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If It Works in the Lab, It can Work in the World: Two Bold Initiatives to Turn Research into Reality

The Spinoff Factory and Noctua Science Ventures Debut at ViennaUP 2025 with a Call to Build Austria’s Spinoff Ecosystem.

people standing, background Karlskirche

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Antonia Rinesch, Christian Hoffmann, Julia Reisinger, Josiane P. Lafleur, Alexander Svejkovsky, Philipp Stangl und Lukas Rippitsch (from the left)

stage with woman in green overall with microphone

© Arion Media Creative

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Welcoming words by Antonia Rinesch

discussion on stage, 5 people sitting on bar stools

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Discussion on the podium: Antonia Rinesch, Julia Reisinger, Alexander Svejkovsky, Josiane P. Lafleur und Philipp Stangl (from the left)

As part of ViennaUP 2025, the two initiatives The Spinoff Factory, opens an external URL in a new window and Noctua Science Ventures, opens an external URL in a new window were officially presented on 14 May. Their joint mission: to close the gap between research, innovation and entrepreneurship.The event set the tone for a new chapter in Austria’s academic and scientific startup ecosystem gathering 80+ researchers, founders, investors, and tech enthusiasts.

“Austria is 50% behind in transforming scientific breakthroughs into successful startups. We have the research, but we need stronger investment, better support systems, and one cohesive ecosystem,” said Antonia Rinesch, Partnerships & Communications Lead for both initiatives.

The Spinoff Factory: TU Wien’s new Innovation Platform for a stronger startup- and founding culture 

Launched as a 100% subsidiary of TU Wien, The Spinoff Factory acts as an innovation compass - helping students and researchers navigate the journey from scientific idea to successful startup. In close cooperation with the Innovation Incubation Center, opens an external URL in a new window (i²c) and the Research and Transfer Support department of TU Wien, it offers support in areas like founder contracts, career models, business mentorship, early-stage financing, and infrastructure. “Austria has great support instruments, but they’re scattered,” said
Christian Hoffmann, CEO of The Spinoff Factory. “We’re building bridges—within TU Wien, across universities, and with partners across Austria—to enable co-creation and system-level impact.” Through a new interactive map, The Spinoff Factory will make visible all
relevant spinoff support services across Austria—connecting institutions like TU Graz, opens an external URL in a new window, AIT, opens an external URL in a new window, JKU, opens an external URL in a new window, University of Vienna, opens an external URL in a new window, FH Technikum, opens an external URL in a new window, WU Vienna, opens an external URL in a new window, Fraunhofer Austria, opens an external URL in a new window and many more. 

Noctua Science Ventures: Austria’s First University-Investor Joint Venture for Academic Startups 

A first-of-its-kind partnership between TU Wien and leading European seed investor Speedinvest, opens an external URL in a new window, Noctua Science Ventures aims to provide early-stage capital and hands-on support to deeptech startups born in Austrian universities and research institutions. “Our goal is simple,” said Philipp Stangl, Investment Lead at Noctua, “We want to help founders turn their IP-heavy research into scalable ventures—faster, and with the right resources from day one.” 

Real Talk aus 4 “sciencepreneurial” 

The program was rounded up with an interactive and refreshingly honest panel discussion, shedding light on the question “How can We Boost the Number of Scientific Startups in Austria?" from four powerful and diverse perspectives:

  • Alexander Svejkovsky, Managing Director, AIT
  • Josiane P. Lafleur, Founder, Invisible Light Labs
  • Julia Reisinger, Co-Founder, factorymaker / Assistant Professor, TU Wien
  • Philipp Stangl, Noctua Science Ventures

Topics ranged from IP challenges and venture capital shortages to mindset shifts needed to break silos between academia and business. “Let them fly,” said Svejkovsky, calling for cross-institutional cooperation and a new culture of openness and risk-taking, referring to the highly developed innovation ecosystem of Ireland as a best-practice. “We need a cultural shift in how universities see entrepreneurship—not as a distraction from science, but as its logical continuation,” added Lafleur. Reisinger emphasized how spinoffs can even be incorporated into the curriculum, allowing students to test the newest technology and motivating them to found a company on their own.  

Looking ahead: Doubling Spinoffs by 2030? 

As part of Austria’s RTI Initiative 2030, the national government has set the ambitious goal of doubling successful spinoffs by 2030. The consensus from the launch event? It’s bold—but achievable—if the right forces unite. As for the future, all participants agreed that the “Spinoff Ecosystem of Tomorrow” needs to be “faster, accessible, optimistic, interconnected and lived, not dreamt”. 

Next steps: Get involved 

Both Noctua Science Ventures and The Spinoff Factory invite researchers, founders, universities, and investors to join the movement and to commonly shape Austria’s spinoff ecosystem.

contakt: 

Antonia Rinesch
Partnerships & Communications Lead
ar@spinofffactory.at, antonia@noctua.vc
https://spinoff-factory.at/, opens an external URL in a new window | https://noctua.vc/, opens an external URL in a new window