From the Labs of Roche and Pfizer Back to the Czech Republic: Jan Berka Helps Biotech Startups Grow Globally
After spending three decades in the United States—working at companies like Roche, Pfizer, and Adaptive Biotechnologies—Jan Berka has decided to return to the Czech Republic part-time. Today, he serves as Project Manager for International Contacts at i&i Prague. We spoke with him about his journey, professional insights, and why it's important to occasionally look up from the details and focus on the big picture.
You’ve had an impressive career in the US. What brought you back to the Czech Republic and led you to join i&i Prague?
It was a bit of an impulsive decision. After 30 years in the US, I became genuinely curious about what was happening in biotech back in the Czech Republic. While I visited frequently for holidays, I had lost touch with the local professional scene. At the same time, my wife and I began to miss more regular contact with the Czech landscape, culture, and our friends here. So, when the opportunity to join i&i Prague came up, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
You’ve worked for global companies like Roche, Pfizer, and Adaptive Biotechnologies. How has that environment influenced your work at i&i Prague?
Above all, it gave me experience. Every work environment I’ve been part of was unique in some way. That gave me valuable insight into what works under different circumstances—and what doesn’t. I now aim to bring that know-how to i&i Prague. Each of our startups is different, and I believe my experience can help support their growth. But we're still at the beginning—I'm curious myself to see how I’ll be able to contribute.
As a Project Manager focused on international connections, what do you primarily concentrate on?
My role has two main aspects. First, there’s classic project management—guiding the individual projects that go through our incubation program. Second, and just as important, is leveraging the international network I’ve built over the years. It's not just about having good ideas or solutions—you also need to know who to call. That’s my strength. Thanks to longstanding personal connections, I not only know what’s being worked on around the world, but I also know the people behind it. And personal relationships are always the most valuable.
I think we often build our own mental ceilings and fail to see beyond them—and that can prevent us from aiming higher.
JAN BERKA
Project Manager for International Contacts at i&i Prague
What has been the most pivotal project or moment in your career so far?
Two moments come to mind. The first was my time with the startup 454 Life Sciences. We began as a team of four people with an idea almost no one believed in. But within five years, we launched a genome sequencer that kicked off the entire field of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). That was a truly unique moment—driven by healthy ambition, vision, and the right team.
The second breakthrough happened at Pfizer. We were trying to apply genetics to personalized medicine, but it wasn’t yielding great results. Then a colleague suggested we shift our focus to the immunome, the most variable part of the human genome. That opened up a completely new field of research for us. It was a moment that taught me the importance of seeing things from a different perspective. Ultimately, that shift helped us succeed and led to the development of immunome analysis using NGS.
Company culture often plays a key role in startups. In your view, what’s the biggest mindset difference between the US and the Czech Republic?
More and more, I get the impression that in the Czech Republic, we tend to focus too much on details—technical or personal. We spend hours discussing issues that are not immediately relevant. In the US, the approach is to pursue the vision, the big picture. The details get resolved along the way. It reminds me of a book by Mojmír Hampl called “For Czechs, the Sky Is Too Low.” I think we often build our own mental ceilings and fail to see beyond them—and that can prevent us from aiming higher.
You split your time between Prague and Colorado. What do you enjoy about both places, and how do you balance such different worlds?
Surprisingly easily—neither my wife nor I can stay in one place for too long. Prague and Colorado are completely different worlds, and we enjoy the best of both. In Prague, we go to the theatre or a great restaurant. Colorado is all about nature, hiking, and the desert.
You’re currently learning to fly. What inspired you to take up piloting?
I started flying gliders as a student and did it for about 15 years before life pulled me in other directions. Now that I have more time for hobbies again, I decided to return to flying—and fulfill a childhood dream of piloting a plane with an engine. Since I was young, I admired the “big guys” who could just fly wherever they wanted. Meanwhile, we in gliders had to land in a field if the thermals weren’t favorable. So, I didn’t hesitate—I enrolled in ultralight pilot training and I’m currently preparing for the final exam.
Flying is highly technical. You need to understand all the instruments and also what’s happening around you. That’s very similar to science, where you have to know what you’re doing and think analytically.
JAN BERKA
Project Manager for International Contacts at i&i Prague
Cycling is another of your passions. Do you see any parallels between your hobbies and your work in science?
Absolutely—and very different ones. Flying is highly technical. You need to understand all the instruments and also what’s happening around you. That’s very similar to science, where you have to know what you’re doing and think analytically. In contrast, mountain biking is all about intuition—pure flow. You don’t think; you react. And it’s during those intuitive moments that I often get my best scientific ideas. I usually rush home afterwards so I don’t forget them.
What fascinates you most in biotech right now—and why?
I’ve spent my whole career working on genome sequencing, hoping it would become a routine diagnostic tool. It hasn’t happened yet, but we’re getting closer. I’m also fascinated—and somewhat alarmed—by CRISPR-Cas genome editing. The first case where a point mutation was corrected in a child’s liver completely blew my mind—but also scared me. I don’t think society is ready for the sheer power of such technologies. It’s not just scientific progress—it’s a social challenge, too.
If there was one thing you could do at i&i Prague, what would it be?
I’d be happy to be part of a process where an idea turns into a real product or service that truly helps people. I don’t need to be there at the finish line—but if I can help kick something off that has a meaningful impact, I’ll consider it a success.
Thank you for the interview.
Author: Martin Kovalčík