What does it take to turn scientific discoveries into real-world solutions? And how can researchers go beyond the laboratory to create new opportunities for themselves and society?

​

In the latest episode of our Innovation Leaders series, we introduce Václav Hönig, a researcher at the Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences (BC CAS), one of the partners of the InnovPrecMed consortium.

 

Václav works in the Laboratory of Arbovirology, where his research focuses on viruses transmitted by arthropods, particularly ticks and mosquitoes. By investigating how viruses interact with host cells and organisms, his team contributes to the fundamental knowledge needed to develop new diagnostic tools and antiviral treatments.​ The Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences (BC CAS) is a leading Czech research institution specialising in biological and environmental sciences. Within InnovPrecMed, BC CAS contributes its expertise in antiviral therapies and diagnostics of viral diseases, helping connect scientific research with innovation in healthcare.

​

But for Václav, science is about more than generating new knowledge. He believes that researchers should be encouraged to explore how their discoveries can lead to practical applications, new treatments and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Through InnovPrecMed, he highlights the importance of introducing students to career paths beyond traditional academic and laboratory research. By bringing together students from different disciplines, including biotechnology, business and finance, the project encourages the development of innovative ideas and supports future startups and spin-offs.

​

His message is clear: scientific research has the potential to achieve much more than publications – it can lead to solutions that make a real difference.

​

Watch the full interview below and discover Václav Hönig's perspective on scientific innovation, entrepreneurship and the opportunities that lie beyond the laboratory!