Innovation: The “vehicle” of positive changes for humans and the planet

How innovation can shape the future of health care and agriculture and what Bayer’s role is in the era of great discoveries. Ana Vega writes CEO Bayer Greece, Head of the South Mediterranean & Black Sea Medicines Sector The planet is faced with pressing challenges, including climate change, a complex global food system and uncovered medical needs. To deal with it, collective effort is necessary with the assistance of all relevant businesses, regardless of size, the academic community, the wider industry and of course the state, to find solutions that will help people and the environment. The ‘vehicle’ for these changes is innovation, with the help of which we can radically change the way things are done. For more than 160 years, Bayer has invested in scientific research and development to solve global challenges in both the health and Georgia sector. Her commitment remains the same, but over the years goals change. Now, we are at the time when we focus on advanced treatments for diseases that are difficult to treat or not treated, such as gene therapy for rare genetic diseases. We also invest in immunotherapy for cancer and develop new treatments for cardiovascular diseases and other diseases. In agriculture, we are committed to improving food security and sustainability through innovative agricultural technologies, such as precision agriculture and biotechnology. All of this is not just theories, but concrete goals that we have set and on which we work systematically. Through innovative research and development, Bayer wants to have a positive impact on society and improve people’s lives around the world. The speed of developments often exceeds us: data science and life sciences are joined together in laboratories and lead to innovations possibly faster than possible until a few years ago. Food for everyone, protection for the planet Climate change has changed research & development data. Now, the big bet is to improve plant structure to help them survive droughts, floods, extreme winds and other unprecedented weather phenomena. At the same time, in Bayer we invest in the potential combination of biotechnology – digital technology to ensure that everyone is given high quality food. This is achieved through integrated solutions that open the way to more sustainable, healthy and durable food systems, helping farmers create better crops with less land, water and energy. These developments could not have occurred at a more appropriate time. Farmers try to meet a world with greater needs than ever, a world where 800 million people are faced with hunger daily. At this pivotal moment, innovative technologies and tools are needed for a more effective approach, which can help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere and are based on a strong scientific background. One such tool is Climate FieldViewTM, created by Bayer, which helps the producer to make decisions that are important to his field and production, using the least possible inputs to achieve the maximum effect. Redetermining the limits of healthcare In Bayer we believe that by targeting the operative cause of a disease we can move beyond simply managing its symptoms. We can reach prevention, relapse or even cure. This assumption can radically change the way we treat Health, since it offers more sustainable choices for people, health care systems and society as a whole. In Bayer, we are oriented to promoting medicine beyond its limits. Our goal is to speed up developments in advanced sectors, such as cell and gene treatments and Precision Medicine, in order to achieve effective treatments that will substantially improve patient life, ensuring that the right choice is available for each individual at the right time. Supporting new businesses in Greece None of this is achieved, however, if everyone tries alone. For us in Bayer, cooperation is the catalyst for growth and innovation, which can speed things up so that time, resources and above all lives are not lost. We are one of the first companies to adopt a holistic approach to innovation, even supporting start-ups – working to create solutions to Health and Rural Nutrition. It is no coincidence that Bayer Greece has been working on the Level-up programme since 2021, which has now been upgraded to Level-up. Through this program, it provides support and advice to start-ups, of different maturity, to develop their innovative ideas either organically or through securing funding. The third cycle of the programme began in January 2024 and will be completed next July. During its duration the participating start-ups receive mentoring from specialized, high-ranking Bayer executives, with experience in the field of Health and Agriculture, as well as advice from company executives. They also participate in three-hour seminars and open discussions on important issues, such as funding, business plan preparation, branding, strategic planning and the formation of a successful team. In addition, at the completion of the programme, one of the start-ups involved will be selected on the basis of specific criteria to receive a prize. In this way, Bayer proves in practice that it always stands as a helper to innovative business ventures relating to Health and Farming, which bring us closer to our mission “Health and Food for All”. After all, to respond to a rapidly evolving environment we need innovative solutions – and these can only be achieved through effective and effective cooperation and uninterrupted effort.