How are scientific discoveries transformed into concrete innovations that change industry and society? The panel "From Research to Impact" provides answers to the key question: how to successfully bridge the gap between the lab and the market, and develop effective technology transfer strategies. The participants on this panel, at the International Conference AI_4_LIFE: Biotech Future Forum, are:

• Dr. Marija Pavlović, BIO4 Campus
• Dr. Marija Gnjatović, State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia
• Prof. Dr. Maria Kristiansen, Professor at the University of Copenhagen, expert in participatory health services
• Dace Dimza-Jones, Specialist for Domestic and Foreign Investments in Life Sciences, UK Department for Business and Trade
• Tamara Stanković, Head of Scientific Cooperation for Southeast Europe, PMI.

The panel addressed questions about connecting science and industry, the role of the state and international partners in supporting knowledge transfer, and how the BIO4 Campus is becoming a new hub for biotechnological innovation in the region.

Technology Transfer Starts "From Day One"

Dr. Marija Gnjatović emphasized that biotech innovations require a balance of basic science and business, and the involvement of industry and regulators from the very beginning.

The experience from the COVID period (development of IVD tests and T-cell tests) showed that public institutes have the science and the product but encounter obstacles in commercialization, which is a direct lesson for improving technology transfer procedures (TTO, PMO, licensing).

The Danish Model: "Impact" as a Career Criterion

Prof. Dr. Maria Kristiansen described the transformation in Denmark: advancement to a full professorship includes proof of innovation impact, not just research and teaching. Large, multi-year partnerships (e.g., "lighthouse" projects) connect large and small pharma companies, universities, hospitals, ministries, and patients – with transparency, long-term commitment (10 years), and a readiness to learn even from failures.

Dace Dimza-Jones pointed out that inclusive clinical trials (different ethnic and socioeconomic groups) are the standard in the UK, because without them, AI models and therapies are not representative. Through NIHR, Innovate UK, and a network of public services, the UK offers grants and free expert support for foreign and domestic teams seeking co-financing and faster translation.

Industry as an "Open Innovation Hub"

Tamara Stanković (PMI) presented three initiatives in Serbia:

• StarTech – funding and mentoring support for young innovators, plus a Policy Lab for regulatory barriers;
• PMI NOVA – an open innovation hub that connects startups, institutes, and market needs (already 10 signed contracts in a year);
• Empower Innovation – early "matchmaking" between science and industry.

As highlighted, the "synergy" of processes and actors brings results; the ground in Serbia is "fertile soil" for rapid upgrading.

What the Academy Lacks: Access to Tools and MVP Logic

Heather Schwabel (Alloy Therapeutics): translation is hindered by a lack of access to industrial tools from the outset. Alloy provides universities with free access to transgenic humanized mice and advises on how results can immediately have therapeutic quality.

Trend: Incubators and TTOs increasingly demand an MVP approach (Minimum Viable Therapeutic "Product") to make ideas "readable" for investment.

Funding: Continuity and Transparency

The panel highlighted models where the next tranche of funding is visible in advance (clear conditions and metrics), as well as matching grants that double private capital. Conclusion: Continuity through phases (from early validation to pilot-clinic) reduces risk and speeds up "time-to-market."

Key Lessons for Serbia (BIO4 and Beyond)

• Start Together and Early: science + industry + regulator = faster translation.
• Measure Impact: evaluate scientists based on innovation results as well (licenses, spin-offs, MVP).
• Organize Data: quality, access, and IP from day one (the foundation for AI and clinical validation).
• Build Inclusion: clinical study design that includes patient diversity from the start.
• Provide "Bridges" for Funding: clear phases, matching mechanisms, and transparent rules.
• Open Access to Tools: enable the academy to use industrial platforms and expert "co-dev" to make results tangible.

The BIO4 Campus is positioning itself as a technology transfer driver in the region, incorporating the lessons from the panel: an early alliance between science and business, inclusive clinical practice, open infrastructure, and smart funding design. When the regulator, academia, and industry follow the same "fast-paced" process, science becomes business, and innovations achieve a real health and economic impact.