Research Services and Career Development

A group of people holding certificates for a finishing trainings programme posing and smiling for the camera.

Joseph Krpelan

Entrepreneurship

The University of Vienna is a huge reservoir of knowledge, creativity, and technology that can bring positive impact to society. We provide our students and researchers the opportunity to make this happen.

u:spark

u:spark is a venture-building programme for Master students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and researchers who want to transform innovative ideas into impactful ventures through intensive training, expert mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Joseph Krpelan
u:seed

We offer a pre-seed programme for our start-ups and spin-offs that are beyond the idea stage and ready to grow.
u:seed provides a combination of funding, mentorship, training and resources to bridge the gap between early development and market entry.

Markus Korenjak

innovation labs

The ilabs are educational programmes where participants learn the main tools and principles of entrepreneurship through a structured process. Students, doctoral candidates, and early stage researchers go through a guided accelerated venture creation process, to eventually build and lead purposeful, sustainable ventures that benefit society. Learn more about the innovation labs.

sandpit sessions & masterclasses

founders

mentors programme & entrepreneurship award

summer schools

venture creation summer school

This 5-Day Venture Creation course is an intensive, hands-on program that takes you from generating an innovative idea to delivering a compelling investor pitch. Learn by doing as you validate customer problems, design business models, and master storytelling.

derknopfdruecker.com

community

Venture Creation Summer School 2026

14.07.2026 Entrepreneurship Community

A group of about 25 people pose together on outdoor steps beneath leafy trees, arranged in three rows and smiling at the camera.

Fünf Tage, eine Herausforderung: Forschung in Ventures verwandeln. Bei der Circle U. Venture Creation Summer School in Wien erprobten internationale…

Green Policy Lab Summer School 2026

13.07.2026 EU-Missions

Group picture of 30 people standing outside in front of a building. Two of them are kneeling close to the middle holding up a blue poster reading: "Do you want to turn your research into real policy impact?"

How can researchers turn excellent science into policy impact?

At the Green Policy Lab, 29 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers spent five days…

digital ilab demo day

03.07.2026 Entrepreneurship Community

A group of participants and organisers pose together at digital ilab Demo Day 2026, smiling and celebrating in front of the event screen.

From curiosity to venture: digital ilab demo day 2026 showcased how months of experimentation, collaboration, and real-world validation helped…

spotlights

Lipid Legends

20.03.2026 Entrepreneurship Spotlight

Three scientists in a lab examining samples in test tubes together

From lab coat to business suit:

Get a glimpse inside Lipid Legends’ startup journey

Clickwise

16.03.2026 Entrepreneurship Spotlight

Two people sitting on a black sofa, smiling into the camera.

Why two students turned their passion for cybersecurity into a business protecting SMEs

Does this look like Phishing to you? If you're curious…

Hirebuddy

16.03.2026 Entrepreneurship Spotlight

Die Gründer vom Universität Wien Startup "Hirebuddy". Von links nach rechts: Rafael Lerchster, Markus Dreier, Felix Klooss, Leon Neubeck

Using network science in recruitment

As a corporate recruiter, most of your time is spent searching for the right candidates—browsing LinkedIn,…

community resources

joint forces

Get ready to pitch in the next Joint forces!

Ever thought about an idea that could change something - big or small? Or maybe you’ve just started exploring what’s possible? Joint Forces is your chance to share it, no matter where you’re at in the journey. This isn’t a stage for perfection. It’s a space for possibilities.
happy hours

End the week with good conversations, new connections, and a relaxed drink. Meet fellow students, researchers, founders, and friends of our community.

Stay tuned on Slack!
creative innovation space

A place to work, create, and connect. Our coworking space brings together students, researchers, founders, and innovators under one roof.
join us on slack!

Connect with students, founders, researchers, and mentors. Ask questions, share ideas, and stay up to date with our community.

meet the entrepreneurship team

to the team