Investing in the Next Generation: Our Shared Responsibility
There is a simple truth in our industry. None of us got here on our own. At some point, someone gave us an opportunity, shared their knowledge, and made space for us to step forward and contribute. That is how capability is built. That is how an industry sustains itself over time.
The inaugural Jack Lysfjord Grant, which supported 2026 ISPE Aseptic Conference attendance, demonstrated what is possible when access is created and expectations are high. Nine young professionals—selected from more than 150 applicants—did not hesitate. They engaged, they contributed, and they elevated the conversation at the 2026 ISPE Aseptic Conference. The return on investment was immediate and visible.
Now the responsibility shifts to us.
Thank You to Our Donors
This program exists because individuals and organizations made a deliberate choice to invest in the next generation of aseptic processing professionals. I want to specifically recognize the following individuals whose tireless efforts drove this grant program from idea to reality:
I also want to recognize the organizations and individuals whose financial contributions made this inaugural effort possible:
- AES Clean Technology
- AIREX
- AST
- Bausch + Stroebel
- Belimed
- CRB
- Cybertrol Engineering
- Genesis AEC
- GBA Life Sciences
- IPS
- Koji Kawasaki
- Marchesini
- PCI Cleanroom Contracting
- ProSys Containment and Sampling Technology
- SKAN
- Syntegon
- United Therapeutics
- Jörg Zimmermann
This is leadership at its best—investing beyond your own organization and strengthening the industry as a whole.
Building the Future Deliberately
If we believe in the future of this industry, we have to build it deliberately. That means continuing this effort year after year, expanding its reach, and ensuring that the next group of students has the same opportunity to step into this community and grow within it. That only happens through active participation and sustained support of the ISPE Foundation.
Because the outcome is not theoretical. It is the next generation of leaders—already stepping forward, already contributing, and already preparing to take on the responsibility of moving this industry ahead.
If we do this right, years from now they will be the ones opening doors for others, just as doors were opened for them. That is how progress is sustained. And that is the legacy we are building together.
The ISPE Foundation relies on the support of the industry to continue these programs. To learn more about applying for future grants or to contribute to the ISPE Foundation's workforce development initiatives, visit ISPEFoundation.org.
