Johnny Högberg new CEO of Flemingsberg Science

On 1st November, Johnny Högberg will take over as Chief Executive Officer of the Flemingsberg Science Foundation.

The Foundation’s task is to develop southern Stockholm where clinical care and research are already strongly established with world-leading Karolinska University Hospital, the Karolinska Institute, the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Södertörn University and several other academies. Flemingsberg Science will contribute to making the Stockholm region one of the five leading Life Science regions in the world.

Johnny Högberg comes from Skellefteå Science City, where he was CEO, and replaces Björn Varnestig, who is giving up his post as CEO in connection with his 65th birthday.

“I am really looking forward to taking on the role of CEO of Flemingsberg Science. The Stockholm region is a strong area of growth in Europe with high ambitions for Life Science in particular. The fact that the region has the stated goal of attracting the EU’s new Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is one of several examples of how these ambitions are expressed in practice,” says Johnny Högberg, incoming CEO of Flemingsberg Science.

The foundation’s Chair, Financial Region Councillor Irene Svenonius (M), is pleased with the recruitment of the new CEO.

“We want to improve conditions for growth and development in Flemingsberg and the surrounding area. This will take place in a broad collaboration between the academies, municipalities and the regional authority, with both healthcare and expanded public transport. To achieve our high goals of attracting new companies, EU authorities, headquarters, investments and research, we need people with Johnny’s experience and knowledge,” says Irene Svenonius.

“Soon we can meet again IRL”

Since the Covid outbreak, our work has been characterised by video meetings, especially in our various focus groups. Success has exceeded expectations, thanks to the fact that the approximately 70 people who are involved in the groups had time to get to know one other and the issues even before the pandemic. But we are really looking forward to being able to meet again IRL, and hopefully soon – it is so much more enjoyable!

XNK Therapeutics lays the groundwork for GMP facility in Flemingsberg

"Flemingsberg is the place in the world you want to be if you work with NK cells. There is a strong research facility here with a world-leading research group and proximity to a clinic that really knows NK cells. We recently started the construction of a new GMP facility with an associated research laboratory of 350 square meters for our NK cell therapy. The new facility is being built at Novum in Flemingsberg and, once the facility is completed in 2022, it will give us complete control over the entire development chain."