nowEurope

The biotechnology field has enormous potential in terms of creating wealth and jobs. There is particular focus on confronting the major communicable diseases linked to poverty. Fostering scientific excellence and innovation through greater European cooperation will help boosting the technology breakthroughs and economic growth to make EU one of the major international players in the field.

Research without innovation is going nowhere. Innovation only really benefits society when research hits the road in pursuit of markets. Too often, the business community fails to understand the science behind new research, while scientists have little idea how to set up and run a business. Our universities prepare specialists for academic purposes, but do not prepare for business. There is a gap in delivering of entrepreneurial skills and business experience.

Therefore the EU project ‘BioBiz Workshop’ introduced in January 2006 in Bratislava met the planned expectations. The programme targeted entrepreneurial scientists who wish to establish companies to develop and market their biotech discoveries. Three-day workshop introduced them to business planning. With the help of custom-built software and scenario modelling, participants produced the same sort of business plan that they will require to obtain funding for their own start-up ventures. Thirteen researchers from Slovakia and Czech Republic acknowledged their possible future - business planning and communication with VC funds.

The first in the history of biotech business in Slovakia at all, BioBiz Workshop not only educated prospective leaders of university or academia spin-offs, but also helped to spread the awareness of how rewarding the road to commercialization could be. The participants from universities and research institution in Bratislava highly evaluated the workshop and commented that it greatly influenced their entrepreneurial thinking and management skills.