Bangalore, 7 August 2024- Novo Nordisk Global Business Services has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic cooperation in healthcare with BITS Pilani, an institution known for its commitment to innovation. This is the third academic collaboration in the last one year after Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and IIIT Bangalore, this MoU will mark yet another significant step for Novo Nordisk for co-creation and ideation between students and Novo Nordisk employees. 

As part of the partnership, both organisations will collaborate on a range of activities, including hackathons, case competitions, guest lectures, educational programs, internships, placements, employee development, branding initiatives, innovation projects, research collaborations, and corporate social responsibility endeavours. BITS will provide Novo Nordisk with the necessary resources and support to conduct campus engagement initiatives while keeping them informed of relevant activities and themes.

Speaking on the collaboration, John Dawber, Corporate Vice President & Managing Director, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, said, "This collaboration with BITS Pilani is a strategic learning partnership that empowers our healthcare workforce and drives innovation and progress in the industry. It reflects our dedication to enhancing knowledge, nurturing talent, and creating a healthier tomorrow."

Commenting on the collaboration, Professor Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani said, "The MoU marks a significant step in bridging the gap between academia and industry. By collaborating with Novo Nordisk, we're providing our students with invaluable, real-world skills development opportunities, directly enhancing their employability in the pharma and healthcare sector. This will also provide opportunities for Novo Nordisk employees to upgrade their skills through our academic programs. Together, we commit ourselves to building a collaborative environment for the betterment of both our students and our industry in our shared goal of academic and professional excellence."

Prof Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus further added, "Our partnership with Novo Nordisk will enable us to overcome the industry standards and requisite skills mismatch. This is a milestone collaboration in our endeavour to enable comprehensive learning for the student community along with providing them with rewarding placements. We look forward to helping students grow academically and pave the way for better opportunities in healthcare and pharma".

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 69,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries.

Novo Nordisk Global Business Services (GBS) in India has had a significant footprint since 2010, committed to seamless high-quality solutions with a strong focus on talent incubation, digitalisation, and process excellence. With over 4000 employees the Bangalore based-hub partners with global colleagues across the pharma value chain to support drug development, manufacturing, commercial, and social business services. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For further information, please contact:

Silky Chandwani | Silky.Chandwani@gcihealth.com | +91 9170477748

About BITS Pilani 

Established in 1964, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) is a renowned institution known for its excellence in higher education, research, and Innovation. With a legacy spanning decade, BITS Pilani has evolved into a multi-campus entity, serving as a hub for innovation and academic brilliance. BITS Pilani has been recognized in the QS World University Rankings 2025 for its remarkable growth among Indian institutions and is ranked #1 for Employment Outcomes and Sustainability among private institutions in India. BITS Pilani is also ranked #1 by the Times All India Engineering Institutes Ranking Survey 2024. And rated #3 by Lifestyle Asia as world’s most beautiful University. For more information, visit https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/.