IMP joins SYNAPSE Austria to help advance research translation

The IMP is one of ten founding research institutions behind SYNAPSE Austria, a new platform that will help promising life science discoveries progress towards new medicines, medical technologies and start-ups.

The IMP has joined forces with nine other research institutions to establish SYNAPSE Austria, a joint platform to help promising life science discoveries progress towards new medicines, medical technologies and start-ups.

SYNAPSE Austria will connect expertise and facilities across its partners, helping researchers access knowledge and infrastructure beyond their own institution. A shared network of mentors, advisers and entrepreneurs-in-residence will support the assessment of projects for their potential to develop into therapies, technologies or companies.

The platform will also provide a shared point of contact for industry and investors to identify relevant projects and research expertise. Working with funding agencies and other partners, it will develop funding opportunities for translational research.

Led by a dedicated director, the SYNAPSE Austria office will be hosted by the Medical University of Vienna. Operations are expected to begin before the end of 2026. The platform will complement existing technology transfer offices rather than replace them.

Alongside the IMP, the other nine founding research institutions are CeMM (Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), IMBA (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) together with XISTA, the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, the Medical University of Vienna, TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), BOKU University (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna), the University of Vienna and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.

Speaking on the launch of the initiative, both initiators emphasised the significance of the collaboration:

“Austria has the scientific strength to build the next generation of life science companies. SYNAPSE Austria will help turn that potential into opportunities that entrepreneurs, industry and investors can act on, giving promising discoveries a clearer path towards development and, ultimately, patient benefit.” — Markus Wanko, Managing Director, XISTA

“SYNAPSE Austria brings together the scientific excellence, clinical expertise and shared ambition of ten research institutions. By connecting these strengths, we can help promising discoveries take the next steps towards new therapies and medical technologies, with the ultimate goal of improving patients’ lives.” — Michaela Fritz, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Medical University Vienna