Novartis

Novartis
Industry	Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals
Founded	1996
Headquarters	Basel, Switzerland
Area Served	Worldwide
Founder	Daniel Vasella
CEO	Joseph Jiménez
Chariman	Joerg Reinhardt
Products	Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals
Market Value	229.770,4m$ (2014)
Employees	135,000(2014)
Website	www.novartis.com/

About Novartis

Novartis is divided in five business segments, supported by the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), the company’s global research organization. The pharmaceuticals segment develops new medicines; Sandoz is a global leader in generics industry, the vaccines and diagnostics department works in the field of vaccines and diagnostic products, Alcon specializes in eye care and the Consumer Healthcare segment focuses on self-care brands for consumers and veterinary medicines.

Engagement in Cultural Diplomacy

Novartis corporate website states that they actively engage with local communities. The company considers community engagement and related volunteer activities as a key component of corporate responsibility. Strengthening ties with the civil society has been implemented through a variety of activities. The examples are numerous: school renovation, participation at food donation banks, accompanying disabled children on trips and helping local organizations improve their efficiency, just to name a few. Noteworthy was the fact that Novartis, active in corporate citizenship initiatives, was one of the first companies who signed the United Nations Global Compact. Every year, Novartis organizes the Community Partnership Day to provide an opportunity for associates around the world to actively participate in changing their local communities.

Employment Policy

Novartis operates in over 140 countries around the world and supports a diverse and multinational workforce. The company values diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, thinking styles, religion and belief, sexual orientation, age, differential ability, education, nationality and life experiences. One of the company’s commitments is also to maintaining equality. Furthermore, in the Diversity & Inclusion Report, it is underlined that there is a strong female representation at the company. In particular 46% of all associates worldwide and 42% of the local managers are women. The company has its subsidiaries and offices in more than 140 countries thus rendering global positions accessible to applicants through its job search portal.

Education

International Internship Programs

Novartis does not provide an independent international internship program, however, it has established fellowship, internship and exchange programs with universities and research institutions. In addition, Novartis organizes the Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) to gather talented students from top universities around the world. Significant among the offered programs is the Summer research fellowship; these NIBR fellowships offer scientists coming from developing countries in Africa an opportunity to conduct research in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a period of three months months.

Grants and Scholarships

Novartis collaborates with scientific and academic institutions through the provision of grants, such as the Novartis Science scholarships or the Novartis Excellence scholarships. Furthermore, the Novartis Foundation sponsors young scientists in Switzerland. Through its support for research projects, Novartis contributes to the preservation and strengthening of Switzerland as one of the most important centers for scientific research in Europe. In addition, Novartis is combining the efforts of the “Novartis Foundation” and the “Novartis Foundation for medical-biological research” to further strengthen the support of highly qualified, talented young individuals engaging in research.

Notable activities

Activities in the Field of Humanitarian Aid

Novartis tries to help disadvantaged people through contributions to local charitable organizations, contact centers, soup kitchens, nursing institutions and other activities. The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) forms a central part of the Novartis philanthropic portfolio. NFSD in collaboration with stakeholders aims to improve health and living conditions in the developing countries by developing and implementing projects designed to provide better and more secure essential health care. In addition, the Novartis Venture Funds supports new innovative business projects in sciences and new technologies. Finally, Novartis provides financial and medical aid to natural disaster-torn-areas. The company engages in humanitarian emergency relief with activities such as aid delivery in the shortest time possible.

Supporting Music & Visual Arts

Novartis sponsors a series of musical projects and events, such as the ”Music beyond borders project” offered by the “Mayo Performing Arts Center” and the open-air concerts of the “Montreal International Jazz Festival”. Moreover, the company also maintains long-standing partnerships with well-known institutions like the Antikenmuseum Basel, Fondation Beyeler, Kunstmuseum Basel, Museum der Kulturen Basel, Museum Rietberg in Zurich and also the Basel Museum Night. Novartis also sponsors the opera studio at the Theater Basel. In the field of film industry, Novartis financially contributes to international film festivals worldwide such as the “Good Dog! International Film Festival” in Australia.

Promoting Human and Civil Rights

Novartis supports the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is committed to the United Nations Global Compact. As one of the first signatories of the latter, the company is committed to the support of key principles in the areas of human and labor rights. Novartis is committed to respecting human rights as set out by the United Nation’s Bill of Rights and the core conventions of the International Labor Organization. Particularly, the “Novartis Code of Conduct” states that the corporation tries to ensure that their activities do not directly or indirectly negatively impact fundamental human rights.

Novartis defines its human rights obligations in a specific human rights corporate citizenship guideline. Human rights commitments and responsibilities are implemented through general management procedures. Novartis conducts all business activities in compliance with existing labor, environmental, tax and other laws and regulations, and in cases where these are not consistent with company’s values often even at a higher standard.