Operational Excellence Research Group

Established in 2012, the Operational Excellence (OPEX) Research Group is our long‑standing exchange platform for OPEX leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. Four two‑day meetings per year combine presentations, workshops, site visits, and deep expert discussions. Participants define the annual focus topics themselves, enabling targeted problem‑solving on themes such as continuous improvement, leadership behavior, digitalization, and strategy deployment.

Benefits for Participating Companies

• Exchange and network with industry peers on shared challenges and proven successful practices
• Join site tours to see how peers implement solutions in real operational environments
• Participate in workshops and company presentations on key priority topics
• Access the latest research insights from the University of St.Gallen

Dates 2026

• March 17th/18th, 2026
• June 2nd/3rd, 2026
• September 8th/9th, 2026
• November 17th/18th, 2026

Topics and Hosts 2025

• Definition of focus topics for 2025. Hosted by the University of St.Gallen, Zurich (Switzerland)
• Maturity assessment, OPEX Organizations, and Performance Measurement. Hosted by Pfizer, Sanford, NC (USA)
• The role of digitalization and AI in OPEX, and how companies can build capabilities effectively. Hosted by Takeda, Rieti (Italy)
• Organizational engagement and the deployment & sustainment of OPEX programs in pharma. Hosted by B. Braun, Irvine, CA (USA)

Participating Companies 2025