NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy 2026/2027

Venue

National Library of Technology

Technická 6, 160 80 Prague 6 – Dejvice, Czech Republic

Most modules will take place at the NTK Education Centre.

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

How to get here

The National Library of Technology (NTK) is located between Thákurova, Studentská and Technická Streets and Fleming Square ( see Google Maps).

• Metro Line A to Dejvická station: Get off at Dejvická and take the Šolínova/Universities exit.
• Tram stops: Lotyšská or Dejvická
• Bus stop: Dejvická

• Drivers can park in the underground garage or use available on-street parking.

• Bicycle racks are available in front of the library.

Registration

Registration is now open for the NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy 2026/2027. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the NTK programme team.

Application deadline: 20 September 2026

Participation in the Knowledge Transfer Academy is free of charge. Applicants are responsible for covering their own travel expenses.

Join the NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy

The NTK Knowledge Transfer Academy is a practical, project-based programme for students, researchers and anyone interested in learning how to bring scientific results into practice.

The Academy guides participants through the entire process—from the initial assessment of a project’s application potential, intellectual property protection, customer needs validation and business model development to financing, legal considerations and presenting the project to an expert audience.

The Academy is not merely a series of lectures. Each module combines a practical workshop, hands-on work on a specific project, feedback from mentors and assignments completed between sessions.

The programme is delivered entirely in English and takes place in person.

Who We Are Looking For

Two types of participants can apply to the Academy:

Research Project Leads – students or researchers bringing a technology, research result or specific application-oriented project.

Venture Collaborators – participants with expertise in business development, product management, marketing, finance or venture building, as well as students and researchers without a specific project of their own who would like to contribute to the development of one of the participating research projects.

Research Project Lead

Who Is This Role For?

The Research Project Lead role is intended for students, researchers, PhD candidates and other members of research teams who would like to explore the practical application or commercial potential of their research.

You can apply to the Academy with:

• a specific technology or research result;
• an initial idea for a practical application;
• an existing technology transfer or spin-off project;
• a specific research area whose practical applications you would like to explore systematically.

At the beginning of the programme, you do not need to have a complete business plan or know which pathway is best for your project – whether licensing, collaboration with an industry partner, establishing a spin-off company or another form of knowledge and technology transfer.

What Will You Gain from the Academy?

During the programme, you will:

• formulate the value proposition and potential practical applications of your research result or technology;
• compare relevant technology transfer pathways;
• investigate the needs of potential customers and end users;
• assess an appropriate intellectual property protection strategy;
• develop the foundations of a business and financial model;
• identify key partners, resources and required competencies;
• prepare a plan for the next steps;
• present your project to an expert jury, investors and representatives of the innovation ecosystem.

Who Can Join You?

A Research Project Lead can apply individually or together with another team member, such as:

• a student or PhD candidate;
• a colleague from the research team;
• a prospective co-founder;
• a technology transfer office representative;
• a person responsible for the commercial or product-related aspects of the project.

The primary applicant remains responsible for the project work and participation in the programme. The involvement of an additional team member will be assessed based on the Academy’s capacity and the person’s specific role in the project.

Apply

Venture Collaborator

Who Is This Role For?

The Venture Collaborator role is intended for students, graduates and young professionals who would like to contribute to bringing research results into practice and developing technology projects.

We are particularly looking for applicants with experience or motivation in the following areas:

• business development;
• product management;
• marketing and communications;
• finance and financial modelling;
• market analysis;
• venture building;
• project management;
• fundraising.

A Venture Collaborator does not bring their own project and does not participate in the Academy as an independent competing team. During the introductory modules, Venture Collaborators will learn about the fundamentals of technology transfer and become familiar with the participating research projects.

Based on mutual interest, they may subsequently join a selected project and contribute to market analysis, customer validation, business model development, financial planning or pitch preparation.

Assignment to a project is not automatic. It depends on the needs of the individual teams, the participant’s competencies and mutual agreement.

What Will You Gain from the Academy?

During the programme, you will have the opportunity to:

• work with scientific teams on a real technology or research project;
• understand the complex process of technology transfer, from research to commercial application;
• develop skills in customer discovery and market analysis;
• contribute to the development of a business and financial model;
• receive feedback from mentors, investors and technology company founders;
• build a professional network in innovation, venture capital and academic research;
• explore your potential for a future role in a technology start-up or spin-off company.

Apply

Schedule

Date	Programme	Time
7 October 2026	Module 1: From Research to Impact	10:00–16:00
26 October 2026	Module 2: IP and Competitive Intelligence	10:00–16:00
4 November 2026	Module 3: Problem, Customer and Value Proposition	10:00–16:00
18 November 2026	Module 4: Customer Discovery and Validation	10:00–16:00
9 December 2026	Validation Clinic	15:00–17:00
9 December 2026	Founder Evening I: Finding the Market	18:00–20:00
6 January 2027	Module 5: Evidence, Market and Economics	10:00–16:00
20 January 2027	Module 6: Roadmap, Go-to-Market and Funding	10:00–16:00
3 February 2027	Module 7: Legal Foundations	10:00–16:00
17 February 2027	Founder Evening II: Building the Venture	18:00–20:00
3 March 2027	Module 8: Pitch Deck, Story and Delivery	10:00–16:00
March 2027	Individual Pitching Consultations for NTK Pitching Contest Participants	Scheduled individually
April 2027	Grand Finale and Open Pitching Contest NTK	To be confirmed

Programme

Module 1: From Research to Impact – Technology Transfer Pathways

7 October 2026, 10:00–14:30

Venue: NTK Education Centre

How Can a Research Result Be Applied in Practice?

Participants will be introduced to the main technology transfer pathways—from licensing and collaboration with industry to establishing a spin-off company, applying the research in the public sector or continuing to develop the technology in preparation for future transfer.

The module will also include facilitated networking and mapping of the competencies required to develop the participants’ projects.

Output: Project Snapshot, potential technology transfer pathways, introduction to the other participants and identification of potential opportunities for collaboration.

Mentor: Enrico Richter, Start-up coach for Chemspace and Aerotech projects at Technical University of Munich, co-founder & COO of cirqus.

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Module 2: AI-Assisted IP and Competitive Intelligence in Practice

26 October 2026, 10:00–15:30

Venue: NTK Education Centre

Is Our Solution Truly Novel, Who Else Is Addressing a Similar Problem, and How Can AI Help Us Find Out?

A practical workshop focused on using patent databases, publicly available information and AI tools to identify relevant patents, technologies, research teams, companies, competing solutions and potential partners.

Participants will learn the fundamental logic of intellectual property protection, the difference between patentability and freedom to operate, how AI can support and accelerate preliminary research, and how to verify its outputs. They will also learn how to decide when to publish and when patent protection should be addressed first.

Output: IP and Competitive Intelligence Map and a list of questions for a technology transfer office or patent attorney.

Mentor: Dvorah Graeser, Founder and CEO of RocketSmart, combines expertise in intellectual property, technology commercialisation and AI-assisted market and patent intelligence.

Additional mentor: To be announced.

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Module 3: Problem, Customer and Value Proposition

4 November 2026, 10:00–15:30

Venue: NTK Education Centre

What Specific Problem Does the Technology Solve, for Whom, and Why Does It Matter?

Participants will translate their technology into an initial structured application hypothesis. They will select a priority customer segment, distinguish between the customer, user, payer and decision-maker, and identify the project’s riskiest assumptions.

Structured matching between Research Project Leads and Venture Collaborators will also take place during this phase.

Output: Lean Canvas v1, value proposition, beachhead segment and the main hypotheses to be validated.

Mentor: Vojtěch Kadlec, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of UNICO, specialises in technology commercialisation, business validation and market assessment.

Founder case study: The guest will be selected based on the focus of the projects in the current cohort.

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Module 4: Customer Discovery and Validation

18 November 2026, 10:00–15:30

Venue: NTK Education Centre

How Can We Determine Whether Customers Are Actually Experiencing the Problem?

Participants will learn how to identify and approach interview respondents, conduct problem interviews and distinguish genuine evidence from polite expressions of interest. They will practise conducting interviews and prepare their own validation plans.

Output: Interview guide, list of respondents, evidence tracker and criteria for confirming or disproving the hypotheses.

Mentor: Vojtěch Kadlec, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of UNICO, specialises in technology commercialisation, business validation and market assessment.

Validation Sprint

The module will be followed by an approximately six-week guided customer validation sprint The recommended scope is 8–12 high-quality interviews, adjusted according to the type of project and accessibility of the target market.

Validation Clinic

9 December 2026, 15:00–17:00

An open consultation clinic for participants who need support with selecting respondents, approaching them, conducting interviews or interpreting the initial validation results.

Participation is recommended but not mandatory.

Mentors:

Lucie Poláková, Venture Partner at Spinoffy and former Venture Builder at Cambridge Future Tech, specialises in market analysis and deep-tech venture building.

Jana Soukupová, Co-Founder of Spinoffy and Technology Transfer Specialist at NTK, is a former COO of MADMONQ and specialises in venture building and investment readiness.

Founder Evening I: Finding the Market

9 December 2026, 18:00–20:00

A public moderated discussion with technology company founders about identifying their first market and customers.

The guests will share how they tested their initial assumptions, secured their first customer interviews and pilot partners, and recognised when they needed to change their product, application or target segment.

The discussion will focus particularly on:

• finding the first interview respondents and customers;
• the difference between expressed interest and genuine commitment;
• incorrect hypotheses and dead ends;
• changes to the original application or product;
• securing the first pilot project;
• dealing with rejection and limited market response.

Guests: The guests will be selected based on the focus of the projects in the current cohort.

The event will also be open to the public.

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Module 5: Evidence Review, Market Sizing and Business Economics

6 January 2027, 10:00–16:00

Venue: NTK Education Centre

What Did We Actually Learn During Validation, and Does the Project Make Economic Sense?

The teams will evaluate their customer interviews, update their hypotheses and prepare a basic analysis of the market, competition, pricing, costs and potential business model.

Output: Lean Canvas v2, market-sizing model, pricing hypothesis and a decision on whether to proceed, pivot, pause the project or change the technology transfer pathway.

Mentors:

Lucie Poláková, Venture Partner at Spinoffy and former Venture Builder at Cambridge Future Tech, specialises in market analysis and deep-tech venture building.

Aleš Bělohradský, Co-Founder of Spinoffy and the Centre for Public Finance, specialises in financial modelling and the economic assessment of early-stage technology projects.

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Module 6: PoC, MVP, Product Roadmap, Go-to-Market and Funding Strategy

20 January 2027, 10:00–16:00

Venue: NTK Education Centre

What Must the Project Validate Over the Next 12 to 18 Months, with Whom and Using Which Resources?

Participants will distinguish between a laboratory prototype, proof of concept, minimum viable product and pilot project. They will prepare technical and commercial milestones, pilot KPIs, a go-to-market hypothesis, a budget and a funding strategy.

In addition to technology development, the roadmap will cover intellectual property protection, validation, regulatory steps, partnerships, team development and financing.

Output: A 12–18-month roadmap, pilot plan, list of priority partners, budget and funding strategy.

Mentors:

Jana Soukupová, Co-Founder of Spinoffy and Technology Transfer Specialist at NTK, is a former COO of MADMONQ and specialises in venture building and investment readiness.

Vojtěch Kadlec, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of UNICO, specialises in technology commercialisation, business validation and market assessment.

David Petr, Technology Transfer Specialist at NTK and former member of Draslovka’s innovation team, has completed venture-building training at the Technical University of Munich.

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Module 7: Legal Foundations for Licensing, Collaboration and Spin-offs

3 February 2027, 10:00–15:00

Venue: NTK Education Centre

What Legal Relationships and Decisions Are Required for the Selected Technology Transfer Pathway?

The module will provide practical guidance on the ownership of research results, confidentiality, licensing, joint development with companies and the establishment of spin-off companies.

Participants will work with simplified agreements and term sheets and identify key red flags.

Output: A legal roadmap for the next steps, a list of required documents and questions for a lawyer or technology transfer office.

Mentor: Matej Kliman, a lawyer specialising in intellectual property, technology transfer and spin-off structuring.

Founder Evening II: Building the Venture

17 February 2027, 18:00–20:00

A public discussion about the practical transition from a research project to a technology company or structured collaboration with a commercial partner.

The discussion will focus particularly on:

• deciding whether to establish a spin-off company;
• negotiating with a university or research institution;
• structuring the relationship to intellectual property;
• building a founding and management team;
• allocating roles and equity;
• combining the roles of researcher and founder;
• selecting suitable forms of financing;
• initial negotiations with investors and strategic partners;
• common mistakes when building a team, partnerships and a company.

Guests: The guests will be selected to represent different experiences and possible technology transfer pathways.

The event will also be open to the public.

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Module 8: Pitch Deck Architecture, Story and Delivery

3 March 2027, 10:00–16:00

Venue: NTK Education Centre

How Can a Technology Project Be Presented Clearly, Credibly and Relevantly to a Specific Audience?

Participants will develop the structure of their pitch deck, select the most important supporting evidence and prepare the project’s story. The module will also include presentation training, time management and preparation for challenging questions.

Output: Pitch deck, three-minute pitch and a clearly formulated next-step request.

Mentors:

Lucie Poláková, Venture Partner at Spinoffy and former Venture Builder at Cambridge Future Tech, specialises in market analysis and deep-tech venture building.

Ondřej Staněk, a presentation trainer and consultant specialising in the clear and persuasive communication of complex ideas.

Individual Pitching Consultations

March 2027

All projects selected to present at the Grand Finale can participate in an individual consultation (1:1) focused on presentation content, the pitch deck, delivery and preparation for questions from the jury.

Grand Finale and Open Pitching Contest NTK

April 2027

The Grand Finale will serve as both the official closing event of the Academy and an open competition for research and technology projects.

In addition to current and former Academy participants, external research projects and early-stage academic spin-offs will be able to apply to the competition through a separate open call.

Completing the Academy is not conditional on participating in the competition. At the same time, participation in the Academy does not automatically guarantee a place in the Pitching Contest final.

Finalists will receive expert feedback, relevant contacts and opportunities for further collaboration with companies, investors, mentors and technology transfer offices.