BUT joins international BridgeTTe project. It will help scientists turn research into business

A European project called BridgeTTe has been launched at Brno University of Technology (BUT) with the aim of supporting the transfer of cutting-edge academic research into practice. The project will connect scientists, companies, and innovation centers across Central Europe and create conditions for the emergence of technology start-ups originating from the university environment.

Team of Department of Project Support and Knowledge Transfer BUT. | Author: BUT archives

BridgeTTe is a three-year international project funded by the Horizon Europe programme. Its ambition is to bridge the gap between academic research and the market, which persists in Central and Eastern European countries. Scientific results with high innovation potential often remain in laboratories without any practical application. BridgeTTe aims to change this trend.

“At BUT, we have long supported research teams that are eager to transform their discoveries into solutions with real societal impact. The BridgeTTe project will allow us to systematize this support, expand it with new tools, and provide researchers with a foundation for entrepreneurial development,” said Martin Weiter, Vice-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer at BUT.

What the project will bring

BridgeTTe focuses on specific areas that hinder the development of the innovation ecosystem:

  • organizing targeted training and mentoring for researchers in the STEM fields,
  • developing AI tools to connect academic teams with businesses,
  • supporting prototyping and market validation of technologies,
  • collaboration with business mentors and innovation centers,
  • engaging women and girls in deep tech entrepreneurship.

Collaboration across Europe

The project is coordinated by the innovation agency JIC, with partners including BUT, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, another Slovak partner ADDSEN, and the Swedish WONDERFUND. Within the project, BUT will provide expert guidance in education, technology testing, and support for emerging entrepreneurial teams from the academic environment.

BridgeTTe contributes to the goals of the New European Innovation Agenda and builds on strategic initiatives such as Deep Tech Talent, Erasmus+, and the entrepreneurship competence framework. Special emphasis is placed on the involvement of women in science, technology, and entrepreneurship.

“Research teams often find that even a very high-quality idea is not easy to transfer into practice. BridgeTTe offers comprehensive support—from training and mentoring to help with market validation. This way, BUT continues to strengthen its role as a center of excellence and innovation,” added Martin Weiter.



Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the EISMEA can be held responsible for them.
Author Ing. Karolína Nehudková
Published
Link https://www.vut.cz/en/but/f19528/d295484
science and research