Andreea Loredana
Cretu
Head at BioMed Entrepreneurship / University of Zurich
"From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs"
"From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs"
Fri May 15 - 5:30 AM EDT/New York (See in local time)
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05/15/2026 5:30 AM
05/15/2026 05:50 AM
America/New_York
#WTGC2026
"From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs"
#WTGC2026
"From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs"
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https://www.womentech.net/ringcentral
"From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs"
"From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs"
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Session: From discovery to demand: helping innovators build what the world needs
Why do some scientific ideas make it into the world while others don’t?In life sciences, the path from the lab to the patient is long, unpredictable, and deeply human.
This talk shares insights from one of Europe’s most active academic ecosystems, where over 700 researchers and clinicians have been trained to explore entrepreneurship, resulting in 80+ spin-offs and projects across biotech, medtech, and digital health.
We’ll explore what makes innovation thrive: proximity to hospitals, early-stage validation funding, the role of mentoring and translational programs, and why community matters more than competition. You’ll hear real stories of how scientists became founders and what we’ve learned about turning discovery into meaningful impact.
The goal isn’t just to build more startups, but to build better bridges, between research, industry, and society.
Key Takeaways
- What makes a scientific ecosystem fertile for innovation.
- Lessons from real founders moving from discovery to market.
- The value of mentorship, proximity, and community in translational success.
- Why building bridges beats chasing buzzwords.
Bio
Dr. Andreea Loredana Cretu leads BioMed Entrepreneurship initiatives at the University of Zurich, helping scientists and clinicians translate discoveries into real-world impact. With a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from ETH Zurich and a background in consulting and venture support, she bridges academia, entrepreneurship, and policy. Her programs have supported over 700 researchers and contributed to 80+ spin-offs and translational projects in health innovation. A McKinsey Next Generation Women Leaders award recipient, she’s passionate about building ecosystems that turn science into progress.