From research to entrepreneurship: how students and researchers create impact together
4TU Ideation Lab launched with energy, curiosity, and a lot of innovation
What if groundbreaking research did not just end up in academic journals, but also became solutions to real societal challenges? That’s exactly the goal of the 4TU Ideation Lab — and we at The Gate are proud to have been involved from the very beginning.
On September 20th, researchers, students, and coaches from the four technical universities (TU/e, TU Delft, University of Twente, and Wageningen University) came together in Delft for the kick-off of a unique program that bridges science and entrepreneurship. The atmosphere? Curious, open, and full of ambition.
"The researcher brings the content expertise; the student brings an entrepreneurial mindset"
From lab to life: Discovering together where research can create value
Researchers often spend years studying complex technologies. But where exactly lies the societal or commercial value of that knowledge? And more importantly: how do you bring it to the outside world?
At the Ideation Lab, researchers and entrepreneurial students explore this together. The researcher brings the content expertise; the student brings an entrepreneurial mindset. Together, they form a team that will spend the coming months exploring market opportunities, testing business hypotheses, and discovering where real potential lies.
The beauty of it? Researchers don’t have to become entrepreneurs themselves. Students get the chance to find out whether a future as a startup founder suits them. And both parties gain valuable experience along the way.
Why This Works
A few reasons why the Ideation Lab truly creates impact:
• Science first: Instead of focusing solely on the founder, the emphasis here is on the research. Technology is the starting point — and is guided towards real-world applications.
• Collaboration between students and researchers: Students bring fresh energy and an entrepreneurial perspective. Researchers bring in-depth expertise. This combination proves to be incredibly powerful.
• Practice-oriented approach: Through workshops, coaching, and customer interviews, teams learn how to go from idea to impact. Even if a startup does not emerge (yet), the process yields valuable insights for both research and innovation.
A TU/e Student's Perspective
Konstantinos Chanioglou, a master’s student in Computer Science & Engineering at TU/e, is participating in the program:
"During my studies, I worked on many software projects, but I didn’t know how to move towards entrepreneurship. Thanks to the Ideation Lab, I’m learning where to start, how to explore market opportunities, and how to engage with potential customers. This experience is extremely valuable for my future."
And what does it lead to?
After five months, the teams present their findings. Sometimes this leads to the creation of a spin-off. Sometimes to a valuable grant application, a collaboration with a company, or new research questions. And sometimes to the insight that an idea is (not yet) viable — which is also valuable, as it prevents wasting time and resources.
"Programs like this help take that crucial first step."
The Gate & Ideation Labs
At The Gate, we believe in entrepreneurship rooted in the knowledge and strength of students and researchers. Whether you already have a startup or are still considering if entrepreneurship is right for you, programs like this help take that crucial first step.
Curious about the next steps for the TU/e teams? Or interested in joining a future lab yourself? Keep an eye on our channels — we’ll soon be sharing more about the teams, the technologies, and their experiences.
Would you like to learn more about the 4TU Ideation Labs or discuss potential collaborations? Feel free to send an email to info@thegate.tech.
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