Future LAB is an applied learning program for Romanian research institutes, centers, and research and development stations designed to share European best practices, support technology transfer, and strengthen skills for effective collaboration with the business sector.
If you want your institute’s research results and your work to be relevant, aligned with society’s needs, and valued through collaboration with the economic sector, apply to Future LAB!
Who can apply?
Future LAB supports Romania's research ecosystem that develops applied solutions for society.
Research institutes, e.g. INCD for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies - I.C.S.I. Râmnicu Vâlcea, INFLPR Bucharest, INCDS "Marin Drăcea" (Forestry)
Research and development stations, e.g. SCDCPN Dăbuleni, SCDL Buzău
University research centers, e.g. Research Institute of the University of Bucharest
Other specialized centers, e.g. Institute of Energy Studies and Design - ISPE
Research domains
Apply by January 20, 2026.
Want to present the program and participation guidelines to your colleagues?
Timeline
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Application Conditions
Enrollment - Only research institutes, research and development stations, university research centers and other specialized centers from Romania are eligible to apply.
Patents/Inventions - Each participant must submit 3 patents or 3 inventions in the process of being patented, with the highest potential for societal application. Each participant will use these as case studies during the learning and working sessions.
Documentation - Participants must provide, for each of the three patents or inventions, a short summary and an explanation of their real-world impact and applicability.
All timely applications are pre-selected based on eligibility criteria by the Future LAB team.
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An online session to get to know each other, introduce the program, discuss next steps, and answer your questions.
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The program features 2 intensive bootcamps on communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, 6 targeted online sessions covering everything from patent valuation and strategic repositioning to pitch deck creation and collaboration templates, plus engaging offline panels on European best practices and research prioritization with international experts.
Key Benefits
Hands-on analysis of technology transfer processes (theory and practice) and partnerships mapping
Case studies on measuring patent value, societal impact, and economic viability for 3 key patents
Insights into how businesses evaluate innovations and build industry partnerships
Dedicated networking sessions connecting participants with companies across sectors
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A roundtable uniting researchers, business leaders, and policymakers to identify pro-technology transfer legislative solutions.
Program structure
Participants: 20
Duration: 3 months
Offline: 2 bootcamps
Online: 6 sessions (different institute representatives can join based on session topics)
“The sign of complete success in science is not to have your name appear alongside the discovery you made, but to cease to be cited. To realize that your discovery has become so common, so ‘of all’, that you no longer need to be cited. (Sinaia, 1994)”
What you'll learn
European best practices for institute development and technology transfer with international experts;
Real examples and experts in: patent commercialization, predicting trends, key studies & institutes;
How to identify societal and business needs to set relevant research priorities;
How to increase adoption of patents by industry;
Business expectations from research institutes and centers;
How to build long-term business partnerships between institutes and companies;
Essential skills for long lasting research-industry partnerships;
Want your work and institute to shape society?
We support the sustainable development of research, society, and the future.
FutureLab is a program launched by Social Innovation Solutions, with PPC as founding partner.
Initiator
Founding Partner
