Science Meets Startups: Inside the EURAXESS START-up Tour

Guest: Prof. Milan Zdravković — Associate Professor and leading Applied AI researcher at the University of Niš, Serbia; Coordinator of the Serbian EURAXESS Network; Leader of the Scientific Startup Entrepreneurship Hub in the EURAXESS Hub project.

📄 Episode Description

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks, hosts Darja Aksjonova and Jovan Arandjelović welcome Prof. Milan Zdravković to discuss the EURAXESS Startup Hub, an initiative connecting researchers with opportunities in scientific entrepreneurship.
Prof. Zdravković explains how the hub supports researchers transitioning from academia to startup environments, helping them develop entrepreneurial skills and build networks across Europe.
The conversation explores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, the role of communication skills, and how the Startup Tour enables researchers to experience innovation ecosystems in countries like Estonia, Luxembourg, and Israel.

🎧 Key Topics Covered

• What is the EURAXESS Startup Hub and how it works
• Opportunities for researchers interested in scientific entrepreneurship
• Funding structure and open-access nature of EURAXESS programs
• The Startup Hub webinar series and leadership academy
• Target groups and eligibility criteria for participation
• How early-stage researchers can translate their scientific ideas into startups
• Challenges researchers face when shifting from academia to entrepreneurship
• Importance of communication and “horizontal” skills in startup development
• Insights on the Lean Startup approach and market testing
• Highlights from the EURAXESS Startup Tour (Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tallinn, Luxembourg)

LEARN MORE -> https://www.euraxess.rs/serbia/euraxess-startup-hub

🕒 Question Timestamps

 | Time | Question / Topic

| 01:11 | Introduction of Prof. Milan Zdravković
| 01:56 | What is the EURAXESS Startup Hub and how does it work?
| 04:27 | Who can apply and how does the joining process work?
| 07:02 | Do applicants need additional financing or is participation covered?
| 09:05 | What kind of webinars and digital toolkits are offered by the Hub?
| 11:02 | Which researchers are targeted — early-stage, postdocs, or senior?
| 12:40 | To what extent should a researcher develop their idea before applying?
| 14:00 | What skills do researchers bring to entrepreneurship — and what are the challenges?
| 16:30 | The role of communication and feedback in startup success
| 17:56 | Applying lean startup principles to scientific innovation
| 18:57 | What is the EURAXESS Startup Tour and how does it work?
| 20:00 | Who can apply for the Startup Tour and what are the eligibility criteria?
| 22:12 | Is participation free and how are travel costs covered?
| 22:43 | Closing remarks and episode outro