Using Intellectual Property to Create Real-World Impact: A Conversation with Johanna Bergh
By Rebeca Varela Lores, Investment Associate
February 3, 2026
In December, the Impact Gala gathered voices of impact for an evening shaped by a shared belief: that meaningful change is possible, even in uncertain times. The night was dedicated to raising funds for the Swedish–African Neurosurgical Collaboration (SANC), a non-profit working to strengthen neurosurgical care and knowledge exchange between Sweden and Africa.
AWA was one of the sponsors of the evening. With a strong presence in the life sciences sector, AWA works closely with innovative companies and researchers to protect, manage, and leverage intellectual property, helping ideas move from the lab into real-world impact.
A month later, the energy from that night still resonates. We sat down with Johanna Bergh, Business Area Manager for Life Science at AWA, to talk about leadership, purpose, and why supporting SANC felt like a natural choice.
In this interview, Johanna reflects on what it means to lead with purpose and how intellectual property can be used as a force for real-world impact.
Johanna Bergh
Partner, European Patent Attorney, Authorised Swedish Patent Attorney, Business Area Manager at AWA
You’ve built an impressive career leading AWA’s Life Science operations and supporting innovation through intellectual property. For those who might not be familiar, could you tell us a bit about AWA’s mission and your role within it?
AWA’s mission is to help companies take full advantage of their IP so that they can build tomorrow’s success. We’re really passionate about helping clients find the right strategy to identify their intellectual assets and protect their innovations, manage risks in highly competitive markets, and use IP as a strong driver for doing business.
As Business Area Manager for AWA’s Life Science business in Sweden, my role is to develop our business, strengthen client relationships, and ensure we deliver high-quality IP advice that supports growth in a very competitive industry. And honestly, one of the things I appreciate most is working in the life science field, where innovation leads to life-saving change, together with my incredibly knowledgeable and experienced colleagues and our forward-thinking, inspiring clients. They’re a big part of why this work is so rewarding.
As a leader in the life sciences and IP field, how do you guide your team to stay purpose-driven and innovative even during uncertain times?
We’re living in uncertain times, and the pace of change in society is faster than ever. By reminding ourselves of who we are, where we are going, and why our work matters, we stay purpose-driven.
To stay innovative, we focus on creating an open, supportive culture where people feel safe to question, test new things, and learn. IP and life science move quickly, so curiosity and collaboration are essential. And I try to stay close to my team. Regular check-ins, open communication, and working side-by-side with my colleagues helps us navigate challenges together.
AWA supported the Swedish–African Neurosurgical Collaboration at this year’s Impact Gala in December. What inspired your firm to get involved, and how do you see initiatives like this creating lasting change beyond the immediate fundraising goal?
At AWA we work every day with companies and researchers who are developing life-changing innovations—and we know that the value of those innovations only becomes real when they actually reach people who need them. The Swedish–African Neurosurgical Collaboration embodies that spirit. The need for neurosurgery is immense in West Africa, and SANC enables access to neurosurgical expertise and equipment that save lives. Getting involved was a natural decision.
What inspired us most was the combination of scientific ambition and human impact. Neurosurgery is an incredibly specialized field, and the collaboration’s focus on training, knowledge exchange, and sustainable infrastructure aligns well with our own belief that expertise should be shared, not siloed. Initiatives like this create lasting change because they invest in people—in future surgeons, in improved systems, and in a stronger local ability to deliver advanced care. That’s the kind of impact that multiplies over time.
The Swedish–African Neurosurgical Collaboration is doing incredible work to strengthen neurosurgical care and knowledge exchange between Sweden and Africa. What about SANC’s mission resonates most with you and AWA, and why is it important to support this kind of medical collaboration?
What resonates with us most about SANC’s mission is its focus on building long-term capacity, not just providing short-term support. Strengthening neurosurgical care through training, knowledge exchange, and equal partnerships creates impact that lasts far beyond any single intervention.
We’re truly grateful for SANC’s incredible work and immensely thankful for being given the opportunity to contribute. If our support improves even one life, it confirms why this work matters.