Beyond the Lab: EUTOPIA Innovation Challenge Week for

23–27 November 2026 | Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Babeș-Bolyai University | Organised by UBB TechTransfer

How can your research help a company tackle a real-world challenge?

During EUTOPIA Innovation Challenge Week, you’ll discover how your scientific expertise can make a difference beyond academia. Working in interdisciplinary teams with researchers from across the EUTOPIA network, you’ll tackle real-world business and technological challenges put forward by companies in Cluj and the wider Transylvania region.

The challenges span all STEAM disciplines: science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Throughout the week, you’ll receive guidance from business mentors, technology transfer experts and business coaches.

Who can apply?

The call is open to all VUB researchers, with a particular focus on PhD candidates and early-career researchers. Are you curious about how to apply your expertise beyond academia, and keen to collaborate with colleagues from different backgrounds? Then this week is for you.

Why participate?

You’ll put your expertise to work on real business needs, learn from people outside your own discipline and work with industry partners to develop a proposal. Along the way, you’ll build practical skills and a professional network that could lead to future research collaborations.

What will you gain?

Hands-on experience with real business challenges: apply your expertise to a concrete problem, develop a proposed solution and map out the steps towards implementation.
Practical innovation and communication skills: develop a business plan, explore intellectual property and technology transfer opportunities, and learn how to deliver a compelling pitch.
An international network: collaborate with researchers from other EUTOPIA universities and meet business mentors who can share insights into industry needs and potential opportunities for collaboration.
Access to academic and industry expertise: visit UBB laboratories, explore their research facilities and learn directly from industry specialists.

Provisional programme

Day 1 – Monday afternoon, 23 November: Getting to know the challenges
Day 2 – Tuesday, 24 November: From problem to proposed solution
Day 3 – Wednesday, 25 November: From solution to business plan
Day 4 – Thursday, 26 November: Developing and practising your pitch
Day 5 – Friday, 27 November: Demo Day – from challenge to collaboration

Discover Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca is a vibrant, innovative and multicultural university city in the heart of Transylvania, where a rich cultural heritage meets research, entrepreneurship and industry. Alongside the programme, you’ll have time to explore its historic streets, enjoy its cultural scene and sample the local cuisine, which reflects the region’s multicultural traditions.

Practical information

Costs: All flight and hotel expenses will be covered.
Availability: Participants must be available for the full week (23–27 November).

How to apply?

Send a short statement of motivation to tuur.roels@vub.be, explaining why you would like to take part and what you could contribute through your expertise.