News

From the lab—and beyond—into the real world: Charles University launches the "From Idea to Realization" course.

Do you have a research idea but aren't sure about the next steps?

This free, hands-on series of six workshops is open to PhD students, supervisors, and academic and research staff across all 17 faculties of Charles University.

This autumn, guided by experienced founders, investors, and technology transfer experts, you will learn how to validate the market and societal potential of your research, protect your intellectual property, pitch your findings to partners and investors, and navigate the startup and spin-off ecosystem in a university setting.

Practical Information:

• Dates: October 19 – November 26, 2026 (6 in-person sessions)

• Venue: Kampus Hybernská, Charles University

• Language: English

• Cost: Free

• Certificate Requirements: Attendance at the sessions (maximum of 1 absence permitted)

• Registration: Sign up via SIS (capacity is limited; the organizers reserve the right of selection).

To participate in this course, you must be a PhD student, supervisor, or academic staff member at Charles University.

Registration for the course via the SIS portal.

Course Modules & Thematic Focus:

Idea Discovery and Identification

Jiří Zhoř (co-founder of Rostutu, former research commercialization consultant at JIC, Vilgain), Veronika Štěpánková (biochemist from Masaryk University, startup business consultant at JIC, and co-owner at Enantis)

In this session, we will explore how to identify ideas with genuine potential, how to recognize whether research can translate into a viable, real-world solution—one that addresses a concrete problem people are actually willing to pay for—and how to take the first practical steps to develop it.

19 October 2026, 4PM - 7 PM

Validation of commercial potential

Julie Levková (Research Innovation Manager SIC)

A workshop dedicated to assessing the commercial and social impact potential of research: defining the problem statement and research value proposition, evaluating technology and customer readiness levels, identifying key target audiences and competitive landscapes, and verifying real market need and pathways to implementation.

22 October 2026, 4PM - 7PM

Intellectual Property and Commercialisation Routes

Nikola Minks (Patent Expert at CU TTO)

Legal and strategic fundamentals of intellectual property protection (patents, utility models, know-how, copyright). Comparison of key commercialisation pathways (licensing vs. founding a spin-off vs. contract and collaborative research), alongside an introduction to the support ecosystem available directly at Charles University.

5 November 2026, 2PM - 5PM

From Methodology to Story: How to Present an Idea So People Understand and Believe It

Markéta Kaclová (Strategic Communication Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University), Stanislava Lindenthalová (Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University)

A workshop on how to present your research or business project clearly and accurately to decision-makers—whether an investor, partner, or grant committee. In the first hour, participants clarify the four fundamentals behind any successful pitch, from an investor deck to a hallway conversation: exactly what action they want the other party to take after the discussion; who is sitting across from them, what they decide on, and what risks they worry about; what changes, for whom, thanks to the research—framing a story rather than just describing methodology; and why now, and why them. The second hour is dedicated to practice: delivering a 90-second pitch in small groups, followed by questions and immediate feedback based on three clear criteria. Participants will leave with a sharply defined core message, a clear negotiating stance, and a battle-tested draft of their short pitch. (Please bring a specific project or research proposal to work on.)

12 November 2026, 3PM - 6PM

Start-up Founder and Investor

Martin Schmid (EquiLibre Technologies), Jakub Křikava (Credo Ventures)

The collaborative dynamic between a startup founder and investor. This session will take the form of an interactive workshop and lecture with an open discussion, giving students firsthand insight into the speaker's personal journey and real-world experiences in translating deep tech research into business. Together, we will examine the key challenges and pitfalls of launching a startup as well as strategies for communicating with investors. The session will also provide practical advice for early-career researchers on how to uncover the practical application potential of their work and successfully align academic expertise with market demands.

19 November 2026, 2PM - 4PM

A Successful Charles University Spin-off

Lukáš Kolek (Charles Games)

This session will focus on practical lessons learned and key aspects of technology transfer encountered along the way. It will also provide ample room for students' specific questions and topics—whether general or tailored to their own projects.

26 November 2026, 2PM - 4PM