In June 2007, Esko Pajunen took over as Director of the Carlsberg Research Center, following in the footsteps of some of Denmark’s best known scientific pioneers.
He is well qualified for today’s task. Formerly Director of Applied Research at the Center, Esko began his career as Research & Development Manager at Sinebrychoff in Finland, becoming Production Director in 1987 and Senior Vice President, Research & Development in 1993. He is also Chairman and President of the Finnish Brewing and Malting Industry Research Laboratories, a Supervisory Board member in Brewing Research International and Vice President of the European Brewery Convention.
Turning science into business
Esko’s vision for the Center reflects that of JC Jacobsen – that we should constantly use science to develop the art of making beer into a flourishing business.
“We need to convert our scientific knowledge into applied research and focus much more on how it can be exploited in practical and innovative ways into operations, processes and products,” he says.
Making potential a reality
He’ll be leading the Center into closer co-operation with the breweries’ innovation, supply chain and marketing functions in order to realise the potential of any new findings. He also wants to be catalyst for gathering and channelling the knowledge scattered across the individual companies so that the whole group can benefit.
“The Carlsberg Research Center has huge potential,” he says. “To be truly successful we should add a little creativity and a lot of co-operation.”
Esko Pajunen succeeded Klaus Bock, who retired as Director of Research in June 2007 after 14 years with Carlsberg.