How Roche Builds Innovation Capabilities Across its Global Workforce
Roche wanted its people to spot and shape new business opportunities. We designed a four-part learning journey that teaches business-model thinking, design and testing. The program has already trained hundreds of employees and helped internal teams push new venture ideas forward.

Roche is a global leader in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. With over 100,000 employees and revenues of CHF 64.2 billion in 2023, Roche is committed to advancing science and improving patient outcomes. The company is known for its innovative solutions in oncology, immunology, and diagnostics, continuously pushing the boundaries of healthcare. Roche's focus on research and development enables it to lead in personalized healthcare, providing cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic tools worldwide.
Together with Roche Healthcare Consulting (RHC), the BMI Lab has developed a tailored learning journey to empower Roche employees. This program, built around the Business Model Innovation (BMI) methodology, aims to enable employees to drive digital value and revenue generation, supporting Roche’s strategic transformation
The Challenge
Digital shifts and new care models demand fresh revenue streams. Many staff members lacked a shared language for business models and a clear method to turn ideas into tested ventures. Roche needed a scalable way to build these skills fast.
That's where the BMI Lab Training comes in.
Approach
The learning journey is segmented into four educational building blocks and begins with a foundational training to foster business model thinking. This is followed by a Business Model Design training, and concludes with a Business Model Testing and Validation training, equipping Roche employees with the skills to innovate, design, and validate new business models effectively.

In the Business Model Thinking training, we establish a framework and common language to identify and describe business models. This approach enables Roche employees to understand the underlying dynamics and "magic" of business models, fostering a shared understanding across the organization.
The Business Model Design training focuses on the steps to create innovative business model ideas utilizing the 55+ business model pattern cards, select the most promising ones, and describe them in detail in the Idea Sheet. It also covers testing the new models for internal and external consistency, ensuring their viability and alignment with both organizational capabilities and market needs.
The Business Model Testing and Validation training focuses on systematically de-risking new business ventures using the testing circle and testing cards, helping Roche employees gradually refine and validate their models to bring them to market readiness.
Finally, we offer optional coaching for Roche’s internal new venture projects, providing additional support to accelerate progress and ensure successful implementation, while keeping the projects aligned with the Business Model Innovation methodologies.
Impact
Thanks to the training, we successfully empowered hundreds of Roche employees worldwide with the fundamental skills and tools to develop new business opportunities. Additionally, we collaborated closely with Roche on internal projects, helping to drive innovation and support their strategic transformation.
Jelena Brestovac
Key Learnings & Next Steps
Clear language and hands-on tools speed up innovation in large firms. Coaching anchors the training in real work. Roche plans to add advanced modules on scaling ventures and will use alumni as peer mentors.