Last week, I had the privilege of attending an event in Hamburg (Germany) called Lab To Market, which was the first of its kind. It brought together 40 talented people, predominantly from academia. The majority of the participants were either pursuing their PhDs or had recently completed their doctoral studies in AI, robotics, energy, and various other fields. This unique gathering provided a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of highly specialized knowledge and the broader entrepreneurial landscape, even though, to my surprise, the latter was quite rare! One of my key takeaways from the event was the stark contrast between the depth of expertise and the breadth of knowledge required to navigate the world of entrepreneurship. These folks were undeniably masters in their respective fields, but translating these insights into viable business ventures demanded a different set of skills altogether. This problem exists in almost every field of deep research, and it's well known.

The thing is, pure research in well-funded institutes is not the solution to solve massive problems. But if you combine pure science and entrepreneurship, true magic happens. As the event progressed, conversations evolved from purely academic discussions to ones that explored the practical applications of research findings outside of laboratories and universities. And while most of these applications will most likely not work or were not thought through enough, that might change in the future. Having an impact and creating a meaningful difference in the future lies in the synergy between scientific research and entrepreneurial spirit. The discoveries made in laboratories and universities around the world hold immense promise, but it is only through the application of entrepreneurship and more degrees of freedom that these ideas can be transformed into products, services, and solutions that benefit society at large.

For me, it became clearer than ever that the convergence of hardware and software will play a pivotal role in shaping our future. That's the area I currently spend most of my time in and which I have really learned to love. The event has left me optimistic about what can be made in Germany and the EU. Let's roll.