ScienceBEAT 2024: Empowering young minds to take bold risks

True innovation happens when minds from different backgrounds come together, share ideas and face challenges as a team. Collaboration is the key to unlocking new perspectives and driving progress, especially in the complex and evolving field of science. After all, as Claire D'Abreu-Hayling, Chief Scientific Officer at Sandoz, reminded us, “Science is what we do, but we can’t do science on our own.”?

This belief is the foundation of our ScienceBEAT. The event brings aspiring young talents together with leading scientists and industry professionals. Participants work to transform theoretical knowledge into practical solutions through hands-on workshops, presentations and teamwork. The event is designed to ignite the spark of creativity in every participant, and to give them the tools to bring their ideas to life and the confidence to take risks.??

Among the 29 participants from around the world, many reflected on how inspiring ScienceBEAT 2024 was, both professionally and personally. Patricija Var?ek described it as a truly amazing event, “We had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people and learn about different perspectives of pharmaceutical companies. It’s really inspiring, and I’m very happy to have been a part of it.” Miha Klop?i? highlighted the event's value in building connections across fields, “ScienceBEAT 2024 was great! If you want to meet new people from different professions and fellow students, you really should join next year. It will for sure be fun, enjoyable, and worth it.”?

I am incredibly proud and honored to have been selected as the most outstanding participant at ScienceBEAT. I'm deeply grateful to the amazing team that gave me the opportunity to fully showcase my knowledge and skills. I highly recommend participating in this event, as the experiences and insights gained are truly invaluable.” Kaja Zajc , Individual Winner of ScienceBEAT 2024?

Do not let the fear of failure hold you back??

Science has always been a collaborative effort, but the divide between academia and industry can sometimes slow down the translation of brilliant ideas into real-world solutions. Events like ScienceBEAT aim to bridge that gap, providing a space where young students and professionals can interact directly with industry professionals and academic leaders, learning how to turn their theoretical knowledge into actionable innovations.?

Claire D'Abreu-Hayling shared her thoughts on the importance of nurturing young talent in these spaces. “Creating the right environment for young, aspiring scientists is essential. They need opportunities to learn and need to feel safe while doing so – safe to explore different ideas and concepts, and even safe to fail. It’s important that they have the chance to discuss their results and to experiment freely. We must help them recognize their potential to make a real impact on the world. That’s why I believe events like ScienceBEAT are so important.”?

“Never let the fear of failure hold you back, because most of the time things fail. Instead, let that fear fuel your determination to find new ways forward and embrace your natural curiosity,” said our guest at ScienceBEAT 2024, Nobel Laureate Sir Gregory P. Winter, perfectly capturing the mindset behind the event.?

These statements remind us that true innovation comes not just from success, but from the freedom to try, fail and try again – something that academic environments alone cannot always provide. When the academic and business worlds collaborate through events like ScienceBEAT, they create fertile ground where ideas can flourish, evolve and eventually become solutions that can change lives.?