Veronika Štěpánková

How did you become involved with Brnoregion Microscopy?

I lead the commercialization action group within Brnoregion Microscopy, focusing on how to support technology transfer from research to practice. This topic is particularly close to my heart, as after completing my PhD, I transitioned into the biotech company Enantis—a spin-off from Masaryk University—where I served as CEO for six years.

For the past five years, I have been working at JIC, leading a team dedicated to supporting startups, particularly those in deep tech—many of which originate from universities. Bringing all these elements together feels like a natural synergy, and I find great fulfillment in contributing to the Brnoregion Microscopy commercialization group. My goal is to help foster the emergence of more deep-tech startups in the field of microscopy from Brno’s universities and research institutions.

What activities are you involved in within the community?

I am involved in various activities focused on fostering commercialization—helping to create more startups and spin-offs in the field of microscopy. These activities range from educating researchers on how to transition from research to business, to incubation support, including securing funding for the prototyping phase, as well as early-stage scouting for promising technologies. In mid-2023, we intensified our scouting efforts at universities and research institutions. A key step in this direction has been the development of a network of ambassadors within Brnoregion Microscopy—professionals working within or closely connected to research institutions who recognize the value of commercialization. Their role is to actively identify early-stage commercialization opportunities, enabling us to provide effective support right from the start.

What benefits does it bring to you?

Being part of the Brnoregion Microscopy community brings me a lot of value. This directly impacts my work at JIC, where supporting deep-tech ventures and technology transfer is a key focus. By contributing to this ecosystem, I can help bridge the gap between research and business, ensuring that groundbreaking innovations find their way into practice.

At the same time, I get to meet and work with a great mix of people—researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Regularly connecting with such an inspiring group not only brings fresh ideas but also opens up new opportunities for collaboration and learning.

Do you have any message for the community?

I hope the Brnoregion Microscopy community keeps growing and attracts more amazing people who are passionate about turning research into real-world impact. Let’s keep pushing boundaries, sharing ideas, and making a difference…

Who's also here

Meet the people behind Brnoregion’s world-class microscopy — the researchers, innovators, and visionaries driving progress, shaping the future of the field, and ensuring that whenever microscopy is discussed globally, the first association is Brnoregion.

Michal Urbánek

Radka Martínková and Jan Neuman introduced me to this platform. Brnoregion Microscopy is really pushing forward concrete actions, rather than (blurry) visions and philosophical questions. And you can see that these actions are actually materializing,…

Read more

Nikola Kostlánová

I was introduced to Brnoregion Microscopy by my colleague from CEITEC Masaryk University (MUNI), Jiří Nováček, who has been naturally involved in this initiative due to his long-standing role as the head of the Core Facility for cryo-EM at CEITEC MUN…

Read more

Veronika Štěpánková

I lead the commercialization action group within Brnoregion Microscopy, focusing on how to support technology transfer from research to practice. This topic is particularly close to my heart, as after completing my PhD, I transitioned into the b…

Read more

Petr Přikryl

The microscopy pillar is one of the key technical areas of the Czech Optical Cluster. The unique ecosystem in Brno and the people active within it naturally inspired our involvement in the emerging Brnoregion Microscopy community. Our goal was to ali…

Read more