Shape the future of Biotech, Medtech and PharmaDeepen your knowledge and bring value to your organization
An EPFL Certificate of Advanced Studies for scientists and executives.
Our program is designed for scientists and managers who need clear insight into the specific processes of the Biotech, MedTech and Pharma industries, including entrepreneurs and executives entering the sector.
In the increasingly complex world of Pharma, Biotech and Medtech, managers are required to have clear insight into the industry-specific processes, from development to commercialization.
Our lecturers bring vast industry specific knowledge into the classroom. They focus on the practical implementation using real-life cases. Our in-person class formats are dynamic and impactful.
This course is designed to empower professionals with the specific knowledge set to understand practices, processes and procedures that are unique to the life sciences industries.
For those with a high-level scientific background, the program equips participants with the necessary skills to combine science and management.
An EPFL CAS diploma is granted upon successful completion of at least 5 modules.
It is also possible to take individual modules.
January 26 – 28, 2027
Because bringing a therapy or device to market is costly, risky and slow, collaboration sustains growth in life sciences. This module gives you a working framework for choosing the right partner, structuring alliances, joint ventures and outsourcing agreements, and negotiating terms that hold, while recognising the traps that commonly undermine such arrangements.
February 16 – 18, 2027
Protecting innovation across borders is central to therapeutic development. You will examine how patents and trademarks are generated, maintained, defended and monetised, how international protection strategies are built around a product pipeline, and how legal choices made early in a project shape its commercial freedom and long-term value.
March 16 – 18, 2027
Devices, diagnostics, pharma and biotech all now rely on the intelligent handling of data. This module reviews approaches that have proven effective in practice, from governance and quality to analytics, and uses real integration examples to show how organisations turn scattered information into decisions and measurable value.
April 13 – 15, 2027
Clinical development takes place inside a dense legislative framework. You will look at how trials are designed, run and supervised, which regulations apply to medicines and medical devices in the main markets, and which practices keep studies compliant, credible and aligned with the wider development strategy.
May 11 – 13, 2027
Growing a business in crowded global markets demands a precise reading of its environment. This module examines customers, competitors, prescribers and distribution channels, then introduces the core methods used to build, launch and monitor a marketing strategy so that positioning, pricing and communication reinforce one another.
June 1 – 3, 2027
This module addresses in an interactive and practical way GMPs influence on the development of products and the set up of Biomanufacturing and Medtech plants. It covers quality systems, process development, facility set-up and future trends in the industry that also help define the facility of the future.
June 15 – 17, 2027
Developing a drug or a device is a long, intricate and demanding undertaking. This module concentrates on what keeps such projects on course: realistic planning, well-chosen milestones, disciplined stakeholder management and objectives defined with enough precision that progress, risk and trade-offs can be assessed at any moment.
The program exceeded my expectations by combining strategic, regulatory and operational perspectives in an applied way. It helped me structure the foundations of my venture, Pochon Labs, focused on plant genetics and breeding innovation.
Arnaud Pochon
Founder & Plant Genetics Researcher, Pochon Labs | Former Senior Project Manager, Procter & Gamble
Alumni 2026
I joined the program at a pivotal moment in my career. It fully met - and in many ways exceeded - my expectations. I particularly appreciated the balance between academic rigor and real-world application, and the diversity of modules combined with the expertise of the lecturers.
Katya Lyarskaya
Senior Manager Finance Technology & Innovation, Salesforce
Alumni 2026
I particularly appreciated the deep dive into the pharma sector and current industry trends, which provided much-needed clarity for professionals considering a pivot into this field.
Svitlana Nidzvetska
Program Officer @ The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Alumni 2025
Coming from a business background, my goal was to bridge some of the technical gaps in my curriculum and amplify my impact in my day-to-day job. The course exceeded my expectations in its quality teaching and amount of valuable content in a relatively compressed amount of time.
Stefan Maurer
Director Strategy - Internal Manufacturing Biotherapeutics @ Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Alumni 2025
Our CAS program is intended for experienced professionals, looking to improve their management and leadership skills and grow within the life sciences industry. Professional experience, a university degree and fluency in English are required.
Send us your LinkedIn profile and we will help you understand if the course is right for you.
Head of Executive Education, CDM
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