Nicolas Durand appointed Director of the Campus Biotech Foundation in Geneva
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Dr Nicolas Durand will step down from his CEO role at Abionic on 29 February to be at the steering wheel of the innovation centre from 1 March 2024
The Foundation Campus Biotech announced the appointment of its new Director, Dr Nicolas Durand. “With an extensive background in nanotechnologies applied to life sciences, Dr Durand brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will undoubtedly steer us towards continued success and growth”, states the Foundation Council.
Dr Durand will step down as Director of Abionic, but will remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Today, Abionic is recognized as one of Switzerland’s most innovative companies. A spin-off from EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), the company, which received the Swiss Medtech Award 2023, employs around twenty people at the Lausanne Biopôle. Abionic has developed abioSCOPE®, the world’s fastest multipurpose in-vitro diagnostic platform, based on nanotechnology that delivers instant laboratory-quality results. Its technology supplies hospitals in dozens of countries worldwide (Europe, US, Middle East, Asia, Africa, etc.) for various applications in acute and primary care. Dr Durand is a recognized expert in medical technology innovation, with solid regulatory (ISO 13485, IVDR, FDA), clinical & operational (administration, finance) experience.
Since April 2018, Nicolas Durand has been a member of the Committee and Strategic Council of the Vaud Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CVCI). He is also Chairman of the CVCI’s Innovation Commission, and a member of the Board of Economiesuisse.
Thanks to his training as an intelligence officer, Nicolas was a member of the personal staff of the Swiss Army’s Chief of Military Training, to which he contributed for several years.
Nicolas holds a Master’s degree in microtechnology from EPFL, with a specialization in production techniques. He previously participated in the development of resonant biosensors at Carnegie Mellon University (USA), where he won the 2016 Omega Prize (Best Master’s thesis in microtechnology). He is the founder of the Aeronautics Association at EPFL and was president of the EPFL Robotics Association between 2002 and 2005.
From 2006 to 2010, Nicolas’ PhD research on biomolecule diffusion in nanofluidic channels, the core of Abionic’s technology, led to numerous publications and patents.
As part of Abionic, Nicolas has received over 20 entrepreneurial awards, including the Young Entrepreneur Award. Nicolas was also elected Captain of Swiss Venture Leaders in 2010, representing Swiss innovation in the USA.
In his private life, Nicolas lives in Blonay (VD), is married and has 2 children. He also holds an aerobatic pilot’s licence, and has won several Swiss Aerobatic Champion titles (Swiss Champion Intermediate category in 2020, Advanced category in 2021 & 2022, Swiss Vice Champion Advanced category in 2023).
About Foundation Campus Biotech Geneva
The non-profit Fondation Campus Biotech Genève (FCBG) was created on December 5, 2013 by EPFL, Unige and the Canton of Geneva to manage the academic, clinical and entrepreneurial entities, house and support research groups, provide funding and operate the Campus Biotech’s shared support platforms.
The mission of the FCBG is to support the emergence of this new center of excellence in the life sciences. The FCBG focuses on neuroscience and bioengineering on the one hand, and digital health on the other. Several companies such as FIND or Gliapharm have their offices at Campus Biotech, alongside the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, as well as HEPIA and EPFL laboratories.