Making Innovation Ecosystems Work: How BRYCK Connects Science and Business

Founding a startup is an important milestone in bringing scientific discoveries to market, but it is only the beginning. Turning research-based ventures into successful businesses requires access to capital, industrial partnerships, market opportunities and sustained support for growth.

Drawing on her experience at BRYCK Startup Alliance, Philippa will discuss how startup factories and ecosystem organisations can bring universities, entrepreneurs, established companies and investors together to support this journey. The conversation will explore what makes these collaborations work, how ecosystems can help startups overcome barriers to scaling, and what universities can do to strengthen their role in creating successful ventures from scientific research.

This Fireside Chat will focus on:

1. Building effective innovation ecosystems: How to connect universities, startups, industry and investors to create opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
2. Moving from technology transfer to scale: What research-based startups need after their initial launch to grow into commercially successful businesses.
3. Creating the conditions for deep-tech success: How startup factories and ecosystem organisations can support access to capital, industrial expertise, customers and markets.
4. Strengthening the university’s role: How universities can work more effectively with ecosystem partners to support entrepreneurship and the long-term success of research-based ventures.

Philippa Köhnk is Managing Director of BRYCK Startup Alliance, a deep-tech innovation and startup ecosystem based in Germany’s Ruhr region. With over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur, founder and advisor, she specialises in connecting startups, established companies, investors and research institutions to accelerate innovation and business growth.

As one of the key architects behind BRYCK Startup Alliance, Philippa focuses on building strategic partnerships and creating the conditions for research-based innovations to reach the market and scale. Her work brings together industry expertise, entrepreneurial talent and scientific research to advance deep-tech entrepreneurship and strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

A UIIN Fireside Chat is a 30-minute interview session between a UIIN facilitator and an external industry expert on a high-level topic. Participants will leave with insights and inspiration after hearing the experiences and perspectives of the guest speaker, and have the opportunity to ask questions during the session. Fireside Chats are also recorded for UIIN podcasts and are available after the session.