PROMOS Innovation Camp in Klagenfurt took place in May of 2025, as a new approach to help young researchers and Ph.D students to open new paths beyond academy.
What we did?
Check how was PROMOS Innovation Camp – Klagenfurt Edition
Participants Experience
“The Innovation Camp in Klagenfurt was an eye-opening experience for me. I got to learn a lot about the world of entrepreneurship, how startups work, and topics like prototyping, innovation, business design, value proposition, and intellectual property. One of the most important things I learned was how to present scientific ideas in a way that makes sense to investors. The camp wasn’t just lectures they included a lot of hands-on activities, and the trainers explained everything in a very clear and practical way. Before the camp, I mostly focused on research, but now I approach my research not only from a scientific perspective but also with an entrepreneurial mindset, aiming to create solutions that can benefit society.” –Anantha
“The Innovation Camp in Klagenfurt was, for me, an extremely positive and enriching experience from multiple perspectives. Right from the start, the organizers were able to create a collaborative and engaging atmosphere among the participants, fostering the formation of a cohesive and stimulating group. This made the entire journey not only more enjoyable but also more productive in terms of learning.
From an educational standpoint, the camp offered me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge in the field of scientific research in a focused way, going beyond general concepts through a practical and interactive approach. In addition to the lessons and theoretical explanations, I also had the chance to work individually on my personal project, focusing on its specific aspects. This allowed me not only to highlight its strengths but also to analyze it from different perspectives, improving its structure and overall effectiveness.
In conclusion, I consider this experience not only valuable from an academic and professional point of view, but also meaningful on a human level, thanks to the continuous exchange with other motivated and passionate young people.” – Aurora
“Participating in the Innovation Camp in Klagenfurt was a highly enriching experience that significantly enhanced my understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship. I particularly enjoyed the sessions on ideation and design thinking, where I learned how to approach problems creatively and develop user centric solutions. The hands-on experience with prototyping and business design helped me understand how to translate ideas into viable business models. Tools like the value proposition canvas and TAM, SAM, SOM frameworks gave me a clearer view of market sizing and customer targeting. Learning about patenting and intellectual property rights (IPR) was also eye-opening, adding a new dimension to how I view innovation protection. Overall, the camp sharpened my problem-solving skills and introduced me to structured ways of validating customer problems and designing effective solutions skills I now apply in my daily work. My key takeaway is that innovation is not just about ideas, but about execution and continuous learning.” – Sharad
” Participating in the PROMOS Innovation Camp in Klagenfurt was a transformative experience that enabled me to bridge the gap between my academic research and real-world applications, precisely the reason I was eager to join. The Camp provided hands-on opportunities to collaborate with experts on the development of early-stage ideas, with a strong focus on how to bring scientific discoveries into the market and clinical practice. I especially valued the ideation sessions, where I worked in a multidisciplinary team and learned to view our project not only through a scientific lens but also from a business and societal impact perspective. One of the most valuable skills I acquired was how to craft a compelling pitch presentation, translating complex research into accessible and engaging content for a broader audience.” –Maryen
Results
Our participants that developed the ideas during the Innovation Camp, had the opportunity to present their pitches in the Innovation Meeting in Innsbruck!
Anantha Padmanabhan S P
I recently shared my idea at an innovation meeting in Innsbruck, and now I am talking with some people who are interested in helping me take it further. My biggest takeaway is that it’s not just about doing research, but also about finding ways to make an impact with it.
Maryen Vasanthakumar
As a direct result of the Innovation Camp, I had the opportunity to participate in the international innovation meeting “Life Sciences Partnering Event” on June 4th and 5th. This event deepened my learning and gave me the chance to present our early-stage research idea during the pitching session. Presenting in front of a diverse audience helped me refine my public speaking and communication skills, especially in terms of conveying scientific concepts clearly to non-specialists.
Lake Science and Technology Park
Lake Science and Technology Park was our avenue for the Innovation Camp. The participants enjoyed a visit to the companies to connect and see the how a real world start-up!
