Early Life and Career
Roger Samuelsson was born on December 10, 1963, in Svalöv, Sweden. He studied engineering at Berzeliusskolan in Linköping. At the age of 20, he traveled to Taiwan to explore business opportunities. He started by importing goods, including boxing gloves, before focusing on the medical device industry.
Rise to Success
In 1989, Samuelsson co-founded Scandinavian Health Systems (SHL) with a partner. The company, now known as SHL Medical, initially served as a purchasing agent. It evolved into a significant player in drug delivery devices. The company is based in British Virgin Islands and manufactures auto-injectors and other devices. SHL has expanded to include several production centers across Taiwan, China, and Europe, employing over 3,000 people by 2016.
Key Business Strategies
Samuelsson's strategic moves include focusing on the high-growth market for auto-injectors. SHL Medical has a 25% share of the global auto-injector market and produces devices for 20 of the 25 largest pharmaceutical companies. EQT acquired a 31% stake in SHL Medical in 2020, and currently owns 32%.
Philanthropy
In addition to his business ventures, Roger Samuelsson is involved in philanthropy, supporting causes related to education, healthcare, and sustainable development.