AUC, Minapharm Biotech Partnership Opens New Doors

AUC is partnering with global pharmaceutical retailer Minapharm, forging new opportunities for joint academic research and career pathways for graduates of AUC’s biotechnology program. The University will also help in the establishment of the first African Biotech Academy, with AUC supporting curriculum design, accreditation processes and academic integration. 

"By joining forces with Minapharm — the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical company operating in Africa — AUC reaffirms its commitment to empower the next generation of biotech leaders.”

The partnership will facilitate knowledge exchange between AUC and Minapharm, including new joint workshops, research projects, conferences and expert talks from AUC faculty and Minapharm professionals. The partnership opens new career opportunities for students studying biotechnology, as the University will support Minapharm by connecting it with qualified graduates for potential recruitment. Minapharm professionals will also mentor students and support thesis projects in the biotechnology program.

“This collaboration will significantly broaden the practical academic pathways available to our students in a sector that urgently needs local talent,” said AUC Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman. “By joining forces with Minapharm — the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical company operating in Africa — AUC reaffirms its commitment to empower the next generation of biotech leaders.”

"This partnership will give biotechnology students a lot of opportunities for hands-on experience."

Andreas Kakarougkas, assistant professor in the Nancy Hopkins Department of Biology and director of the biotechnology program, initiated a search for an industry partner that could collaborate on joint research projects and provide experiential learning opportunities. “This partnership will give biotechnology students a lot of opportunities for hands-on experience,” Kakarougkas said. “They can intern at the company to see how industry operates compared to academia, which can help them make more informed decisions after graduation.”

Minapharm Co-CEO and Executive Board Member, Dr. Shaheer Bardissi, will serve on AUC’s industry advisory board, which is a collection of professionals and experts in the field who advise on industry trends and opportunities. The company will further provide technical support and access to its facilities and laboratories for joint research projects. As Kakarougkas explained, “The collaboration is an exchange of knowledge: industry expert lectures by Minapharm at AUC, and AUC academics lecturing at Minapharm.

“This partnership merges Minapharm’s 25 years of biomanufacturing and R&D expertise with the academic excellence of AUC, driving the advancement of biotech education and research,” said Shaheer Bardissi, co-CEO and executive board member at Minapharm. “Together, we aim to further enhance the biotech landscape in emerging markets through a plethora of intellectual and technical resources.”

Currently, only students in the graduate biotechnology program are eligible to participate in the partnership, but Kakarougkas says there is room for growth.

“The scope can definitely extend way beyond just the biotechnology graduate program,” Kakarougkas said, noting Minapharm's manufacturing and research & development divisions as opportunities for AUC students studying engineering and business.

Students interested in learning more about the biotechnology program can visit the program's website or Instagram page @aucbiotechnology.