Innovation thrives at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship.
Universities serve as breeding grounds forstartupspoised to disrupt industries with their novel ideas and cutting-edge technologies.
Here, venture capital emerges as the indispensable catalyst.
Venture funds play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic research and commercialisation.
Despite the invaluable role of venture capital, the path from academic research to market-ready technology remains arduous.
Early-stage investors like us play a crucial part in this process.
European universities, who traditionally lag behind their US counterparts, are now catching up.
Theyre increasingly acknowledging the imperative to facilitate the transition from academia to commercialisation.
If Europe truly wants to fast-track spinoffs, they need to remove a structural hurdle.
Varying equity stake standards across universities add another layer of complexity.
They highlight the promise of academic entrepreneurship and emphasise the need for infrastructure to support their growth.
This would boost the pipeline of talent and advance DeepTech innovation across the region.
A good example is the University of Cambridge, which has excelled in commercialising scientific and technology-oriented research.
This collaborative mindset should also extend to industry partnerships, ensuring founders have early access to the commercial world.
Public sector partnerships like these are central to the nations ambition to become a startup hub for future founders.
To facilitate the commercialisation of DeepTech startups, increased investment in European venture capital is essential.
Such support is indispensable for guiding these budding technologies from university laboratories to commercially successful products.
Rick is driven by intelligent software that leverages machines with data to augment human intelligence.
He also received an MBA from Imperial College London.
