Healthy societies, resilient economies and thriving ecosystems have one thing in common: breakthrough innovations. Through your research, you have the privilege to be among those who actively build the world of tomorrow and tackle humankinds’ biggest on-going challenges. With the i²c STARTacademy, we provide TU Wien scientists with the infrastructure, focus and guidance needed to understand what it takes to implement their research and ideas into new products and services – and bring it to the society.

Does your research have the potential to become a product or service? Could it be more than a publication or a PhD thesis? Do you have what it takes to become a sciencepreneur?

Get the influx of know-how, coaching and mentorship from people who have built working, profitable and scalable businesses. We help you to view your project through the lenses of the industry and become a sciencepreuer in your field – whether you opt for a career in academia or in the business world.

Over the course of three full days, you will receive guidance in investigating and identifying potential markets, how to derive a viable business model, how to create a fundraising strategy and how to present your technology to non-experts.

Why participate in the i²c STARTacademy?

• get familiar with the process of transferring academic research into products
• identify application fields and market opportunities for your research results
• Derive a viable business model, go-to-market & financial strategy for your research
• Meet and experience mentoring from inter-/national coaches, founders, trainers, industry representatives and investors that are hand-picked for your research project
• Improve the ability to pitch an idea and to present and communicate your research result to non-experts
• Enhance your entrepreneurial and leadership competencies
• grow a different mindset that can help you to pursue a career outside academia
• Gain the inspiration and motivation needed for taking the next steps
• get full access to the vibrant i²c Founder community, Industry and Investor Network
• Get the chance to win the i²c Award, a scholarship granted to PhDs with a high potential research result. It offers PhD graduates an alternative career path and the opportunity to focus on the commercialization of their PhD result with a basic monthly income for 5 months after finishing their contract with TU Wien. This award comes with admittance into the TUW i²ncubator and thus, office space in the TU Wien Founder Space for 1 year.

What to expect during the STARTacademy?

The i²c STARTacademy is a program offered annually at TU Wien to its academic personnel. In 2024, the i²c STARTacademy will take place from February 27th until February 29th and is a guided program for developing a business model and go-to-market strategy for your research result.