Sciencepreneurs: turning disruptive innovation into startups
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At EPFL, the journey from groundbreaking scientific discovery to entrepreneurial success has a name: Sciencepreneur. This new status recognizes and supports researchers actively incubating startup projects within EPFL labs. It serves as a unifying framework for all entrepreneurs launching startups within EPFL, consolidating them under one umbrella and creating a shared identity.
The Sciencepreneur status represents a critical transitional phase, bridging the gap between academic research and entrepreneurship. This transitional period is key for researchers to shift their focus from purely academic goals to the practical realities of building a business. The journey typically spans one to three years, during which Sciencepreneurs focus on preparing to launch their startups as independent entities.
Designed for researchers actively incubating startup projects within their labs, the Sciencepreneur status enables them to fully dedicate themselves to refining their technology and validating its market potential.
The role of gap funding in the Sciencepreneur journey
At the heart of the Sciencepreneur initiative is gap funding - dedicated grants that provide Sciencepreneurs with a salary, allowing them to focus exclusively on incubating their startups.
Sciencepreneur status is granted to researchers whose salaries are supported by one of the following gap funding programs: EPFL Startup Launchpad Ignition Grants and Innogrants, Innosuisse BRIDGE Proof of Concept (PoC) and Project Without Implementation Partner, and Gebert Rüf Innobooster."
These programs vary in duration and target different stages of a startup’s development, but all share the common goal of helping Sciencepreneurs turn innovative research into successful businesses.
Supporting the community of Sciencepreneurs
Developed by EPFL’s Startup Launchpad and Research Office, the Sciencepreneur status addresses the unique challenges that researchers face as they transition from academic research to entrepreneurship
This status empowers researchers to focus fully on their startup vision while staying connected to EPFL’s world-class research environment
By bringing all EPFL startup entrepreneurs under one designation, the initiative acknowledges their contributions. It also demonstrates EPFL’s commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem within its community.
Bringing all Sciencepreneurs under one umbrella is about more than just a status —it’s about building a community where researchers-turned-entrepreneurs can share experiences and learn from one another. Our goal is to ensure every Sciencepreneur feels supported in turning their research into impactful startups.
For researchers looking to embark on this exciting path, the Sciencepreneur status at EPFL offers a well-defined framework and the essential resources needed to turn groundbreaking research into impactful startups. Whether you are just starting or are already advanced into your entrepreneurial journey, the support provided through this status can make all the difference in achieving success.
For more information on how to apply and to explore the available gap funding options, please visit the sciencepreneur webpage.