Beyond the Lab: Valorising Your Research

How can be your research used in real-world applications? That’s the question we asked ourselves together with nearly twenty Czech and international researchers during an inspiring training session at the University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings (UCEEB) at CTU – one of the partners of the MERIT program.

Under the guidance of Michal Hrabí, we explored the possibilities of research commercialization – from industry collaboration and licensing to founding spin-off companies. Participants took away insights such as the pros and cons of various commercialization approaches, shared directly by someone with firsthand experience as the CEO of the academic spin-off Phonexia.

The afternoon part of the program was even more fun, as we tried out a role play – researchers transformed into staff of a technology transfer office at a research organization, giving them the chance to practice negotiating the commercial direction of research with people from different backgrounds – scientists, institutional leadership, or industry partners.

We discussed not only the theoretical foundations, but more importantly, real-life case studies and practical tips on how to take the first step from an idea to reality.

About the lecturer

Michal Hrabí: My passion lies in building technology companies. I love working on projects that are deeply rooted in profound knowledge and have the potential to change the world. ICT flows in my veins from my studies at Masaryk University in Brno, but for the last two decades, I have focused on the role of a technology entrepreneur and advisor. My clients started from scratch, and today their annual revenue exceeds one billion EUR. I have experience in academia (UVT MU), business support (JIC), deep tech spin-offs (Phonexia), and commercial enterprises (SOLSOL).I like to challenge the “impossible” and turn today’s sci-fi into tomorrow’s reality. I follow the path of continuous improvement and am eager to share what I’ve learned with other creators.

Agenda

🎯 Introduction (30 min)

• Brief introduction and welcome
• Why commercialize your research?
• Real-life success stories and insights

🚦 Paths to Commercialization (60 min)

• Spin-off vs. Licensing vs. Staying in academia
• Pros and cons of each path

🔑 Key Success Factors and Risks (45 min)

• Spin-off: Team, financing, product, customer
• Licensing: IP protection, royalties, partnerships
• Academic career: time constraints, career progression, publishing pressure

🎲 Lunch Break and Guided Tour

🎲 Interactive Role-playing Simulation (Spin-off scenario, 120 min)

• Scenario: Commercialization of AI-driven plant disease detection
• Task: Decide the future direction (Spin-off, Licensing, Stay in academia)
• Roles: Researcher, Investor, University, Customer
• Group presentations and sharing lessons learned

🚀 Practical First Steps (45 min)

• Essential first steps for spin-off creation (team, finances, product, customers)
• Licensing basics (protecting IP, identifying partners, negotiations)
• Practical tips from real experiences (Phonexia, JIC)
• Overview of support resources (Innovation centers, Technology transfer offices, mentorship programs)
• Brief overview of early-stage funding options (grants, investors, crowdfunding)

✨ Conclusion – From Idea to Action (30 min)

• Recap of key takeaways
• Call to action: Take your first step today!