BEI insights

Celebrating ten years of the BioEntrepreneurship & Innovation (BEI) program at the University of Zurich.

When the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) was established at the University of Zurich in 2016, entrepreneurship was not introduced as an additional activity. It was part of the institute's vision from the beginning.

IREM was founded with a strong commitment to translating scientific discoveries into real-world impact. This ambition was reflected not only in its research, but also in its leadership. Over the years, research at the institute has led to successful spin-offs including Neurimmune, Somagenetix, LifeMatrix and novaGo, demonstrating that scientific excellence and entrepreneurial thinking can reinforce one another.

The BioEntrepreneurship & Innovation (BEI) program was launched alongside the institute with a simple premise: entrepreneurial thinking should become part of the education and development of life science researchers, not something they discover only after leaving academia.

From the outset, the programme was inspired by the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Members of the steering committee visited MIT during the design phase to understand how entrepreneurial education could be embedded within a research-intensive institution and adapted to the Swiss academic environment. While the context differs, the underlying philosophy remains the same: entrepreneurship can be taught, and universities play an important role in creating environments where scientific discoveries can reach society.

Ten years later, the life science innovation landscape looks very different. New funding opportunities have emerged. Support structures for researchers have expanded. Entrepreneurial education has become more widely available across Swiss universities.

At the same time, one observation has remained remarkably consistent.

Entrepreneurship is not a personality trait. It is a set of skills that can be learned, practised and applied in many different careers.

Entrepreneurship begins long before a company is founded

Entrepreneurship is often associated with company formation. While startups are one possible outcome, they have never been the primary objective of the BEI program.

Our goal has always been broader: to help researchers develop the ability to identify unmet needs, evaluate opportunities, communicate ideas, build collaborations and make informed decisions about the future of their research.

Some participants go on to found companies. Others contribute to innovation from within academia, hospitals, industry, venture capital or technology transfer. In each case, entrepreneurial thinking strengthens their ability to create impact beyond the laboratory.

This perspective has shaped the programme since its inception and continues to guide its development today.

What we have observed over ten years

Since 2016, the BEI program has delivered multiple modular courses every year, allowing researchers to enter the programme at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Participants may choose a single introductory module or continue through successive modules as their projects evolve. This flexible structure reflects the reality of innovation: entrepreneurial development is rarely linear.

Over the past decade, we have welcomed almost 800 participants across programme modules. Around 60% are MDs or PhD researchers, while the remainder includes postdoctoral researchers, senior scientists, professors and experienced Master's students. Although the majority come from the University of Zurich, a substantial number join from ETH Zurich, university hospitals and affiliated institutions. Together, they represent more than 60 nationalities.

These numbers reflect something more important than growth. They illustrate the increasing diversity of researchers who recognise that entrepreneurial thinking has become a valuable complement to scientific training.

We have also observed a gradual shift in the projects entering the programme. Compared with a decade ago, researchers often arrive with a clearer understanding of clinical needs, market opportunities and the broader innovation ecosystem. Many have already participated in hackathons, innovation programmes or translational initiatives before joining BEI.

Interestingly, despite the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, the strongest projects continue to emerge from years of rigorous scientific research. Successful ventures are rarely built around technology alone. They are built around meaningful problems supported by robust science.

Innovation is a team effort

One lesson has become increasingly clear over the years: innovation does not happen in isolation.

Researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, industry experts and technology transfer professionals all contribute different perspectives to the journey from laboratory to application. Entrepreneurial education therefore extends beyond teaching business concepts. It creates opportunities for people from different disciplines to learn from one another, challenge assumptions and build collaborations.

This collaborative approach is reflected in the progress of many BEI alumni. More than 100 startups and active venture projects have emerged from the programme. Several have advanced into clinical development, secured significant funding or established partnerships with international pharmaceutical companies. Others continue to develop technologies that address important unmet medical needs.

Each success story follows a different path. What they share is a willingness to look beyond the science itself and ask how discoveries can create value for patients and society.

Looking ahead

The next decade will bring new scientific breakthroughs, new technologies and new ways of developing healthcare solutions. Artificial intelligence is already changing how research is conducted and accelerating many stages of scientific discovery.

Yet the questions that determine whether innovation reaches patients remain remarkably consistent. Which problem are we solving? Who will benefit? What evidence is needed? How can a promising discovery be translated into a product, service or therapy that improves lives?

These questions cannot be answered by technology alone. They require researchers who combine scientific excellence with curiosity, collaboration and an understanding of the broader innovation ecosystem.

For us, this also means continuing to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship. Not every researcher joins the programme with a startup idea, and they do not need to. Some participants bring their own projects. Others join existing teams, contribute their expertise and discover along the way that entrepreneurship is a path they had never previously considered.

Over the years, we have observed that confidence grows through experience. Creating an environment where researchers feel comfortable exploring, contributing and taking that first step is just as important as teaching business models or pitching. Innovation benefits from diverse perspectives, and entrepreneurial education should be accessible to everyone who is curious to learn.

As we look towards the next decade, our ambition remains unchanged: to make entrepreneurial thinking accessible to every life science researcher, regardless of where they start or where their career ultimately leads.

Dr. Andreea Cretu
Head, BioMed Entrepreneurship Programs
Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM)
University of Zurich