The Sciencepreneurship Summer School: Sustainability & AI took place from April 29 to May 3, 2024, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its aim was to help participants turn scientific innovations into real-world businesses.
The summer school focused on addressing important issues related to the translation of scientific advancements into tangible societal impact through entrepreneurship. Key focal points included:
- Understanding the societal benefits of scientific discoveries and navigating the journey from lab to market.
- Building teams, securing funding, engaging advisors, and establishing legal frameworks.
- Recognising and overcoming common entrepreneurial challenges through risk mitigation strategies.
The summer school offered participants a comprehensive framework to leverage the societal impact of scientific breakthroughs. It all kicked off with participants showcasing their scientific innovations and teaming up to co-found ventures,fostering collaborative innovation. Throughout the program, a series of informative talks, hands-on workshops, and lively social events guided teams in shaping their science-based businesses. Keynote speakers shared insights and expertise, fueling the journey of these budding entrepreneurs.
One of the highlights was the chance for participants to pitch their ventures to a jury of real venture capitalists. This provided not only an opportunity to showcase their ideas, but also to receive invaluable feedback. The competition for the prize was fierce, underscoring the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the participants.
Overall, the event aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world through science-based entrepreneurship, while also fostering valuable networking opportunities. A significant benefit of the event was the opportunity for attendees to build networks and meet potential co-founders.
Heartfelt gratitude is extended to the esteemed speakers whose invaluable contributions enriched the discourse, and to all those involved in making the event a success:
Nettra Pan, Oryl Tarun, William Cockayne, Luis Huber, Michelle Tschumi, Max-André Haas, Eva Luethi, Nicola Leuenberger, Aziz Belkhiria, Michael Linder, Till Schlotter, Alexandre Gachet.
The success of the Sciencepreneurship Summer School: Sustainability & AI would not have been possible without the support of our partners:
HPI School of Entrepreneurship, Kellerhals Carrard Startu & VC Desk, QBIT Capital, ETH AI Center, Hasso Plattner Institute, Zürcher Kantonalbank, EPFL – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.
About the Sciencepreneurship community
The Sciencepreneurship community, a grassroots movement uniting entrepreneurial scientists, experienced sciencepreneurs, and ecosystem players, shares a collective passion for translating scientific discoveries into real-world applications for a better and more sustainable world. Since 2023, the community has proudly hosted the annual Sciencepreneurship Summer School, a premier event convening a distinctive cohort of entrepreneurial graduate students, seasoned sciencepreneurs, and ecosystem players.
For more information: https://sciencepreneurship.ch/