UCT Prague Joins New European Project to Turn Scientific Research into Successful Businesses

Making it easier to turn scientific discoveries into practical applications and innovative businesses. This is the aim of the new international project SFF Deep Tech Valleys: STEM2Venture Pathway, in which the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague) is a partner. The project brings together nine European countries and will support entrepreneurship education for more than 5,000 students, researchers and university staff over two years, helping to establish at least 12 new companies. For UCT Prague, this marks its second success under the EIT Higher Education Initiative.

The project’s main objective is to bridge the gap between academic research in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the commercial application of its results. It focuses on supporting the creation of sustainable start-ups and spin-offs that can translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions.

To achieve this, the project will establish a network of interconnected regional innovation ecosystems known as STEM Valleys. Each will build on regional research and innovation priorities, ranging from artificial intelligence and digital services in Greece’s Attica region to cybersecurity in Scotland, advanced manufacturing in Prague and clean technologies in Croatia’s Slavonia region.

“As an experienced partner, we are responsible for coordinating the activity focused on entrepreneurship education for students. The project aims to provide entrepreneurship training to more than 5,000 students in total, and we are naturally involved in all other activities as well, including start-up support,” says Lenka Švecová, Head of the School of Business at UCT Prague.

She adds that UCT Prague’s involvement opens up further opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills among students and researchers, support technology transfer and connect university research with the needs of industrial partners.

Supporting More Than 5,000 Participants and Dozens of Start-ups

Over the two-year period, the project will offer entrepreneurship education to more than 5,000 students, researchers and university staff. The educational activities will be based on EntreComp, the European Entrepreneurship Competence Framework, which defines the knowledge and skills needed to develop entrepreneurial capabilities.

The project will also establish a joint incubation programme, the Open STEM-Incubator, which will support a total of 35 start-ups across two cohorts. The project aims to help create at least 12 new companies. University technology transfer offices will also gain access to shared tools for protecting intellectual property and bringing it to market.

In addition to entrepreneurship education, the project will connect technology transfer specialists, mentors and investors. Research teams will receive support in assessing the market potential of their ideas, managing intellectual property and preparing for discussions with investors.

The first educational programmes will launch at participating universities in November 2026. An open call for research teams and start-ups interested in joining the first cohort of the Open STEM-Incubator will be announced at the beginning of the same month. The first cohort is scheduled to start in January 2027.

Both incubation cohorts will culminate in meetings with investors and industry representatives (Demo/Investor Days). The first event will take place in Athens in June 2027, followed by the second in Munich in June 2028. Selected teams will present their projects to potential investors and industry partners.

An International Team and Nearly Two Million Euros in Funding

In addition to University of Chemistry and Technology and the coordinating institution, the Athens University of Economics and Business, the project brings together International Burch University (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Edinburgh Napier University (United Kingdom), Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (Croatia),  Unknown University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia),  Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (Germany) and  Heirloom Labs / Heirloom Ventures BV (Belgium). The European network Start for Future is an associated partner.

The project has a budget of nearly two million euros and will run for 24 months, from September 2026 to August 2028. Funding is provided by the EIT Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI), part of the activities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).