Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Administration and Management of Biomedical Companies

Administration and Management of Biomedical Companies
4
14030
4
First semester
op
MENTION IN BIOMEDICAL BUSINESS
Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Teaching staff


Dr. MARFÀ BRUIX, Santiago - smarfa@uic.es

Questions will be resolved before or after class. To resolve non-face-to-face questions, they will be done by videoconference.

Introduction

The course presents the key elements for the administration and management of biomedical enterprises. It builds on and applies the contents of Entrepreneurship and Innovation with a specific focus on the biomedical ecosystem (hospitals, startups, the pharmaceutical industry and related services). It integrates perspectives from strategy, marketing, finance, leadership skills and negotiation, with particular attention to regulated environments and high social impact. It contributes especially to SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12.

  • SDGs to which it contributes: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Pre-course requirements

It is recommended to have taken and to recall the concepts from Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Objectives

The teacher staff aims to explain the foundations of management and administration of biomedical organizations. They also seek to provide knowledge and tools that allow students to interpret the environment and conduct a strategic diagnosis, make basic economic and financial management decisions, and design value propositions and marketing approaches in regulated contexts. The course also intends to foster the ability to lead teams, develop communication and negotiation skills with an ethical approach, and promote the critical use of information to transform data into decisions. Finally, it seeks to guide students towards autonomous and collaborative learning, integrating a vision of the social, health, economic, and gender-equality impact of business decisions, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 12).

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • CN14 - Identify the principles of biomedical sciences related to health, as well as the basic concepts and tools that have an impact on Biomedical Sciences and allow them to work in any of its fields (biomedical companies, bioinformatics labs, research laboratories, clinical analysis companies, etc.).
  • CP05 - Apply biological foundations in the search for practical solutions to health problems, following ethical standards and scientific rigour and respecting fundamental equal rights between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values inherent in a peaceful society of democratic values that includes inclusive, non-discriminatory language without stereotypes.

Learning outcomes of the subject

Upon completing the course, students should be able to:

  • Use information as a strategic tool in business management and technological development.

  • Design business management and administration strategies, using business plans as a working tool.

  • Recognize different types of biomedical companies, including hospital management, biomedical startups, pharmaceutical companies, and other service-based businesses.

  • Identify key concepts in people management within the biomedical field.

  • Recognize the key principles of corporate finance.

  • Identify the key principles of marketing, with special emphasis on product development processes.

  • Integrate the foundations of leadership skills and the key principles of negotiation.

Syllabus

1) Business Strategy (Related SDGs: SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12)

  • Introduction.

  • Canvas.

  • Mission, vision, values.

  • External analysis (PESTLE, Porter).

  • Internal analysis (Value Chain, VRIO, SWOT).

  • Competitive strategy.

  • Growth, diversification and cooperation.

  • 7S model.

  • Leadership and styles.

2) Marketing (Related SDGs: SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12)

  • Introduction.

  • Pharmaceutical Market (Rx, Spain).

  • Marketing plan.

  • Market definition, stakeholders and competitors.

  • Segmentation and targeting.

  • Merical marketing (KOL, RWE, pre and post launch). 

  • Omnichannel strategy.

  • Strategic framework.

  • Structure (staff and sales force).

  • Tactical plan (Pre & Post launch investments, projects).

  • Access to the market (National, Regional, Hospital/Retail & Barriers).

  • Contingency plan.

  • Life cycle management.

  • Timeline and Conclusions.

3) Finance for non–financiers (pharma/health sector) (Related SDGs: SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12)

  • Introduction: From accounting to corporate reporting.

  • Financial Monitoring: Budget, T1, T2, Forecast, Strategic Plan.

  • Stock value analysis.

  • P&L.

  • Balance sheet.

  • Income statement.

  • Cash Flow.

4) Management skills (Related SDGs: SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 12)

  • Typology: Group, Interpersonal and Personal.

  • Self-awareness.

5) Negotiation (Related SDGs: SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 12)

  • Introduction.

  • Process in negotiation; value creation and claiming; closing and follow–up.

  • Types of negotiations and negotiators.

Teaching and learning activities

In person



Fully on-site modality:

  1. Lectures – 20 hours: knowledge transfer to the whole group.

  2. Case method (CM) – 20 hours: case resolution, debates and group presentations with concepts introduced as needed and under supervision.

SDG contribution within the methodology: SDG 4 (active learning and formative assessment); SDG 5 (inclusive dynamics and co-assessment with a gender-equality lens); SDG 9 (focus on processes/technologies); SDG 3 and SDG 8 (analysis of health and socio-economic impact in cases); SDG 12 (reflection on product life cycle and efficient use of resources).

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



First sitting:

  • Class participation and attitude: 10%

  • Coursework / presentations: 40%

  • Final exam: 50%

Second and subsequent sittings

  • Participation (10%) and coursework/presentation (40%) grades from the first sitting are retained.

  • Final exam: 50%.

  • NOTE: In second and subsequent sittings, the maximum achievable grade is 6/10.

General conditions and minimum requirements

  • To average the grades, a score of ≥ 4/10 is required in the final exam.

  • Minimum overall grade to pass the course: 5/10.

  • Attendance: Failure to meet the minimum 75% attendance will reduce the participation score.

  • There is no midterm exam.

  • Negative marking in multiple-choice exams: –0.33 per wrong answer when there are 4 options (1 point for the correct answer) and –0.25 when there are 5 options.

SDG alignment in assessment: the exam and participation ensure SDG 4 (quality education). The presentation (pipeline, development and expansion/BD) must include impact and sustainability analysis, contributing to SDG 3, SDG 8, SDG 9 and SDG 12, and a gender-equality and inclusion perspective (SDG 5) will be valued.

Bibliography and resources

  • Kolchinsky, P. The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Biotech Startup (open access).

  • Materials and cases provided by the teaching staff via the Virtual Classroom.

  • Complementary resources on biomedical markets and market access (to be announced in class).

Evaluation period

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:
  • E1 21/01/2026 A22 18:00h
  • E2 23/06/2026 A10 18:00h
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