E65 #Ecosystem Builders "Bridging Innovation: From Academia to Life Science Startups" with Søren Spanner Bach & Per Christensen

In this miniseries episode of Life Science Talent Talks, hosted by Soren in collaboration with Black Swans Exist, we explore how scientific innovation moves from universities and research hubs into real-world companies.

Soren and Per Christensen (co-founder of Black Swans Exist) discuss the “bridge” between academia and industry - where great ideas are created, but not always scaled - and why talent, execution, and cross-sector collaboration are key to turning research into impactful solutions.

The conversation also touches on Europe’s innovation challenges, the startup ecosystem, and the need for more entrepreneurial courage in science and academia.

Timestamps

00:30 – Meet Per Christensen & his background
01:00 – Purpose of the mini-series: bridging innovation and execution
01:14 – What Black Swans Exist does in the ecosystem
02:15 – The “bridge” between academia and real-world application
02:50 – Gaps in innovation vs. execution
03:00 – Untapped innovation potential within universities
03:35 – Talent, funding, and enabling innovation
04:00 – Why this podcast exists
04:19 – Importance of ecosystem builders & shared perspectives
04:30 – Inspiring entrepreneurship and showcasing role models
05:15 – Breaking silos & sharing actionable learnings
05:42 – What to expect from the conversations in this series
06:00 – Entrepreneurial mindset in academia
06:24 – Innovation and the future economy
06:51 – Are we doing enough in innovation?
07:00 – Europe’s strengths vs. commercialization challenges
07:44 – Regulation vs. innovation discussion
08:00 – Driving societal change & the need for innovators
08:39 – Closing remarks

Key Takeaways

• Innovation often exists in universities - but scaling it requires the right people and structures

• Talent acquisition is a critical bottleneck in life science and deep tech startups

• Europe has strong research output but struggles with commercialization and execution

• Cross-sector collaboration can unlock faster innovation

• Inspiration and role models can encourage more people to start companies

• Bridging academia and industry is essential for future economic growth

Notable Quotes

“If we inspire just one person to start a company, it’s a success.”

“We need innovators and brave people willing to take risks.”

Call to Action

If this episode sparked your interest:

Share it with someone working in science, startups, or innovation

Follow the miniseries for more conversations with ecosystem builders