Meet our Featured Member, Heidi Kyung Noddeland, a Norwegian life science consultant with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the founder of BioNova Consulting. Now based in Singapore, Heidi is building a bridge between Nordic life science strengths and Asia’s fast-growing innovation ecosystem. In this Q&A, she shares her journey, her work, and why Singapore felt like the right place to take the next step.
Q: Heidi, can you tell us a bit about BioNova Consulting and what inspired you to start it?
BioNova Consulting was established as the first Norwegian-founded life science consultancy based in Singapore, created to support innovative life science solutions come to life.
Innovation in life sciences rarely fails due to a lack of science. More often, progress slows between discovery and real-world implementation, where strategy, execution, partnerships, and systems must align. That is the space where BioNova Consulting operates.
Q: What is your background, and what led you to this point in your journey?
As a Norwegian life science consultant with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, I spent most of my professional career in Copenhagen, working within the life science ecosystem at the intersection of science, strategy, and innovation.
In early 2025, I relocated to Singapore to build BioNova Consulting, combining scientific expertise, consulting experience, and an entrepreneurial approach to support life science teams more independently.
Q: Who does BioNova Consulting typically work with, and how do you support them?
Founded in Singapore and deeply connected to Nordic and international life science networks, BioNova aims to support the people and teams driving innovation across the life science ecosystem — from early-stage ventures and research environments to established pharma, biotech, and health-technology organizations.
Players in this field often have strong scientific foundations but face practical challenges when translating ideas into practical solutions, partnerships, or scalable operations. In other situations, they simply need additional capacity to maintain momentum. In both cases, BioNova steps in as a dedicated partner.
Q: What does that support look like in practice?
BioNova helps bridge these gaps through:
- Strategic and scientific project support
- Partnership development and ecosystem navigation
- Market and competitive insight
- Optimization of process, systems, and ways-of-working
BioNova works as a plug-in extension of teams, side by side, providing support tailored to each team’s needs and helping initiatives move forward where it matters most.
Q: Why did you choose Singapore as the base for BioNova Consulting?
Singapore’s life science landscape is dynamic, international, deeply collaborative, and shaped by the nation’s Research, Innovation & Enterprise (RIE) strategy, which emphasizes translational research, cross-sector partnerships, and health-technology innovation.
Anchored by leading institutions such as A*STAR and research hubs like Biopolis, Singapore brings together academia, startups, and global pharma in an ecosystem designed to move science toward real-world application.
Q: How does BioNova connect Nordic life science strengths with the Singapore and APAC ecosystem?
With experience working across the Nordics, BioNova naturally connects Nordic life science strengths including research excellence, technology development, and strong commercialization channels with Singapore’s fast-growing innovative landscape and gateway to Asia.
Q: Finally, how can the NBAS community connect with you?
BioNova is built on collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to helping ideas move forward through open dialogue and common interests.
If you’re part of the NBAS community or working in health, technology, research, investment, or innovation, I’d love to connect. Coffee is always an excellent start but even better with a little adrenaline in the system. A spontaneous pickleball game, a wakeboarding session, or even a 5am ride with the NBAS Cycling Club can be a fun way to exchange ideas. Or perhaps you have another sport you’re passionate about? I’m always keen to learn.
Get in touch with Heidi
More information: www.bionova-consulting.com
Contact: heidi@bionova-consulting.com