Global Expertise Meets Local Innovation – Why UC Berkeley Is Looking to Gothenburg for the Future of Life Science
"Master of Collaboration" is a series of articles created in partnership with Gothenburg’s life science community.
Meet the people shaping life science in Gothenburg — featuring individuals who bring unique perspectives, drive innovation, and inspire both local and global impact.
Gothenburg isn’t just attracting Nordic startups and established corporates—it’s drawing the attention of global experts in innovation and technology leadership. One of them is Bowman Heiden from the University of California, Berkeley, who has chosen to collaborate closely with Gothenburg’s life science ecosystem through a partnership with Sahlgrenska Science Park.
“Gothenburg is working to develop a pragmatic innovation system for a city of its size. There’s a clear understanding here of what it takes to commercialize research, including the critical need for Swedish firms to grow their businesses abroad to be successful,” says Bowman Heiden.
Bowman is a leading voice in intellectual property strategy, deep tech commercialization, and innovation leadership. As Executive Director of the Tusher Strategic Initiative and Co-Director of the Deep Tech Innovation Lab at UC Berkeley, he has supported hundreds of science-based ventures in building sustainable, scalable business models.
Transatlantic Collaboration Through CO-AX Accelerator
Since 2024, UC Berkeley’s Deep Tech Innovation Lab and the CO-AX Accelerator at Sahlgrenksa Science Park in Gothenburg have worked together to help startups in life science and digital health validate their business models and identify product-market fit. The joint program, “Product-Market Fit Assessment,” gives participants direct access to Berkeley expertise and an international network.
“Most innovations don’t fail because of weak technology—but because the business lacks the access to capital and expertise to grow rapidly in a competitive global market. What’s impressive about Gothenburg is that the ecosystem acknowledges this and supports companies early in the commercialization process to see themselves as global businesses,” says Bowman.
The program is a key part of CO-AX’s strategy to connect local innovation with global resources. The combination of scientific excellence, collaborative culture, and international outlook makes Gothenburg an ideal environment for growing life science ventures.
Vitalis: A Global Stage for Health Innovation
During Vitalis 2025, Bowman Heiden participated in a panel hosted by Sahlgrenska Science Park, where he joined Swedish and international experts to discuss how science-based innovation can reach patients faster.
“It was clear at Vitalis that Gothenburg is serious about its role as an innovation hub. The region has already built what many others are still trying to establish: a functioning interface between academia, industry, healthcare, and the public sector,” he says.
The discussion focused on how regulation, IP strategy, and business model design must align to enable real-world impact. Bowman emphasized the importance of connecting entrepreneurs with clinical and policy stakeholders from the start.
A Strategic Partner in Gothenburg’s Ecosystem
Bowman Heiden’s involvement is part of a broader ambition—to position Gothenburg as a leading hub for science-based innovation with global reach. That UC Berkeley is now an active collaborator in the region is a strong signal of its international appeal.
“There’s a pragmatism and openness here that’s critical to laying the foundation of a successful ecosystem. Gothenburg is finding the sweet spot that will make it an ideal place to build the next generation of health solutions that can then be scaled globally,” Bowman concludes.
Bowman Heiden, Executive Director, Tusher Strategic Initiative for Technology Leadership, UC Berkeley / Director, Center for Intellectual Property (CIP)