A mentoring program developed at Stanford University for scientific teams that have an idea for a new therapy, potential drug, vaccine, diagnostic test or other medical device is being launched in Poland. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has allocated PLN 2.9 million for its implementation. A pilot study of the program has brought one scientific team to the stage when they are about to launch a startup in the field of Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics. The call for new ideas is open until March 20 this year.

Information about the program and the call is available here: sparkpoland.edu.pl

An online information meeting about the program will be held on 07.03.2025, at 10:00 am (registration link available below).

Find out more:

• What is SPARK Poland?
• What are the benefits of SPARK Poland?
• Who is SPARK Poland for?
• What fields of medicine is SPARK Poland developing?
• What does the SPARK Poland mentoring program consist of?
• Who finances and organizes SPARK Poland?
• What is the schedule of SPARK Poland?

What is SPARK Poland?

SPARK Poland is the Polish edition of a mentoring program developed at Stanford University and run by research institutions around the world, which develops scientific projects in the biomedical field towards implementation and commercialization.

The program was initiated in Poland by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in 2019. It was successfully piloted in cooperation with the International Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IIMCB). Three projects were incubated, one of which is currently at an advanced stage of company formation. The Nencki Institute for Experimental Biology is now going a step further and broadening the SPARK Poland program by launching a nationwide call, opening its doors for all innovative biomedical initiatives.

SPARK Poland will allow three winning scientific teams to test ideas for novel therapies, potential drugs, vaccines, diagnostic tests or other medical devices. In practice, this is an intensive, systematic two-year mentoring program run by experts and experienced practitioners combined with access to funding for research experiments in the amount of PLN 300,000 for each team.

The goal of SPARK Poland is to create a mechanism that allows to turn biomedical invention ideas into real-world applications, while acting as a model for the country’s biotechnology sector.

The SPARK program is already operating in 21 countries around the world, including 8 European countries, i.e. Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy and the Czech Republic.

What are the benefits of SPARK Poland?

• Validate your idea for a biomedical solution during a two-year mentorship.
• Confront your way of thinking about running your scientific project with practitioners from the market.
• Gain the advantage of systematic cooperation with an advisor specialized in strategic analysis as well as biotechnology valuation.
• Develop competences in managing biotechnology projects to guide them towards commercialization.
• Receive 300K for experimentation in continuing research or filling gaps in an ongoing scientific project.
• Join a prestigious networking community coordinated by Stanford University School of Medicine.

Who is SPARK Poland for?

The program is designed for scientists who are motivated by the idea of finding a biomedical solution and helping patients. It was created for teams that are looking for access to market feedback as well as competence in technology development.

Teams consisting of both experienced scientists, clinicians and PhD students can apply. It is important that the research group applying to the program carries out research in biological sciences, chemical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, medical biology, chemical engineering, materials engineering or biomedical engineering.

What fields of medicine is SPARK Poland developing?

The program covers medical fields such as oncology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, hepatology, immunology, metabolic diseases, neurology, neurodegenerative diseases, ophthalmology, surgery, rheumatology, rare diseases, pulmonology, psychiatry, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, genetic diseases, aging processes, pregnancy, maternal and child health, cardiovascular diseases, anesthesiology or diagnostics.

What does the SPARK Poland mentoring program consist of?

The ideas of the winning scientific teams will be analyzed in close cooperation between the authors, mentors and a project manager specialized in strategy evaluation and biotechnology pricing. Scientists will receive systematic and intensive support in the form of mentoring.

As part of the program, each qualified team will work closely with a project manager whose task will be to moderate the scientists by asking questions, sharing perspectives, and pointing out potential ways of action. The manager will also respond to the team’s ongoing needs, such as reaching out to specific experts in the pharmaceutical or biomedical markets.

Participation in the program will provide answers to questions about whether an idea for applying research results to medicine has a chance of implementation and commercialization, and how to design research to make the prospect of implementation realistic.

Who funds and organizes SPARK Poland?

SPARK Poland is initiated and organized by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The first nationwide call is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

What is the schedule of SPARK Poland?

07.03.2025, 10:00 | online information meeting, registration link:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wzoo6xbRSoOmtY5HhTACTg

20.03.2025, 12:00 | end of recruitment

11.04.2025 | pre-selection results, list of teams invited for presentations

23-24.04.2025 | presentations (venue: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw)

25.04.2025 | announcement of 3 winning projects

01.05.2025 | start of the mentoring program

30.04.2027 | end of mentoring program.