The University of Georgia’s continuing collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim has not only transformed lives and industries, but now celebrates a Golden Helix Phoenix Award for its Sustainable Development Experience (SDX) initiative.
This accolade — endorsed by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and awarded by Georgia Life Sciences — honors a partnership between industry and academia that illustrates how strategic collaborations can expedite discovery, propel commercialization, and generate significant benefits for patients and communities.
“It is a tremendous honor for this initiative and this alliance to be acknowledged with the Phoenix Award,” remarked Allison Chesnutt, senior director for business engagement at the University of Georgia. “Boehringer Ingelheim has consistently been an exceptional collaborator here at the university, and this initiative is merely the start of how industry affiliations can advantage both the university and nearby communities.”
Featuring elements on the environment, human and animal health, workplace culture, and corporate critical thinking, the SDX initiative pairs Boehringer personnel with UGA scholars to offer a certificate program aimed at enhancing business practices. The Terry College of Business’ Executive Education program facilitated the gathering of all essential partners to ensure the program’s success.
Based on three strategic pillars — More Green, More Health, and More Potential — the SDX initiative leveraged its existing relationship with UGA to assemble instructors from various departments to lead training sessions and develop lectures aligned with corporate objectives. After reviewing multiple higher education institutions, Boehringer chose the University of Georgia as its strategic collaborator, pointing to the university’s vast expertise and leadership in critical areas of focus.
Instructors from five schools and colleges — Odum School of Ecology, School of Public and International Affairs, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Terry College of Business — are involved in the program, offering sessions to Boehringer employees nationwide.
“The teamwork required to not only establish the SDX initiative but also to execute it has been remarkable to observe,” stated Rachael Widener, director of alliance and contract management at Boehringer Ingelheim. “It was beneficial that we already had such a robust partnership with UGA and that the university’s Executive Education program was so devoted to promoting sustainability in business practices.”
The three pillars serve as a framework for the training sessions. “More Green” pertains to the industry’s effect on the environment and how environmental constraints can also influence industrial achievement and sustainability in a specific region. Sessions within the initiative delve into the complexities of sustainability issues and opportunities for innovation in industry.
“More Health” is specifically illustrated by Boehringer Ingelheim’s mission to enhance human and animal health through physical wellness and emotional and mental well-being. In this framework, sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass the longevity of health and quality of life for both current and future generations.
“More Potential” is the most adaptable of the three pillars, allowing participants to tailor the sessions with the ultimate aim to impact 50 million individuals in under-resourced communities by developing solutions that foster economic sustainability over time.
“The SDX initiative truly represents a confluence of these pillars, of collaboration between industry and academia, and of people and the environment,” expressed Michael Murphy, director of sustainable development at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Through this program and the collaboration with UGA, it is achievable to devise and implement strategies that enhance industrial sustainability — both environmentally and economically — for their communities and workforces.”
The Georgia Life Sciences Golden Helix Awards honor leaders and organizations in the life sciences sector for their contributions within Georgia. The Phoenix Award was presented to Boehringer Ingelheim and the University of Georgia’s SDX Program at a reception event on August 26.
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