The final evening combined the presentation of awards to graduates with a pitching contest, a competition of short presentations of research and transfer projects. The presentations were a practical test of what the participants had taken away from the Knowledge Transfer Academy program of the National Technical Library (NTK).
Within five minutes, they had to explain what problem they were solving, what their technology or solution consisted of, and why it could have value outside of academia. This was followed by questions from the jury, who played the role of future investors for this evening. However, entrepreneurs, researchers, representatives of transfer centers, and representatives of various support programs sat in the audience. It was not enough to describe the research itself; it was necessary to clearly demonstrate its value for the user, customer, or investor.
A total of nine projects were presented. In addition to the participants of the NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy, teams from the Spin-off/Start-up Ready! program also spoke. of the Czech Technical University in Prague (Faculty of Engineering, Czech Technical University). He presented an automatic system for recognizing surgical instruments during the sterilization process. It could save hospital staff hours of time spent sorting and preparing instruments for further procedures. To give you an idea: in the Motol University Hospital alone, approximately 50 thousand instruments are used and sorted every day. “The Academy motivated us to validate the market, which was the most important thing for us. We had to go to hospitals and confront our idea with potential users. At the beginning, we had to approach two hospitals. But then we found out that we needed to approach a third, fourth and fifth,” Marek describes.
Second place went to Elena Tomšík from the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, a participant in the NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy. Her project focuses on the development of biosensors that can recognize an incipient infection after joint implant replacement before the patient starts to feel pain. “As you have seen for yourself, one has to be interesting. Presentation of one’s own "Research for the general public and business people is completely different from presenting to academia," she says. During the program, she also learned practical details, such as how to work with voice or what questions potential investors might ask.
Third place went to Peter Gallo from the Czech Technical University of Civil Engineering, also a participant in the NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy. He presented a project on the use of natural ingredients in building materials. "We all feel the difference between people from science and business. The academy gave me insight into what is needed for science to become a product," says Gallo, who has been developing his idea for ten years. According to him, after the grand finale evening, new doors are opening for him to complete the transfer.
The jury was interested in real-world value
The jury included the founder of the Spinoffy fund Alexandra Kala, the manager of the Seed Starter of Česká spořitelna Beáta Vörösová, the former director of the startup and development investment division of CzechInvest Ivo Denemark, and a startup entrepreneur in the field of biotechnology and professor of medicinal chemistry at the Andrea Brancale Institute of Technology.
The judges primarily evaluated the thoughtfulness of the technology, its value in the real world, the uniqueness of the solution and the team's ability to explain the project in a clear way. The stage of development, the need for the solution and the realistic path to practical use were also important.
"All the projects had a good idea and a good plan. However, some had already managed to materialize the project and were in a more advanced stage," explained Beáta Vörösová.
"Everyone had a well-prepared presentation, they tried and it was clear that they had put a lot of time into it. All the ideas were unique in their own way. It cannot be said that they sounded like something we have already seen," praised scientist Alexandra Kala.
In addition to the quality of the ideas themselves, the judges also asked practical questions related to the transfer into practice: whether there is a market, who will be the customer, how is intellectual property handled or whether someone in the world is already developing a similar solution.
NTK wants to offer more than books and study materials space
The question of whether researchers are unnecessarily “reinventing the wheel” on the way to application is related to the broader role that NTK wants to play in the field of technology transfer.
“NTK does not have to function only as a place where you can find interesting books and space for study, but also the data and information you need when starting a spin-off/start-up,” explains Jana Soukupová, the main implementer of the Transfer Academy. Through the CzechElib project, NTK already centrally purchases electronic information resources for academic libraries. As part of the CARDS project, it is also preparing to expand its services towards advanced patent tools and other data usable for technology transfer. “When a researcher focuses on new research, he usually searches academic articles. However, he does not always follow the state of the art through patents or map out which companies exist in a given domain,” adds Soukupová.
It was the preparation of the educational program for the use of this data layer that gradually showed that working with databases alone is not enough. Researchers often need broader support: to understand market, validate the problem with potential users, think about intellectual property
and learn to clearly communicate the value of their solution. The Knowledge Transfer Academy was therefore created as an open program that guides participants all the way from the initial idea to the presentation of the project to practitioners.
The next year is already open
According to the organizers, the first year of the Knowledge Transfer Academy has proven itself and NTK has already opened registration for 2026/2027. Researchers who want to verify whether their idea has the potential for further transfer or commercialization can apply until September 20th — often before submitting an applied grant or before a specific spin-off plan is created.
The program is designed for those who are at the beginning. Interested parties do not need to have a ready-made business plan. All they need is a desire to verify assumptions, step out of their comfort zone and look at their own research from the perspective of the market, user and future partner. The program will also probably be conducted to a greater extent in English, so that it is also accessible to foreign participants and mentors.
According to the organizers, the closing evening is also worth visiting for those who are not attending the Academy itself. In addition to the presentation of projects, it offers the opportunity to meet people from the transfer ecosystem and get up-to-date information about where the support for spin-offs and start-ups in the Czech Republic is moving.
Martin Jiránek, the Commissioner for Start-ups, attended this evening on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and presented the upcoming changes in the area of support for the transfer of science, start-ups and spin-offs. According to him, the key steps include the preparation of the Start-up Act, tax incentives for investors in start-ups and spin-offs, improving the conditions for employee shares in companies, i.e. ESOPs, and other adjustments to the business environment.
“If you are starting to think about a spin-off or are starting it now, in a year or two you will have the best environment for it to reach the European or even global level,” Jiránek encourages scientists optimistically.