AI could cut clinical trial timelines by up to 50% – so why isn’t pharma moving faster?

In this episode Sebastian speaks with Annette Østergaard, a recognised leader in the pharmaceutical industry, specialising in clinical development and digital innovation. Drawing from years of hands-on work in global clinical trials, Annette shares a grounded perspective on where AI can bring real value – and where the industry still faces significant barriers.

The discussion covers the complexity of clinical trial processes, the critical role of data quality and availability, and why regulatory, ethical and organisational challenges cannot be overlooked. Annette also explains why the real transformation is not only about technology, but about people, mindset and the ability to rethink how clinical operations are designed end-to-end.

Key topics:

• Why AI has the potential to significantly accelerate clinical trials
• What stands in the way of effective AI implementation in pharma
• Why data quality, structure and accessibility are critical foundations
• How regulations, privacy and ethics shape AI adoption in life sciences
• Why an end-to-end approach is necessary instead of isolated solutions
• How AI can improve predictability, reduce costs and increase success rates
• Why people, skills and organisational mindset are the biggest challenges
• How pharma companies need to rethink collaboration and operating models

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:41 – Is pharma truly ready for AI?

04:28 – Key challenges: data, regulation and complexity

10:40 – Why mindset and skills are the biggest barrier

12:07 – How AI could cut clinical trial timelines by up to 50%

15:53 – Can AI become the breakthrough for pharma?

20:35 – Key benefits and challenges of AI in clinical trials

🎙 Guest:

Annette Østergaard, Pharmaceutical Industry Leader (Clinical Development & Digital Innovation)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anetteoestergaard/

🎙Host:

Sebastian Dzieniak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-dzieniak/

How do Scandinavian companies actually evaluate nearshore partners today – and what is changing in their expectations? In this episode Sebastian speaks with Erik Wärn, Business Area Manager at Nexer, working closely with international entities and clients across the Nordics.

They discuss trust, transparency and long-term collaboration, as well as the shift from traditional time-and-material resourcing towards outcome-based partnerships. Erik also explains why domain knowledge, industry expertise and genuine business understanding are now becoming decisive factors for Scandinavian clients choosing vendors in Central Europe.

This episode covers:

• What non-negotiables Scandinavian clients expect from partners
• Why transparency, flat hierarchy and cultural fit matter so much
• How nearshore delivery matured from coding capacity to advisory roles
• Why Central Europe is viewed as high-quality rather than low-cost
• How outcome-based and value-driven models are changing cooperation
• Why domain expertise and specialisation are now strategic differentiators
• Where misconceptions about “cheap delivery” still remain – and how to counter them

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:43 – Transparency and stability as non-negotiables for Scandinavian clients

05:43 – The market trend of moving away from time-based materials toward outcome-based models

07:29 – Building engagement by removing communication filters between teams and clients

08:58 – Why domain knowledge and understanding the business are more important than the tech stack

17:39 – The "cheap service" trap and why focusing only on lower rates can be expensive

🎙 Guest:

Erik Wärn Business Area Manager at Nexer Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-w%C3%A4rn-2011747/

🎙Host:

Sebastian Dzieniak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-dzieniak/

What do Swedish companies really expect from nearshore partners in Central Europe? Is cost still the priority, or is something else driving cooperation today? In this episode Sebastian speaks with Staffan Strand, President at Nexer Group, responsible for international markets including the Nordics.

They discuss Scandinavian business culture, transparency, and the shift from traditional outsourcing to expert-driven delivery. Staffan also explains why Central Europe – and Poland in particular – has become such a strategic region for digital talent, AI, cybersecurity, and high-competence engineering.

This episode covers:

• How the Scandinavian consulting market is changing after difficult years
• Why cost efficiency matters – but never at the expense of quality
• What Swedish customers value most: honesty, craftsmanship, domain expertise
• How Central Europe evolved from cheap labour to strategic delivery hubs
• What risks companies face in nearshoring and how to mitigate them
• Why culture, trust, and face-to-face contact still matter in remote delivery
• Why “daring to specialise” is the only long-term competitive strategy

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – The Scandinavian perspective on nearshoring
03:10 – Cost efficiency versus quality and transparency
09:46 – Central Europe’s shift from low cost delivery to full service ownership
19:55 – Why specialisation matters more than competing on price

🎙 Guest:

Staffan Strand President at Nexer Group
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staffanstrand/

🎙Host:
Sebastian Dzieniak, Client Relationship Manager
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-dzieniak/