The Oslo based technology transfer offices Medinnova and Birkeland Innovasjon have merged. The new company is named Inven2. Jostein Dalland has been appointed CEO of Inven2. As of January 1, 2011, the company will be co-located at Oslo Innovation Center in one of the most concentrated physical campuses for bio-medical activity in the Nordic countries, Gaustadbekkdalen.

Oslo-based cancer company Algeta has signed a USD 800 million global development and commercialization deal with Bayer, the German multinational pharma company, for its lead product candidate Alpharadin.This is probably the biggest deal made in Norwegian biotech industry in recent history.

Oncology research is growing strongly in Norway and Hanna Nemchenko is just one of the bright young researchers who has moved to Oslo. She is also among the first to enrol in special business-orientated courses promoted by Oslo Cancer Cluster and others to provide a new generation of bio-entrepreneurs. Originally from the Ukraine, she explains her course and shares impressions of the country.