Unveiling the Secrets of Panda Intelligence and the Future of AI

What is the vision for Panda Intelligence, and how does it align with the broader goals of Panda?

We are THE trusted partner in our field…

With the boom in AI that we’ve seen over the past year, Panda is at the forefront of navigating its effects on the Data and AI space.

It’s an area that’s been massively dominated by large consultancies, such as Deloitte, but Panda brings a competitive edge by enabling business growth through talent delivery. While the bigger consultancies are broader in their approach, we’re combining our knowledge and passion for people and technology to create a completely innovative solution.

Having successfully established the Panda brand across several markets over the past 11 years, we are now leveraging our experiences to build Panda Intelligence as the trusted partner in the sector of data and AI within life sciences. To put the potential of the space into content, artificial intelligence in life sciences was estimated at USD 1.56 billion in 2022, and that was before the mass adoption we’ve seen of platforms like ChatGPT this year. Now, this valuation is estimated to reach around USD 9.8 billion in the next 10 years.

So, when launching Panda Intelligence, the message for us was clear: we need to focus on supporting companies who want to leverage this space for the incredible opportunities it presents, and we know we're the best at supporting dynamic businesses who are at the cutting edge of what they do. Together amazing things happen.

We’re filling this gap in the market fast, and already the interest so far has been incredible. Our people are specialists in life sciences, so it’s immensely valuable for our clients to have a partner that understands data, AI and how to find the best match for their needs.

What inspired Panda to explore data and AI further in life sciences, and what are the key opportunities you see ahead?

As we’ve discussed, the idea was sparked by the pure potential for growth in the space. A key distinction between general data and AI roles and those that are highly specialised in life sciences became apparent; the challenges that life sciences companies face are incredibly complex and unique, whilst they also experience issues such as GDPR compliance and handling sensitive data.

Let’s not forget that whilst AI has been around for a long time it is still pretty new to a lot of companies, so it’s a time of trial and error for a lot of businesses right now. However, AI is something that Panda has been exploring and developing our expertise in for some time; Panda Intelligence leverages our life sciences expertise whilst supporting clients to navigate challenges and tap into the power of AI and data for clinic trials, R&D and business operations to ultimately support their growth.

For example, it’s widely known that there is scope for efficiency and success rates in drug development to be improved; approximately only 10-12% of drugs entering clinical trials are approved by the FDA. AI is seen by many as the key to powering a significant increase in the efficiencies of drug development, and that’s exactly what Panda Intelligence is helping companies to achieve.

How does Panda Intelligence differentiate itself from other recruitment firms in the Data and AI and life sciences sectors?

Panda Intelligence stands apart because we're one of the few, if not the only, recruitment firm specialising in data and AI specifically for life sciences. This focus allows us to tap into an expanding candidate pool and means our recruiters have a deep understanding of both the client's needs and the candidate's capabilities. It's not about being a generalist recruiter; our people have specialised knowledge in life sciences and the complexities of AI within that sector, as well as the problems that the clients are trying to solve.

Can you outline the target client base for Panda Intelligence and your strategy for building and maintaining strong relationships with clients?

Our client base is solely within the life sciences sector, specifically biotech companies and businesses that are integrating AI into medical devices, such as healthtech and diagnostics. Our strategy is not just about filling positions but providing strategic advice and consultancy. We partner with businesses to understand and meet their talent growth objectives, acting more as consultants than traditional recruiters.

What role do you think technology and artificial intelligence play in the future of recruitment in the life sciences field?

While AI can improve many recruitment processes, such as candidate shortlisting and pre-screening, there's an emotional and EQ aspect of recruitment that AI can not replace. This is the human element of managing the decision-making process on both sides, asking the specific and meaningful questions relating to that business and its journey so far, the objections, the offer, and understanding client and candidate needs on a deeper level, whilst providing consultative support that goes beyond mere matchmaking. At the moment, I don’t see AI being close to replacing this part of the recruitment process, especially not at the consultative level at which Panda Intelligence operates.

That’s without taking into account headhunting and executive search. AI couldn’t possibly match a good recruiter in this field as a lot of the time you are dealing with objections - most people will say that they are happy in their role if they are not actively searching for a new opportunity. However, a good recruiter will challenge this and delve deeper into what makes them happy and then link it to what their client is offering. 

Could you share some short-term and long-term goals for Panda Intelligence and the commercial impact for your clients?

We established brand recognition and trust in the market. With the launch of our new website, and conversations with existing clients and across our networks, Panda Intelligence is now poised for the next phase of growth.

We’re growing the team quickly to cover all the territories in which we operate including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany covering both contract and perm recruitment, whilst covering niche skills within these territories including data analytics, data science, and machine learning. 

In the long term, our goal is to push the boundaries and bring innovation to how AI is used in life sciences. We help our clients achieve their commercial outcomes by providing expert consultants who can offer the strategic guidance and talent they need to succeed in this market which will be dominated by technology advancements like AI.

How will your commitment to AI benefit your clients? 

Panda’s commitment to AI highlights an understanding of how this technological shift is shaping the market. We can already see that middle management will be most affected by these developments in AI, whereas with the Industrial Revolution, it was the lower-skilled workforce. 

Panda Intelligence is more than just a recruitment partner, we offer a truly consultative approach. We are not there to just fill jobs, we have business conversations with our clients to find out what roles they need to meet their commercial goals and objectives. We know that there is no one size fits all - we tailor our services to meet the individual needs of each client. 

By partnering with Panda it shows that the business is at the forefront of technological developments and gives trust and confidence to key stakeholders. 

How do you plan to measure the success and impact of Panda Intelligence on your overall business?

The main metric will be growth, not just in revenue but also in market influence and brand recognition. We see this as a significant opportunity for expansion, as the demand for specialised AI and data skills within life sciences grows. By being early adopters and market leaders in this field, we have positioned ourselves ahead of the curve and established a strong brand before others enter the market.

Finally, what advice do you have for recruitment professionals aspiring to work in the data and AI field within the life sciences industry, and how can Panda Intelligence assist them?

Professionals should look at Data and AI within life sciences as an incredibly exciting and progressive field. The impact of their work could be even more transformative and contribute significantly to the wellbeing of wider society. Panda Intelligence is the gateway to these opportunities, providing the guidance, connections, and roles that can help them make a meaningful difference in to the world.

Get in touch

If you’re looking for a role in the life sciences industry, Panda can help.

We provide all of the support, expertise and opportunities including training, coaching and mentoring. If you’re looking for when taking the next step in your life sciences career – take a look at our vacancies or get in touch to find out more.

Looking for the best life sciences talent?

Panda is trusted by leading life sciences companies worldwide to provide the best contingent talent and deliver seamless candidate experiences.

For more information on how we work and what we can do for your organisation, contact us today.