps shape international standards in the field of stability and lays new foundations for the future of medicine,” said Matjaž Bončina, head of the Novartis innovation team that received the award.
Innovation as a result of successful collaboration between academia and industry
The awarded technology evolved from doctoral research into a multidisciplinary collaboration between academic and industrial environments, closely connecting experts from Slovenia and abroad. The merging of diverse knowledge and perspectives enabled the transformation of a scientific idea into an applied breakthrough solution with global reach. Such partnerships demonstrate that by connecting expertise, we can push the boundaries of science and achieve groundbreaking innovations that accelerate drug development and offer new treatment possibilities for patients worldwide.
Novartis experts among Slovenia’s leading innovators
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia has been presenting innovation awards for 23 consecutive years. Novartis experts in Slovenia are regular recipients at both regional and national levels, and their creativity, knowledge, and dedication place them among the country’s leading innovators. Their achievements reflect a long-standing culture of scientific excellence and a spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines Novartis’ identity.
“Sincere congratulations to all colleagues whose exceptional knowledge, curiosity, and dedication made this achievement possible. We are proud of this recognition, which once again confirms the innovative strength of our teams and their outstanding work, and inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” added Petra Štefanič Anderluh, General Manager of Novartis LLC.