Sciencepreneurs Forum brings together prominent scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, start-ups, and policymakers to explore ways of enhancing the manner in which science contributes to economic value for society. 2022 was centered around the theme of creating an enabling environment for sciencepreneurship.
Falling Walls invited the Berlin start-up ecosystem to the Sciencepreneurs Forum on 7 and 8 November 2022 at the Falling Walls Science Summit. The Falling Walls Venture pitches, the associated award ceremony and the Sciencepreneurs Night event take place on 7 November. The next day, leading figures from the fields of entrepreneurship, science, business and politics discuss the framework conditions that science-based start-ups need in order to grow at the Sciencepreneurship Symposium, which is organised together with the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation – SPRIND. In a roundtable, co-hosted by Berlin Partner, we discussed the impact of the modern accelerator landscape today and talked about the specific challenges for science startups as a target group. We tried answering the question: How can we work together, to create an even better supporting ecosystem for Sciencepreneurs?
7 NOVEMBER
FALLING WALLS VENTURE
Falling Walls Venture is an international competition that showcases outstanding science-based start-ups. Nominated by institutions from around the globe, these ventures are working on innovative solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
The 2023 Falling Walls Venture winners can be found here. The Science Breakthrough of the Year 2023 in the Science Start-Ups category (Falling Walls Venture) went to QphoX.
BERLIN SCIENCEPRENEURS NIGHT
This evening event shines a spotlight on Berlin science start-ups and aims to strengthen networking among sciencepreneurs and investors.
8 NOVEMBER: CIRCLE – DEBATES
BACKGROUND TABLES: RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AS A LEVER FOR CHANGE
How is the inner growth of leaders connected to the shift towards a more regenerative economy?
The individual commitment of leaders is an enormous lever for systemic change. However, the prevailing leadership paradigm, which has led humanity to success in various fields, is not prepared to deal with the most pressing challenges of our society and the planet. In this interactive session, we looked into the concept of responsible leadership, how the personal development and inner growth of leaders are connected to the shift towards a more regenerative economy, and what tools and skills are needed on this journey.
This event was supported by BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt.
BACKGROUND TABLES: HOW TO BUILD ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTERS
How can the lighthouse competition „Entrepreneurship Centers“ be implemented?
We brought together a small group of prominent figures from the fields of innovation policy, business, financing and research. At the beginning of the new legislative period, our aim is to identify and explore in greater depth possible solutions as to how more successful companies can emerge from Germany’s internationally recognised research landscape.
This event was supported by BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, UnternehmerTUM, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Stifterverband.
ROUND TABLE: EXCELLING SCIENCE ACCELERATORS
How can we create an even better supporting ecosystem for sciencepreneurs?
Incubators and accelerators are a great way to support early-stage startups (and often also first time founders) through education programs, matchmaking, mentorship and financing.
With the overwhelming success of programs like Y-Combinator, we saw a surge in programs that are helping founders succeed with their startups. We discussed the impact of the modern accelerator landscape today and talked about the specific challenges for science startups as a target group. We tried answering the question: how can we work together, to create an even better supporting ecosystem for Sciencepreneurs?
The event was co-hosted by our partner Berlin Partner.
Participants: Janette Wiget CFO, Merantix Thorsten Lambertus Managing Director, DEEP Christian Rommel Head of Research and Development and Member of the Executive Committee, Bayer Maren Lesche Founder and Program Director, Vision Health Pioneers Incubator
Moderation: Bennet Barth Managing Director Respond, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt
8 NOVEMBER: SPRIND SCIENCEPRENEURSHIP SYMPOSIUM
Panel: The Entrepreneurial State
The panel “The Entrepreneurial State” of the SPRIND Sciencepreneurship Symposium reflects on the state of Scienceprenership.
Speakers: Mario Brandenburg Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Parliamentary State Secretary Rafael Laguna de la Vera Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), Managing Director Jui Lim SGInnovate, CEO Kadi Silde NATO, Chief of Staff at DIANA Martina Siwek Office of Naval Research Global, Science Director
In his talk, held at the SPRIND Sciencepreneurship Symposium, Scott Inwood talks about an unconventional approach to university science technology transfer.
Speaker: Scott Inwood University of Waterloo, Director of Commercialization
MINDSET | Amir Banifatemi
Speaker: Amir Banifatemi X-Prize Foundation, Chief Innovation Officer
FUNDING | Jason Whitmire
In his talk, held at the SPRIND Sciencepreneurship Symposium, Jason Whitmire dives into the topic of funding for science-based startups.
