BERND BUCHER
NOVARTIS
Bernd has spent his career ensuring that the right technology reaches the right people at the right moment, and his current focus is among the most consequential yet: building the infrastructure, the talent and the discipline to deploy AI at genuine enterprise scale. To execute this, Novartis is laying the foundations for a future in which technology does not just support making medicines,
BERND BUCHER
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Bernd has been CIO and Global Head of Data, Digital & IT( DD & IT) at Novartis since June 2022. He has built an integrated technology function responsible for the full stack across the Novartis value chain, supporting Biomedical Research, Drug Development, Manufacturing, Commercial and Corporate Functions to deliver the next generation of medicines. He drives the use of technology to accelerate innovation, including scaling AI across the enterprise. In more than 16 years at Novartis, he has led IT across Technical and Commercial Operations, advancing enterprisewide transformation. Prior to Novartis, he held senior IT leadership roles at UBS. Bernd holds a master’ s degree in business economics from the University of Basel. it expands what may be possible for patients over time.
In the pharmaceutical industry, technology has always operated in service of a larger purpose. At Novartis, which operates in more than 100 countries, that purpose is explicit: reimagining medicine. For Bernd, it is also deeply personal.
Tech as a true enabler When it comes to technology, Novartis’ mission to extend and improve people’ s lives shapes everything from infrastructure investment to day-to-day tool selection. Of all the technologies on Bernd’ s agenda right now, AI demands the most attention – and the most rigour.
“ You can’ t deploy AI for the sake of AI,” he says.“ You deploy it for the purpose of the company. For us, this means applying AI to clear scientific and operational challenges, with the aim of creating meaningful impact for patients and the company. Our goal is to leverage technology to support more efficient drug discovery and development processes, with the aim of improving how medicines are brought to patients.”
This discipline of purposeful AI rather than AI for its own sake sits at the centre of how Novartis approaches its technology investment. Before any AI layer can be built, Bernd explains, the foundation beneath it must be solid. That means running and maintaining the core enterprise and data platforms that keep the business operational every day, systems of records such as leading enterprise platforms across Finance, HR and Operations.
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