New lecture series focusing on innovation at top companies to start tonight

Sanjoy Ray, Director of Technology Innovation at Merck Research Laboratories speaks at Imperial College Business School

By Tanya Gubbay
Wednesday 1 June 2011

The Director of Technology Innovation at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies will tonight share his insights about driving innovation in information technology, in a lecture at Imperial College Business School.

Four years ago, Sanjoy Ray, from Merck Research Laboratories, set up a group at Merck to discover and apply innovative information technology, in order to expand research and development at the company.

In tonight's lecture he will discuss how this group operates, the challenges they have faced and overcome, and how they have tailored processes and behaviours to work within Merck's culture.

Dr Ray's lecture is the first in a series of public lectures at the Business School as part of the Innovation Outreach Program (IOP) Lecture Series.

The IOP comprises 30 elite companies including 3M, Ericsson and NCR. It was established in 2009 to allow chief innovation executives the opportunity to exchange ideas, experience, and insights, in order to maintain their competitive edge.

Imperial College London provides the academic support for American and European IOP events and activities.

Dr Andrew Fletcher, Director of the IOP at Imperial College Business School said: "The Innovation Outreach Program is all about sharing best practice and doing something practical as a result. Tonight Sanjoy Ray is giving us an insight into the innovation journey that Merck have taken. Seeing how Merck overcame challenges along the way will make this relevant to a whole host of technology-based businesses."

Tonight's lecture is taking place at Imperial College Business School, Lower Ground Square Lecture Theatre at 18.00 - 19.00. It is open to all: www.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/businessschool/events_summary/event_12-5-2011-14-53-15

For details about events at Imperial College Business School and updates about future speakers in this lecture series, please contact: icbs.events@imperial.ac.uk

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