Unlocking the Lab: Navigating Patents and the Spin-off Landscape

Taking a scientific discovery from the lab bench to the market is rarely a straight path, and the leap can be as exhilarating as it is daunting. This panel walks through the entire technology transfer journey, breaking down what it really takes to turn promising experimental findings into a viable commercial product. Panelists will share firsthand insights on safeguarding intellectual property without stalling innovation, tapping into public incentives, and understanding what venture capitalists actually look for when backing early-stage ventures. Moving beyond textbook theory, the session draws on the real-world wins, missteps, and hard-learned lessons of biotech spin-offs that have already navigated this transition—offering a candid, pragmatic guide to bridging the gap between science and business.

• Speakers:

  • Moderator: Lara Valentín (PNO)

  • Patent Expert: Manuel Illescas Taboada (MIA patents)

  • Investor Profile (VC): Malgorzata Rogalska (Ysios Capital)

  • Successful Start-up / Founder: Jascha Blobel (Goldengait)

  • Public sector and institutional innovation: Teresa Riesgo (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities)