Niels Abt in

Niels Abt

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Director R&D at Alcon
📍 Switzerland

Niels Abt is the Director of R&D at Alcon, where he leads the team specializing in microsurgical instruments. With a background in mechanical engineering and medical physics, he has been with Alcon since 2007, securing over 15 patents and driving innovation by collaborating closely with surgeons.

He demonstrates a strong intellectual curiosity for future-focused topics, actively following webcasts on scientific forecasting and technology outlooks. This interest extends to creative methods, as he engages in visual note-taking and sketching during innovation keynotes to capture and process new ideas.

Unique fact: Niels was part of the team whose product, the Finesse Reflex Handle, won a prestigious Red Dot Design Award for its ergonomic and functional design.

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Experience
25 Years
Current Role
Director R&D
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Switzerland
Personality Overview

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Priorities

Topics Niels cares about

Microsurgical Innovation
He leads the R&D team at Alcon Grieshaber, which specializes in developing the next generation of microsurgical hand instruments and has won design awards for them.
Surgeon Collaboration
He has publicly stated that collaboration between instrument makers and surgeons is at the heart of his team's success in developing innovative and effective tools.
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Career

Work history

3-2021
Director R&D
Alcon
3-2015 - 3-2021
Head of R&D Operations
Alcon
1-2011 - 2-2015
Microsurgical Design R+D
Alcon
6-2007 - 1-2011
Project Manager R+D
Alcon
2001 - 2007
Polymer Research Engineer
Zimmer
In the press

Media appearances

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Education
2012 - 2014
MAS
ETH Zürich
1997 - 2000
Mechanical Engineering
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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