Are you motivated to use your scientific and/or clinical background to help translate promising research into new therapeutics tackling cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), and excited to help shape the next generation of impactful life science start-ups in this field?
Then we might have the perfect opportunity at BioInnovation Institute (BII), where we are looking for a Principal to join our German hub and CardioMetabolic Bridge initiative to source promising CMD discoveries and support their translation towards in vivo proof-of-concept.
Your Opportunity to Join BII
The BioInnovation Institute (BII) is Europe’s leading innovation institute backed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and many significant industry partners. Its mission is to bring science to life through the successful BII innovation platform, accelerating innovation’s journey to the market. BII supports collaborative, interdisciplinary innovation across Life Sciences and Deep Tech, helping transform cutting-edge research into viable companies so that new discoveries can deliver real impact for people and society.
BII recently launched CardioMetabolic Bridge, a pan-European initiative dedicated to translating early-stage academic discoveries in cardiometabolic disease (CMD) into validated pre-clinical candidates. Through a network of interconnected hubs across Europe, the initiative aims to accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics for patients living with diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and related conditions.
BII is now establishing a new hub in Martinsried, Munich, that will be closely connected to the already established hub in London's Knowledge Quarter. While strategy and governance are led from BII's headquarters in Copenhagen, the hubs drive day-to-day project and operational activities across Europe.
The Role
As a Principal, you will become part of a passionate team dedicated to building and operating a world-class incubator that enables life science innovations and early-stage startups to thrive.
In this role, you will be responsible for scouting promising CMD research in Europe, evaluating early-stage opportunities, and supporting projects as they mature toward venture creation. You will play a central role in establishing systems and processes to ensure smooth onboarding, governance, and the translation of projects into spinout companies.
You will engage closely with stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem to identify new opportunities and ensure that projects have the needed support on their paths towards generating next-generation CMD therapies.
Your main responsibilities includes:
- Scout and identify promising pre-commercial CMD research through engagement with universities, research institutions, and hospitals across Europe, with a specific focus on Germany.
- Promote and support BII open calls and outreach activities, strengthening awareness of CardioMetabolic Bridge among academics and innovation stakeholders.
- Perform initial project evaluation and due diligence, assessing scientific quality, technical feasibility, commercial potential, IP position, and team capabilities.
- Map the CMD landscape to identify gaps and emerging trends relevant to the projects in the programs.
- Support CMD projects toward venture creation by providing feedback, facilitating activities relating to BII’s Acceleration Platform, and connecting them with relevant expertise and resources.
- Build and maintain relationships across academia, CROs, venture capital, industry partners, and innovation ecosystems to support BII’s CMD portfolio.
- Represent BII at relevant conferences, events, panels, and networks.
- Drive day-to-day business activities and operations together with local colleagues and in close collaboration with the Scientific Development team in London and Denmark.
- Provide support across BII, help optimize processes and approaches, and offer professional sparring and coaching to colleagues
You will play a key role in identifying, evaluating, and supporting promising cardiometabolic research projects across Germany and the broader European CardioMetabolic Bridge network.
Professional and Personal Qualifications
We are looking for an experienced professional with a strong CMD research background and an interest in transforming life science research into real-life impact. Ideally, you bring the following experience and competencies:
- An MSc, MD, or PhD in Medicine, Biomedicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioengineering, or a similar field with a CMD focus.
- 10+ years (post-PhD) experience in facilitating life science innovation within the funding or innovation ecosystem. Experience from venture capital, university tech transfer office, accelerator/incubator, drug discovery, and development within the pharmaceutical industry, or biotech environments is relevant.
- Solid understanding of drug discovery and development processes and/or direct experience with the commercialization of life science research.
- Experience with conducting detailed due diligence reviews of scientific research or innovation proposals.
- Demonstrated project management experience, preferably by leading drug discovery projects towards the IND-enabling stage.
- Demonstrated ability to build networks and maintain relationships within the German research and innovation ecosystem, as well as the wider EU.
- Proficiency in both spoken and written English.
Working at BII
At BII we offer a purpose-driven community where science and innovation create meaningful change and impact in society. BII’s entrepreneurial environment is shaped and nurtured every day by our employees, start-ups, and everyone who joins us in bringing science to life. This role offers a unique opportunity to join Europe’s leading innovation institute, working within life sciences and deep tech.
BII is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N., from which it supports strategy, governance, and coordination across BII’s international activities.
This is a full-time position in Martinsried, Munich, however, with close collaboration with other European locations. You will become part of a small on-site team, reporting to Louise Clemmensen (Director) at HQ in Copenhagen, Denmark.
See our open positions at BII on our career page or on LinkedIn.
Equal Opportunities
At BII, we believe innovation starts with people. As a community of changemakers, we believe the best ideas emerge when people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences come together around a shared purpose.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace built on equal opportunities, where everyone can thrive and where pay is fair, equitable, and based on the principle of equal pay for equal work. We welcome all applications regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socio-economic background.
Curious for more?
For more information, please contact Louise Clemmensen, Director via email lcl@bii.dk.
To apply, please send your CV and academic certificates, as well as answer the screening questions by clicking the “Apply now” button. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible and no later than November, 10th 2026. The preferred start date is 1. January 2027; however, we are flexible and will consider individual notice periods and availability.
The interview process is expected to take place in November, with in-person interviews in Copenhagen on 23 and 25 November. We kindly ask that you make yourself available on these dates if you apply.
