Skip to content

open innovation

Servier harnesses open innovation to draw on collective intelligence in a way that benefits patients

At Servier, we understand the importance of open innovation. We consider it presents three main advantages—accelerate the speed of research, offer each project an optimal environment in which to thrive, and collaborate with the best partners for each project.

We believe in fostering synergy between shared expertise and harnessing the interdependence of our knowledge and savoir faire.

A partner of choice

Our partnership strategy centers around a single objective to ramp up the speed with which we develop treatments that significantly improve patients’ quality of life. We take a people-oriented approach to our partnerships, and we focus on creating win-win situations by pooling our expertise. We are keen to invest in innovation that benefits patients in the future.

Our partnering interests

Our partnering interests

Submit a proposal

Do you have a proposal that aligns with our partnering interests? Contact a member of our team or fill out this form.

Our value proposition

When it comes to successful partnerships, our value proposition is unique.

Our governance model underpinned by independence enables us to adopt a long-term vision to build lasting, effective relations, guaranteeing stability for all our partners.

We have developed expertise in international markets and a diverse network of geographic locations, boasting a presence in both mature and emerging markets. We are therefore in a position to establish a personalized approach to collaboration with each partner so as to optimize every dimension of the relationship to benefit all parties.

We draw on the scientific excellence for which our teams are renowned and the considerable investment in R&D to build a high quality and future facing portfolio of therapeutic projects. Our flexible, reliable and agile teams work day in, day out to drive scientific progress. We are a partner of choice.

70

Over 70 strategic alliances and research collaborations currently active


Watch these case studies

Day in, day out, we expand and diversify our network of partners.

#PartnerOfChoice Servier x Aitia

What if an AI-based technology existed that could help treat pancreatic cancer? This is the rationale behind our collaboration with Aitia, the leader in the development and application of causal AI and digital twins to discover the next generation of breakthrough medicines for neurodegenerative diseases and oncology.

00:00 / 00:00

#PartnerOfChoice Servier x Celsius Therapeutics

We established a partnership with Celsius Therapeutics in 2020 to identify and approve new drug targets to treat bowel cancer.

Video of "Partner of choice" on the collaboration between Servier and Celsius
00:00 / 00:00

#PartnerOfChoice Servier x Oncodesign

Initiated in March 2019, our collaboration with Oncodesign, a French biotech specialized in precision medicine, has identified the LRRK2 kinase inhibitors and their potential to act as therapeutic agents against Parkinson’s disease.

Video of "Partner of choice" on the collaboration between Servier and Oncodesign
00:00 / 00:00

#PartnerOfChoice Servier x Vernalis

We have partnered with the biotech Vernalis Research since 2007, working together on several projects focusing on a range of drug targets to drive progress in oncology research.

Video of "Partner of choice" on the collaboration between Servier and Vernalis
00:00 / 00:00

Start-ups

When we work with start-ups, we inject fresh momentum and stimulate value creation for both parties with a shared goal to boost therapeutic innovation to serve patient needs.

At Saclay, Spartners by Servier & BioLabs, the incubator for start-ups driving therapeutic innovation

Ranked as one of the eight clusters for innovation worldwide, along with Silicon Valley, Beijing, Boston and Silicon Wadi in Israel, Paris-Saclay has top-tier international influence. The site is home to key names in research as well as international companies, start-ups and renowned universities.

The start-up incubator, Spartners by Servier & BioLabs, hosted at our Research and Development Institute in Paris-Saclay is unique in France. This new synergy between the momentum of young, future-facing companies and our pharmaceutical knowledge will therefore create unique conditions that will accelerate therapeutic research.

BioLabs, the premier US-based network of incubators open to high-potential start-ups, will oversee the day-to-day management at the facility, supply equipment, provide services, offer practical support, and organize events and programs specially designed for start-ups operating in the life sciences industry.

Spartners by Servier & BioLabs was designed with capacity for around 15 start-ups, which turnover every two years on average.

15

Around 15 start-ups

Do you work for a start-up and want to join the incubator?

  1. The call for applications is aimed at young innovative companies in the field of health and life sciences that develop innovative concepts. You can apply via the form available on the website : https://www.biolabs.io/apply-online
  2. Possess a certain level of maturity
  3. Have a proven and promising concept that is consistent with the activity of Servier, as well as a clear vision of your needs
  4. Applications will be examined by a selection committee, composed of representatives from Servier and BioLabs, as well as experts representing key players in healthcare innovation: Medicen, France Biotech, the SATT network, and Bpifrance.

If you represent a digital health start-up, visit the “Digital health” tab.

A program tailored for start-ups

In parallel, and in partnership with Biolabs, we offer French start-ups working in biotech and life sciences the opportunity to take part in a masterclass program.

The Saclay-Boston Biotech Masterclass is split into two parts, the first of which is an event in Paris to o launch the group dynamics of the class. Then, spending a week in Boston at the heart of one of the world’s most innovative biotech communities, giving participants the unique opportunity to gain skills, learn about the American ecosystem and meet potential partners.

“WeHealth by Servier”: Digital innovations for health care

Our ambition by 2030 is to be an agile organization and a Digital Performer. One of the paths to achieving this is to improve health care professionals’ and patients’ engagement through an omnichannel approach and “beyond the pill” therapeutic solutions. With these innovative digital solutions and services, our goal is to improve the monitoring, prediction and prevention of disease progression by providing personalized care.

WeHealth by Servier is the embodiment of our digital health strategy, intended for two key players: start-ups and incubators. It is part of a dynamic of open innovation and will focus on developing various partnerships – co-development, licenses, strategic partnerships – based on recognition of our team’s expertise around the world.

A digital strategy for our therapeutic areas

In our different therapeutic areas, we are pursuing a differentiated strategy based on the specificities and patient needs.

In cardiometabolism and venous diseases, we are maintaining our unwavering commitment to patients, with the development of innovative digital services focused in particular on improving therapeutic adherence and awareness. The My Health Partner website and Elfie application are two examples.

In oncology, neuroscience and immuno-inflammation, we are working on new digital health projects to support health care professionals, to develop initiatives that will improve patient quality of life and enable patients to access targeted treatments that are more suited to their profile.

Please contact the team for collaboration opportunities or to identify an incubator in our network that can host your digital health start-up.


If you would like to be immersed in the start-up incubator, Spartners by Servier & BioLabs, hosted at our Research and Development Institute in Paris-Saclay, visit the “Start-ups” tab.

When digital technology is used to serve patient needs

In 2022, we signed a partnership agreement with the Singaporean start-up Elfie. Its mobile application of the same name helps patients monitor chronic diseases, encouraging better adherence to treatment.

Universities

Boosting innovation through scientific knowledge

We work with the most prestigious universities and surround ourselves with top talent. We support young researchers and work as part of a community to drive therapeutic innovation. By combining our strengths, we can meet the challenges of the future.

We build on strategic alliances with institutions and universities to work with new scientific data and innovative technologies. In particular, we have developed partnerships with several universities all throughout the world, including Harvard, Montreal, Hong Kong, Hamburg and Vienna.

In France, our future Research and Development Institute at Paris-Saclay will work in close collaboration with the most prestigious universities, including Centrale Supélec, École polytechnique, École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay and Université Paris-Saclay, the first university in France in the Shanghai ranking.

Investing in the excellence of academic research

We strongly believe that innovation is the key to therapeutic progress. That is why we build on academic excellence so as to continually better serve patients. Each year, Servier takes on around 60 PhD and postdoctoral researchers. Half of our research efforts are conducted in our R&D centers, while the other half is integrated into our partner labs.

70

Nearly 70 PhD and post-doctoral students across 10 countries

Spotlight on the SHINEDocs program

We work closely to support young researchers through our SHINEDocs program,1 which accompanies them through their PhD or post-doctoral studies. This enables them to expand their network, develop their soft skills and present their research. Consequently, they all become active participants in therapeutic projects and innovative technology.


Témoignage

Doing my post-doctoral studies at Servier offered an ideal transition from academic research to the private sector. I had the opportunity to work on a program to discover new medicines with a therapeutic purpose.

Nicolas, PhD student in cell biology at Ecole Polytechnique

Ready to express your talent for therapeutic progress?

Servier Campus, our website designed especially for students and graduates

[1] Servier Highlighting Innovation through its NEtwork of PHD students and Post-Docs