Non-Executive Chairperson
As we continue to feel
the impact of climate change
around the world, focusing
on our environmental, social
and governance practices has
never felt more important and
I am pleased to document the
continued advances the company
has made over the past year.
We were not surprised to see the emergence of a coalition of large pharma companies at COP27 committing to re-double their efforts to mitigate the impact of their operations on the climate. In step with our clients we, too, are focusing on better managing our carbon footprint as it grows apace with our operations by making a public commitment to science-based targets for our greenhouse gas emissions.
During the year, the company became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact to reinforce our absolute commitment to being a force for good in the world. Our environmental record is an important part of this commitment. Equally important is our determination to be a responsible employer creating hundreds of new roles in science each year and enforcing the highest standards of business ethics and governance, including transparent reporting, for the benefit of all stakeholders. On that score, I am delighted to note that our ESG report has been externally verified for the first time this year.
Turning to operations, I am very pleased to report two successful U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspections of our small and large molecule manufacturing facilities during the year. These inspections are not just a vital part of serving clients, they are also a definitive test of our adherence to global standards.
Discovery research showed tremendous growth during the year with the new campus in Hyderabad housing almost 1,000 research scientists by the end of the year. Establishing a second research campus has not only granted opportunities to many talented young scientists in the region but also offered us the benefits of being situated within a purpose-built science ecosystem in Genome Valley.
We have invested in educating the next generation of scientists through our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education program ‘Lab-on-a-Bike’ as part of our corporate social responsibility program. We have also partnered with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad to support women studying STEM subjects at tier 2 and 3 institutions through a scholarship and mentoring program. Twenty-five scholarships were awarded in the first year of the program. Syngene scientists will mentor these women, providing them with real insight into their chosen career.
As I reflect on the year and the efforts of our scientists to adopt green chemistry, our engineers to increase efficiency in our operations and our Human Resources team to promote gender balance and inclusivity in the workforce, I believe that we are playing our part as a responsible corporate citizen.
Achieving our science-based targets will provide new opportunities for innovation as our scientists will be required to consider environmental criteria in addition to focusing on the needs of the people and patients who benefit from our work. Using science to find solutions has been the backbone of the company from its inception, so I have no doubt that we will find ways to protect our planet for the benefit of future generations.7
7 GRI 2-22
