Cosylab’s CEO Takes Part in the Brussels Debate of Bridging the R&I Gap
The ERID event, organised each year within the European Research and Innovation Week framework by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), brings together decision-makers, researchers and officials to discuss the EU’s research and innovation policy.
Mark was asked what young researchers in Europe could learn from his experience of transitioning from a researcher to an entrepreneur and – ultimately—staying in his native land, Slovenia.
Mark replied that young researchers, wanting to leave their mark by working on the most significant challenges, could go to the most prestigious European research institutions or even establish a startup in Silicon Valley. However, the other equally great challenge is to do the latter in their home country, with colleagues and students from their local university, by giving them a chance to work for customers from all over the world – just like Mark wanted to work on exciting projects as a student.
It is all about “working globally, living locally”, Mark underlined. In the end, it is the strong ties with our family and friends and our culture that make us human. It can be a flourishing, fulfilling, and rewarding career path to start as a researcher when one first learns a lot and then uses this knowledge to secure new practical value for society and contribute to the local community by creating new jobs!
“You might say that it is all about a noble career. Let me explain. Every year of my life, I have advanced by learning new skills, taking on new roles and meeting interesting people. I like intellectual challenges and believe me, I now have more of them than I did as a scientist. And in the end, you may find out the most beneficial way is to invest part of the money you earned into similar startups to your own from years ago to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in your country,“ added Mark.
