Active ownership to drive value creation and sustainable development

Sustainability for Karolinska Development is about contributing to society's development through investments in innovative pharmaceutical projects and medical technology products with the potential to improve human health. To ensure that we conduct our business in a responsible way, we work actively to constantly develop the company's understanding and management of ESG aspects (Environment, Social, Governance), both from an impact perspective and from a business perspective.
 

Value creation

The point of departure for our investments is that products and services in our portfolio companies should have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of diseases and disabilities where the need for new therapies is extensive. Through this approach we aim to create long-term values for human health. In our investment process we are consequently looking for projects and companies with pioneering development in areas where there are currently no effective treatment alternatives.
 

Management of portfolio companies

As an active owner, a large part of our impact on people and environment take place through the companies we own and invest in. A common denominator in our investments is that we always have high ambitions for our responsibilities as an owner and how we contribute to the portfolio companies' development. In most of our portfolio companies we are represented on the board, where we take an active role in contributing to strong corporate governance, developing value creation, and ensuring satisfactory management of sustainability aspects. In our involvement with the portfolio companies, we put certain focus on social aspects such as helping the companies to ensure a long-term supply of skills and good management of gender equality aspects.
 

Corporate governance and policy framework

Our way of working and formal positions regarding corporate governance and management of sustainability aspects are formalized through our policy framework. The framework consists of external and internal policies as well as internal guidelines and process descriptions for the company's employees. The text box on this page lists our current policies. For more information on our policies, please visit the policy site. Karolinska Development's corporate governance report that is published on an annual basis in the annual report, describes in detail how the company is formally governed, including who are the major owners. The report also outlines the composition of the board, including board members, committees, and board members' independence in relation to owners and management. The corporate governance report also describes the company's risks and how employees and skills supply aspects are managed.