At Greeking Out in Cambridge, co-hosted by Cambridge Judge Business School, Big Pi Ventures, and Endeavor Greece, one of the evening’s most thought-provoking discussions focused not on a single founder or company, but on the entire ecosystem that allows science to turn into innovation.
The panel brought together voices from academia, venture capital, and research institutions: Prof. Zoe Kourtzi and Prof. George Malliaras from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Stefanos Capsaskis of Corallia Ventures, and Dr. Nicholas Ktistakis from the Babraham Institute. Moderated by Victoria Kimonides (CJBS), the session explored what makes Cambridge a uniquely productive environment for research-driven entrepreneurship, and how Greece might adopt some of the same principles.
The Power of Proximity and Cross-Disciplinary Culture
One of Cambridge’s greatest strengths, the panelists agreed, is the density and diversity of expertise it offers. Researchers can walk across campus and meet with a psychologist, a neurosurgeon, or a data scientist within minutes. This environment fosters organic collaboration across fields - an essential ingredient for breakthroughs in areas like AI diagnostics, neurotechnology, and medical devices.
Both Zoe and George emphasized that without this kind of interdisciplinary exchange, meaningful innovation becomes much harder to achieve. “I can talk to a neurosurgeon, a psychologist, or even a classicist within walking distance. That access is fundamental.”, said George. The university doesn’t just tolerate cross-boundary thinking - it expects it. And this mindset is embedded in everything from how labs are structured to how research is taught.
Pushing Science Further, Before Commercial Pressure
Cambridge also enables deep tech researchers to push their ideas far enough to make them attractive to industry, without needing to raise capital too early. George highlighted that technologies can reach key proof points, like early clinical validation, within the university setting. This helps de-risk the science and puts founders in a stronger position when they do engage investors.
At the same time, support structures like Cambridge Enterprise and university-affiliated accelerators offer guidance on IP, spinouts, and early-stage business strategy. Zoe shared her own experience going through the Judge’s Ignite program - taking a sabbatical from her lab, pitching her idea, and eventually launching a company rooted in her research on early detection of neurodegenerative disease.
From Culture Shift to Ecosystem Advantage
This kind of entrepreneurial mindset wasn’t always the norm. Stefanos Capsaskis reflected on his experience at Cambridge decades ago, when commercializing research was not only rare - it was frowned upon. Today, things are different. Entrepreneurship has become part of the academic culture, especially for students who return for advanced degrees after working in industry. “When I studied here 40 years ago, there was no path to turn research into a company. Today, it’s in the air," he shared.
The panel also noted how physical infrastructure has evolved in parallel. The Babraham Research Campus, as Nicholas described, is now home to over 60 biotech companies, a far cry from its early days when it was simply a research institute.The development of shared lab spaces, startup-friendly leases, and public-private cooperation has turned it into a hub for scientific entrepreneurship.
What Still Needs Work
Even in a mature ecosystem like Cambridge, the panel acknowledged gaps. Stefanos pointed to the lack of standardization when it comes to university spinouts and investment terms. Too often, negotiations happen from scratch, slowing down momentum. He also challenged institutions, both in the UK and in Greece, to move from informal, personal connections to structured partnerships across borders.
Nicholas added that emerging ecosystems should prepare not just for growth, but also for volatility. Biotech and life sciences are subject to long cycles and sudden shifts. Ecosystem resilience - legal, financial, and cultural - will be critical to ensuring sustainability.
What Greece Can Take Away
While Cambridge’s resources and reputation are hard to replicate, its model of collaboration, proximity, and structured support can serve as inspiration for Greece. The conversation made clear that universities can play a central role in tech-driven economic growth—but only if they encourage interdisciplinary work, provide room to experiment, and make entrepreneurship a viable, supported path for researchers.
If Greece can build bridges between its scientific institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs, and do so with Cambridge-style confidence; it has all the raw ingredients to nurture its own globally competitive innovation ecosystem.