Voices of the Community
asUgoVoicesoftheCommunity:Health
Periodically, asUgo gives the floor to social profit organisations it is working with An open exchange on their reality, and their (motivating) road to impact Today, inspiring sharings with Manuela Battaglia from INNODIA
What does your organisation do?
At INNODIA, we accelerate the development of new therapies for people with Type 1 Diabetes by bringing together academics, industry, and patients Our organization is built around a network of members, experts, and trained people living with Type 1 Diabetes who share their knowledge and expertise to drive innovation, advance disease-modifying therapies, and bring us closer to cures
What do you like most in your organisation?
While we have been founded less than 3 years ago, we already work with all different stakeholders all over Europe Nevertheless, we can still be nimble in the way we do things. I like that very much We keep a lot of room for creativity That’s part of the beauty of INNODIA
We don’t work in a box We prioritize listening, understanding the needs of all stakeholders, and maintaining flexibility to create solutions that truly address everyone’s needs
How did your organisation get where it is now?
Trust, trust and trust Academics see that we create space for progress and give them a great responsibility People living with Type 1 Diabetes see that INNODIA really cares, gains knowledge and involves them in the process Similarly, medicine developers see that we have no other interest than patients and we really want to accelerate the development of new therapies
We don’t work in a box We prioritize listening, understanding the needs of all stakeholders
Everyone has its own way of working and incentives but together - with INNODIA acting as unconflicted catalyzer - they all work towards the same direction: treat Type 1 Diabetes That allows to converge towards a virtuous circle with and for all our stakeholders.
Passion, resilience and courage are part of the INNODIA values, along with inclusion and excellence. Where does the energy of people in your organisation come from?
Besides working for the people living with Type 1 Diabetes, trust and flexibility are enormous drivers
Gradually, everyone has been receiving more and more responsibility This empowering dynamic will help us to evolve further
What evolutions are ahead?
To us, growth is not a goal on itself It will be more a result of our actions make progress for Type 1 her with our partners iority While we already ady steps, there are still estones ahead of us
It also comes with a lot of learnings With team members from Belgium, Italy, Spain, and the UK, as well as an Italian living in Switzerland and an American based in Europe, the INNODIA managing team benefits from a rich cultural background and diverse daily influences. This brings a lot of refreshing perspectives It obliges us – and me as leader in the first place – also to remain aware and adaptive with regards to the different ways of communicating.
This complementary richness will continue to be an essential part of who we are When the team continues to grow, we do not only look for skilled people, but also for people that really fit with the whole team
h a new value creation have the occasion to take We will be able to think side the box and shape beyond our current hink Big, Start Small, ntra resonates very much our minds open, we keep y set on value and
The beauty of our job is that we connect and exchange indeed with a lot people Sometimes, these exchanges result in partnerships or collaborations. Sometimes, they trigger mostly ideas Either way, it helps everyone to avoid reinventing the wheel and grow forward Overall, we exchange, we focus on connecting dots and love to find solutions, together all, we exchange, we focus on connecting dots and love to find solutions, together
Any learnings from exchanges with other organisations?
If you would have a dream, what would it be?
When looking back, the big picture has always been there The details have been and are crystallizing along the way. Things are becoming more and more tangible The road ahead will continue to be a combination of achievements, learnings and human energy
The dream? Definitely to provide all possible treatment options to people with Type 1 Diabetes Beyond that, we will all be truly proud and feel accomplished in demonstrating that our approach has a lasting impact - and that the model we are building to cure Type 1 Diabetes can serve as a benchmark for other diseases This will prove that INNODIA has not only transformed the future for those living with T1D but also for many others affected by lifechanging diseases
Manuela Battaglia Managing Director INNODIA
For more information on INNODIA visit: https://www innodia org/
