Train the Trainer: Highlights from the German BSR DeepTech Launch Workshop Series

How do you transform STEM researchers into future entrepreneurs? This question shaped a series of Train the Trainer workshops in Berlin as part of the BSR DeepTech Launch Project. Each session focused on equipping educators, startup mentors, and innovation facilitators with practical methods to foster deep tech entrepreneurship in students, particularly in quantum technology and photonics. Participants engaged in hands-on makerthons, startup case studies, and interactive learning experiments, discovering new methods to teach deep tech entrepreneurship. Experts from the photonics industry and the startup ecosystem, including Dr. Björn Globisch (Eagleyard) and Dr. Andreas Bülter (PicoQuant), shared insights on bridging the gap between research and commercialization.

“Finding the Strategy”. Hands-on Learning: The Makerthon Approach.

The series kicked off with an interactive makerthon on September 16, 2024, where participants explored hands-on approaches to teaching entrepreneurship in STEM. This first Worhshop introduced the Train the Trainer concept, exploring how educators can inspire students to pursue deep tech entrepreneurship. Using a meta-approach, participants worked on developing an educational program as a business idea. The session featured practical insights from organizations like Junge Tüftler and Experinauten, demonstrating real-world applications. An interactive Lego-based quantum learning module stood out, illustrating how complex scientific ideas can be made accessible through hands-on activities. Dr. Mahlkow (OpTecBB) and Vincent Craft (Junge Tüftler) shared key strategies for engaging students in deep tech learning.

“Bridging Research and Commercialization”.  From Research to Market: Case Studies and Role-Playing.

The second workshop in November 2024 introduced startup case studies and role-playing exercises, helping trainers understand the key challenges in translating research into viable business ventures. It focused on the path from research to market, equipping trainers with tools to guide STEM students toward commercialization. Experts from the photonics industry shared perspectives on what makes a research-driven startup viable. Dr. Björn Globisch (Eagleyard) and Dr. Andreas Bülter (PicoQuant) provided insights into the transition from lab to market, while Dr. Claus Roll (OPTICA) outlined key investor expectations. Participants engaged in startup case studies and role-playing exercises, gaining a deeper understanding of business validation and ecosystem requirements.

“From Scientific Exploration to Startup Action”. Building Entrepreneurial Learning Frameworks.

The final session, organized on March 4th, 2025, focused on building structured learning frameworks, guiding students from scientific exploration to entrepreneurial action. The workshop also centered on structured learning frameworks for supporting students on their entrepreneurial journey. Trainers developed customized curricula and tested new teaching methodologies tailored for deep tech fields like quantum technology and photonics. Dr. Adrian Mahlkow (OpTecBB) and Christian Kuhn (TH Wildau) led discussions on bridging academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem, ensuring research-driven innovations find real-world applications.

Strengthening the Innovation Pipeline

By the end of the series, participants had developed a structured framework for supporting students in their transition from research to entrepreneurship. The initiative equipped educators with new teaching tools while fostering deeper collaboration between academia, industry, and the deep tech startup ecosystem, ensuring a lasting impact on future innovators. By combining hands-on learning with expert industry insights, it provided a sustainable framework for fostering the next generation of STEM entrepreneurs.

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