Being innovative and remaining innovative in the pharmaceutical industry

Abstract: The pharmaceutical industry has long been regarded as one of the most innovative industries, with ingenious products that have saved millions of lives. However, after the 1980s boom, innovation has stagnated, resulting in a high level of pressure being placed on companies. The people who work with the actual innovative aspect of discovery in these companies are the researchers. The purpose of this study is to examine how these scientists individually perceive innovation as well as setbacks in their work and what is required of them to perform innovatively. In order to find the answer to this, literature studies have been compiled together with interviews with scientists at pharmaceutical companies in the Stockholm and Uppsala region. In the course of the interviews, the main objective was to receive a broad view on how their working conditions from an innovation standpoint. During the interviews, the discussions were based on the researchers’ perspective of innovation, motivation, how they view setbacks as well as their ultimate research dream. From the interviews, I have extrapolated factors which are fundamental considerations for innovative work, both generally and in setback situations. Moreover, how setback situations are perceived, and what is considered to be success. The result from the interviews regarding innovation parameters is consistent with the theory of innovation success. All interviewees reported a significant absence of several of these factors. Above all, the importance of time, the possibility of lateral thinking through spontaneous meetings with colleagues and obstacles created by huge bureaucracy and control. The research staff did not perceive setback situations as actual setbacks but instead they deemed it as an associated factor in their profession. Half of those interviewed expressed no faith in the fact that pursuit of their work would result in a commercialized product that would help people in need.