A 4-Year Strategic Plan to Position Slovenia as a Premier European Biotech Destination.
Urška Rauter Gaber, Candidate for CEO
Biotech Hills requires leadership that bridges the gap between scientific rigor and global business agility. With a MSc in Biochemistry and experience as CEO, I understand how the US and global biotech business is run.
Innovative and resourceful, but equipped with a strong "bullshit detector." I generate ideas quickly but evaluate them with critical rigor.
Dedicated to order and stability. I excel at organizing projects, setting clear standards, and ensuring the team delivers on promises.
A mix of responsibility and drive. I am security-oriented and loyal to the mission, while being adaptable and efficiency-obsessed.
Led a remote team of 10 across 3 continents. Mastered US-style business development, transitioned the company to a product-based model, and managed full P&L.
Built Slovenia's digital healthcare community. Championed value-based healthcare principles, supported startups, and facilitated pharma-gov dialogue.
Managed complex cross-border projects (Interreg, Erasmus+) connecting industry to academia. Established standardized knowledge transfer protocols.
"If you don't have people, you can't build."
Addressing the talent gap is not just another imperative; it is the prerequisite for all other success. The ecosystem currently faces outflow (brain drain), disconnect (academia vs industry needs), and blocked inflow (bureaucracy).
Biotech Hills must be a Loud and recognizable stakeholder. We will not just organize events; we will be the invited thought leaders.
Position Slovenia as the entry point for the CEE region. Geography is our asset.
Consistent, high-value content on LinkedIn and media. Shaping the narrative, not just reporting news.
Active membership in EuropaBio and speaking roles at major international forums.
Click on a pillar to reveal the detailed execution plan.
The Goal: Launch a shared wet-lab facility and facilitate the first €5M+ biotech round.
| Problem | Solution | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| No shared wet-labs; Funding limited to €1-2M. | BioFoundry Ljubljana: Shared equipment & bench space. First Close Initiative: Structured deal prep for €5M+ round. |
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The Goal: High-touch, company-specific support. Quality over quantity.
| Problem | Solution | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Generic networking events with low ROI. | Curated Matching: Specific intros to investors/researchers. Regional Hub: "Soft landing" for CEE biotechs. |
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The Goal: A "Sandbox" approach. Pick 2-3 winnable battles.
| Problem | Solution | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Bureaucratic friction; Regulatory slowness. | Win-Win Scenarios: Focus on removing friction for foreign talent (visas) rather than unwinnable tax wars. |
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The Goal: Educate. Keep. Attract. Building the base.
| Problem | Solution | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Brain drain; Disconnect between curriculum and industry. | Industry Perspectives: Sponsored guest lectures. Curated Hiring: 1:1 interview events. |
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