
Master Program: Master in Biotechnology Management
Learning purpose
The Master in Biotechnology Management online is an online course centered on the biotechnology and life sciences industries. The program is aimed at professionals who are unable to leave their place of residence and workplace for extended periods of time. Its main focus is to teach you how to turn the challenges of the biotech industry into growth opportunities and equip you with the expertise needed to succeed in this ever-changing field.
Target audience
The Master in Biotechnology Management online is intended for working professionals with some professional experience.
Programme
The Master in Biotechnology Management online is a 13-month program aimed at professionals who are unable to leave their places of residence and/or work for extended periods of time. Each module consists of a 22-week online learning period, each opening and closing with face-to-face training periods. Each of the 3 face-to-face session lasts 2 weeks, with the first and third of these taking place at IE's campus in Madrid and the second in Boston, USA, a global hub of the biotechnology industry. During the virtual periods you will be taught the business fundamentals and focus in on the more specialist skills and knowledge required of the professional manager within the biotechnology sector. The methodology is based on asynchronous sessions which allow an active discussion to be pursued regardless of your geographical location. Each session is open 24 hours-a-day allowing each person the freedom to manage their time and thus facilitate the individual’s active participation in the debate, as well as giving you ample time to formulate your opinions and arguments. The face-to-face sessions work on the soft-skills essential to professional success as well as giving you a chance to meet your professors and classmates in person, as well as professionals from the sector. The combination of case studies and teamwork with innovative online teaching methods creates a new, advanced, and culturally diverse platform for training global managers. through the program you will be exposed to an international network of professional contacts, equipping you with up-to-date specialized skills that will assist you throughout their career in the biotechnology industry.
The master focuses on the following aspects:
1. Legal issues and regulation of the life sciences industry
2. Intellectual property in the life sciences industry.
3. Corporate social responsibility.
4. Industry and public sector interaction.
5. Business development, alliances & international negotiations.
6. Global industry and competition analysis.
7. Marketing strategy & planning.
8. Innovation and R&D management in the life sciences.
9. International capital markets and venture capital.
10. Project management workshop.
11. Entrepreneurship fundamentals.
The Master in Biotechnology Management online has a flexible structure that guarantees that all students will be able to follow the program regardless of their geographic location, personal commitments and professional obligations.
Structure
The methodology of the program focuses on real business case discussion and analysis of specialized issues. It is enhanced by the participants' experience and moderated by the professor in such a way as to foster decision-making and problem identification. The virtual campus is the fundamental point of reference for the online activities that form a communication platform for group work and for the teacher-led online sessions. You will participate in online forums and discussions and have easy access to the comments, opinions and experiences of your professors and fellows, as well as general information on the program. These online forums will be active 24 hours-a-day allowing each person to better manage their time and facilitating active participation and contribution. During the online periods, video-conferences by experienced industry professionals will also be available. These industry specialized conferences will provide a real insight into the biotech sector so that you learn how to practically apply the theories and techniques learnt during online classes. Participants from all over the world can daily gain access to the Asynchronous Online Sessions (a mix of forums and multimedia tools), conducted at the participant’s convenience. These sessions are further strengthened by the three 1-2 week residential periods in Boston and Madrid.
Initially you will participate in a 2-week face-to-face period in Madrid, followed by the first online period, itself opening with studies in the fundamentals of management which focusses on courses such as: Cost Accounting and Management Control, Financial Accounting, Competitive Strategy, Biotech Industry Fundamentals, Legal Issues in Global Business, Operations & Quality in the Life Sciences, Marketing and Sales for the Biomedical Market, Economic Environment and the Economics of Healthcare, Organizational Behavior and Corporate Social Responsibility and the Life Sciences Firms. This period is followed by another face-to face session. The second residential period will take place in Boston, the biotech capital of the world. Boston, which nests the largest concentration of biotech, pharma and related companies in the world, will allow our students to visit some of the most recognized companies, such us the Genzyme Center Corporate Headquarters, which combines innovative design and cutting-edge technology to achieve two goals: creating an exciting new workplace for more than 900 Genzyme employees, and setting a new standard in environmentally responsible architecture. Along this residential period, a series of conferences to focus on the latest issues and challenges that professionals face in the sector will take place in the Executive Conference Center at University Park Hotel@MIT. These conferences will be led and chaired by leaders from the sector, who will share their real-world experiences, knowledge, and expertise, keeping you up to date with the latest developments within it, as you expand your network of contacts within the industry itself.
The subsequent term will focus more on innovative thinking and specialized courses including: Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences Industry, Business Development in the Life Sciences, Regulation of the Life Sciences Industry Strategy Implementation & Uncertainty Management and Global Entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences. The course will end with a further residential session in Madrid, in which students can consolidate all the theory learnt. The Master in Biotechnology Management focuses on the competencies and knowledge needed to turn the challenges in the biotechnology industry into growth opportunities and provides you with the specialized skills and knowledge to meet the demands of this complex industry.
Entry Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent - Several years of work experience are expected although this requirement is flexible. Students must be working during their programs. - Application form + 2 letters of recommendation + 3 essays - GMAT (average: 680) or IE Admission Test - Personal Interview - Students whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL score (260) or an equivalent certificate.

