In the world of EU-funded research, innovation often faces a stubborn challenge: the transition from groundbreaking laboratory discovery to practical, market-ready solutions.

While Europe has led in research funding, many projects have struggled to convert valuable research outcomes into accessible technologies that make a measurable impact.

For Alessia Melasecche Germini, CEO of META Group, this issue sits at the heart of the mission for Horizon Results Booster—an initiative designed to bridge the gap between science and society.

“Over the past 30 years, very few research projects have succeeded in reaching the market and scaling up their solutions,” Germini explains in an interview with Impact Newswire. “This is often due to a lack of a clear vision among researchers on what it takes to make this leap after EU funding ends.”

In response, the Horizon Results Booster, launched in 2020, has empowered nearly 1,800 EU-funded projects, creating a blueprint for the effective use of research results. The program has drawn attention to the importance of seeing beyond the end of a project’s funding and has guided researchers in tackling the barriers that prevent their work from generating real-world impact.

The success of the Horizon Results Booster lies in a central philosophy that Germini calls “No use, no impact.” She emphasizes that a project only matters if its results are applied, adopted, and amplified beyond academic circles.

To help researchers achieve this, Horizon Results Booster has created a multi-service support system that Germini sees as “essential to helping beneficiaries unlock their potential.” This vision has resonated with project teams across sectors and has become an influential model in the EU’s approach to research support.

Empowering Researchers with Strategic Tools

Horizon Results Booster’s services focus on practical assistance to help researchers move from laboratory results to viable, market-ready solutions. Its recently renewed four-year program introduces even more tailored services to support the broad spectrum of EU-funded projects.

This support is structured around what the program calls “building blocks,” which establish a foundational understanding and help projects align their goals with the steps needed to achieve market impact.

The core offerings are the Go-To-Market and Dissemination Support services. For researchers like Julia Ghorayeb Zamboni, the program has been transformative. Zamboni, the artistic creator and director of the EU-funded project Isabella’s Flight, expressed her gratitude, noting that the program’s comprehensive support has “elevated both our project’s success and my research capabilities.” Her testimony reflects the wide-reaching effects of the initiative, particularly in helping creative and scientific projects find real-world applications.

Under the Go-To-Market service, researchers receive coaching in various critical areas, from assessing the maturity of their research results to identifying potential business partners and conducting market analyses. The service also covers business plan development, risk assessment, and financial planning, ensuring that participants are equipped to take their innovations to the next level. As Germini notes, “Many researchers may not initially have the business knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of the market. We provide them with tailored support to advance their results toward market readiness.”

The Dissemination Support service, meanwhile, zeroes in on promoting key exploitable results. Project teams are guided through strategies for reaching target audiences, managing intellectual assets, and selecting optimal dissemination channels. This assistance has a dual purpose: to raise awareness of the innovations and to equip researchers with communication skills to engage stakeholders effectively.

Introducing Mentors to Build Market Readiness

A notable addition to the Booster initiative is the introduction of mentors who bring both industry expertise and insight into the unique challenges of EU-funded projects. These mentors act as a bridge between the world of research and the marketplace, offering personalized guidance that caters to each project’s distinct needs.

“The mentor’s role is to guide projects through Booster’s various services,” Germini explains. “They act as a single point of contact, ensuring that all services are aligned and that the support truly adds value.”

By serving as liaisons and advocates, mentors enable project teams to tackle hurdles they might not have been equipped to address otherwise. They guide teams in optimizing resources and preparing for market demands, making the journey from lab to market much smoother.

The support provided by Booster mentors is crucial, especially given the diverse sectors in which these EU-funded projects operate—from agriculture and medicine to industry and space. Each field has unique considerations, and mentors help researchers navigate these while enhancing their capacity for innovation management and strategic planning.

Driving Societal and Economic Impact

The Horizon Results Booster has already proven its impact with success stories that demonstrate the potential for EU-funded research to address both societal and economic needs. Through tailored Dissemination and Exploitation (D&E) strategies, the program has helped projects identify promising results, develop solid business models, and overcome the adoption barriers that often prevent research from scaling up.

As Germini describes, “Booster equips projects with the tools to communicate their value propositions effectively, helping them refine their go-to-market strategies and conduct market analysis.” By working closely with research teams, Booster ensures that projects are not just successful in terms of research metrics but are practical solutions with measurable, lasting impact.

Through coaching, projects are empowered to gain traction, extend their reach, and achieve sustainability. This goes beyond market readiness—Booster’s support allows these projects to address critical societal issues, such as public health, environmental sustainability, and technological advancement. By offering services that build both societal and economic impact, Booster is transforming the outcomes of EU research funding.

With a focus on adaptability, market readiness, and the power of mentorship, Booster’s renewed four-year program hopes to expand the reach and impact of European research projects even further. The legacy of Horizon Results Booster has underscored a critical truth in the research community: innovations must reach beyond academic success to achieve true impact.

“Europe’s research sector has so much potential,” Germini says. “Our role is to unlock that potential by giving researchers the strategic support they need to achieve real-world impact. With Booster, we are building a model where research results are not just valuable discoveries but are solutions that shape the future.”

Source : Meta Group