CERN’s Hanae Taxis took to the stage at Innovations United to spotlight a bold initiative: CERN Venture Connect. Designed to help deep tech startups overcome the infamous “valley of death” – the period in the early stages of a company’s life cycle where it is most vulnerable to failure – CERN Venture Connect offers world-class technologies, flexible licensing, and unparalleled ecosystem access, without taking equity. With eight startups already onboard, it opens new doors for scientific innovation to scale commercially across Europe.
Key Highlights:
🧪 CERN’s Mission Beyond Physics
Commonly known for the Large Hadron Collider and the Higgs boson, CERN also works to share its‘ innovations so that they can be used in the world outside the Laboratory. It does this by transferring its cutting-edge technologies from the lab to market through collaboration with deep tech entrepreneurs and other business partners.
💥 Tackling Deep Tech’s Hardest Problems
80% of deep tech startups fail in five years. Why? Long R&D cycles, unclear market fit, lack of funding, and talent shortages. CERN Venture Connect is designed to directly tackle these headwinds.
🔧 CERN Venture Connect: A New Tech Transfer Model
CERN offers its partners:
- Licensing of seven mature, high-TRL technologies tested in extreme environments
- Flexible terms: 2% royalty (only after €1M revenue), no equity
- Access to CERN’s global alumni network & brand legitimacy as a “CERN startup”
- Events, workshops, and exposure to over 50 partner organizations (50% are deep tech venture capitalists)
🌍 Global Collaboration, Local Opportunity
CERN Venture Connect is open to startups in Czechia and other CERN member states. Whether you’re building from scratch or scaling up, it supports early-stage ideas to commercially ready ventures.
🚀 Some CERN Venture Connect Startups in Action
- InPhocal (NL): Using CERN’s structured laser beam to print directly on objects without consumables
- Orbiba Robotics (TR): Integrating laser tech for sustainable agriculture
- Muotech (PL): Applying CERN’s “Rucio” software to inspect critical infrastructure via muon tomography
Quote to Remember:
“We created CERN Venture Connect to turn years of particle research into real-world impact. We want deep tech founders to have a shot at building what matters.”
Why It Matters
With flexible, founder-first licensing and a prestigious network, CERN Venture Connect is bridging the gap between science and scalable business. As deep tech gains traction in Europe, CERN could set a gold standard in how research institutions support innovation.
Startups from Czechia and other CERN states: CERN is open for business. Check https://ventureconnect.cern
