Kaunas Startup Awards Spotlighted at Interreg Europe Event
Tech-Park Kaunas, VIADUCT project partner, was invited by Interreg Europe to present the Kaunas Startup Awards during the Startups in the Spotlight event – a gathering that brought together regions from across Europe to exchange experiences on boosting startup ecosystems.
Presented in 2023 during the first VIADUCT Interregional Meeting and Study Visit, the Kaunas Startup Awards were selected as a valuable good practice of how to support research-driven entrepreneurship. They were featured for their role in connecting academia and business, offering visibility to emerging startups, and creating a collaborative platform that engages the entire regional innovation community.
Celebrating Science-Based Innovation in Kaunas
In their presentation, Tech-Park Kaunas shared how the Awards have evolved into a flagship initiative for the region. Designed to highlight startups emerging from Kaunas’ universities, the Awards focus particularly on academic spin-offs and science-based businesses. In the past three years alone, over ten spin-offs have been nominated, with sectors ranging from health tech and biotechnology to digital solutions.
The initiative draws wide interest – reaching over 30,000 viewers via broadcast and gathering around 150 in-person participants each year. It also reflects strong ecosystem support, bringing together universities, public institutions, tech communities, and business support organisations.
The Kaunas Startup Awards demonstrate how spin-offs can emerge from collaborative efforts and thrive in a supportive, visible, and well-connected regional environment.
Boosting Impact through Interregional Learning
The VIADUCT project has played an important role in supporting Tech-Park Kaunas’ broader efforts to empower academic entrepreneurs. Through interregional exchange and peer learning, the project has helped strengthen local capacity to turn research into commercially viable ventures.
"The VIADUCT project provides valuable support for our mission at Tech-Park Kaunas — to empower startups, especially research-based spin-offs, through tailored services and ecosystem connections. By exchanging experiences across Europe, we’re learning how to better detect commercially viable research, support early-stage entrepreneurs, and help them navigate the journey from lab to market. VIADUCT is strengthening our ability to turn knowledge into sustainable business and innovation in Kaunas and beyond."
The Startups in the Spotlight event offered an ideal opportunity to showcase this progress and share lessons with regions working towards similar goals. For the VIADUCT community, it’s a proud moment to see a partner’s efforts recognised at the European level – and a testament to the power of collaboration in shaping stronger innovation ecosystems.