Career Breakfast: From Academia to Industry

Making the move from academia to industry raises many questions. What skills translate well? What mindsets change? And how can researchers navigate this transition with clarity and confidence?

Together with the FFG and its INNOVATORINNEN programme, we invite you to a Career Breakfast on “From Academia to Industry”, designed as a compact, energising start to the day. The event combines short expert input with interactive discussion and informal exchange over breakfast.

The programme opens with a 30-minute impulse panel discussion featuring three experts, moderated by the Career Center. This session provides a concise introduction to key aspects of career transitions beyond academia.

Following the panel, participants move into small, moderated discussion groups at themed tables, where the experts will also take part. These guided conversations allow for deeper reflection, concrete questions, and peer exchange on selected topics related to academic career transitions. Breakfast can be enjoyed alongside the table discussions.

To close, key takeaways from the group discussions will be collected and shared in plenary, offering a structured summary and shared insights to take into the rest of the day.

Who are the experts?

DEJAN BALTIC is Senior Medical Director at AMGEN and brings over 18 years of dedicated industry experience, a wealth of expertise in areas such as people management, coaching, leadership of international teams, and fostering cross-functional collaborations within global corporations. His expertise spans diverse domains including Medical Affairs, Clinical Studies, Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, Compliance, and Quality Assurance.

TINA TROFER is the founder and CEO of geradeheraus Beratung and brings over 15 years of experience in coaching and training entrepreneurs and startups, focusing on developing innovative ideas into viable, impact-oriented ventures. She supports founders in assessing entrepreneurial potential, refining business models, and identifying suitable funding opportunities, including incubator and grant programs, while also advising on impact strategy, team development, and constructive conflict management. As cofounder of Cultural Impact and foundobjects, she combines research on societal impact with hands-on social entrepreneurship.

 JULIA RAITANEN completed her doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Vienna in 2024 and afterwards transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry. She started at Octapharma as a documentation and training officer in quality assurance and recently transitioned to the research and development department, where she now works as a scientist in product and process development. In addition to her job in the pharmaceutical industry, she also works as a yoga teacher and pilates instructor at various studios in Vienna.