SYNAPSE Austria: Ten research institutions turn biomedical discovery into therapies and start-ups
Vienna, 28 October 2026 - Ten Austrian life science research organisations have announced the creation of SYNAPSE Austria, a joint platform designed to accelerate the translation of academic research into new medicines, medical technologies, and start-ups.
The platform will bring together expertise, facilities, and external networks currently distributed across partner institutions, while also serving as a single point of contact for venture capitalists and institutional investors seeking opportunities across Austria's life science ecosystem.
Ten partners, one translational platform
The founding partners of the platform are leading players in Austria’s life science research field: CeMM (Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), IMBA (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), IMP (Research Institute of Molecular Pathology), ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) and XISTA, the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, the Medical University of Vienna, TU Wien, BOKU University, the University of Vienna, and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.
SYNAPSE Austria will focus on four key areas:
- Connecting expertise and facilities across institutions
- Assessing projects for their translational and commercial potential
- Coordinating engagement with industry and investors
Expanding funding opportunities for translational research
‘’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
The platform will complement the work of the partners’ existing technology transfer offices. Initially bringing together institutions from the Vienna region, SYNAPSE Austria is designed as a national initiative and is open to additional partners across Austria.
Building on one of Europe's most dynamic life science ecosystems, SYNAPSE Austria draws on the Vienna region's strong scientific foundation, which includes more than 750 life science organisations, over 49,000 employees, and EUR 22.7 billion in annual revenue. According to the Vienna Life Science Report 2024/2025, the city's research and education institutions produced around 8,800 scientific publications and supported more than 34,000 life science students. Leading hubs such as the Vienna BioCenter, the Medical University of Vienna campus, and ISTA in Klosterneuburg continue to attract outstanding researchers from around the world.
SYNAPSE Austria builds on both the scientific excellence already present in Austria and successful cross-institutional initiatives such as the xbio entrepreneurship training programme. By bringing together the strengths, expertise, and networks of its ten founding partners, the platform aims to create the critical mass needed to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to new therapies, medical technologies, and successful life science ventures.
“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
About SYNAPSE Austria
SYNAPSE Austria is a joint life science translation platform founded by ten research institutions in Vienna and the surrounding region. It will coordinate the assessment of early-stage projects, connect institutional expertise and infrastructure, and provide a shared interface for industry, investors and public funders. The platform is open to additional partners and intends to expand across Austria.
SYNAPSE Austria’s founding partners are CeMM (Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), IMBA (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), IMP (Research Institute of Molecular Pathology), ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, the Medical University of Vienna, TU Wien, BOKU University, the University of Vienna, and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. The platform is open to further partners and intends to expand across Austria.
