Innovation into Action: How DEX IC Delivers

From Education to Practice: Innovation in High Demand

A significant part of our work involves connecting the university environment with real challenges. Through the international SCI FI programme (EIT Health), we are collaborating with healthcare leaders such as Novartis and Roche. They brought specific problems from practice, which international teams of students and researchers worked on for three months.

“It’s not enough to just bring ideas. What matters is that the solution brings value to users and has a real chance for application. That’s why we use the validation toolkit and emphasise validation from the early stages,” says Michal Štefan, Product and Innovation Leader at DEX IC.

Building on this, we are launching an eight-week Challenger (EIT Health) programme in the Czech Republic this autumn. Multidisciplinary teams of students, graduates, and early-stage innovators will learn how to validate healthcare ideas, engage with users, and prepare solutions for real-world application. Demand exceeded expectations: from the original 50 spots, we expanded to 70.

Looking ahead, from 2026, we will launch a new initiative under Horizon WIDERA, expanding it into a broader journey as we join this funded project as partners, further strengthening our role in connecting education, talent retention, research, and innovation.

Co-Creating with Those Leading Change

Innovation works best when co-created with the people who will use it. In healthcare and climate-related projects, we work directly with patients, professionals, hospitals, and cities. The Living Lab approach, which we helped to pilot in Liberec regional hospital, uncovers issues not visible from the outside and tests solutions directly in the field. We apply the same approach when developing digital skills.

We co-create programmes for students, seniors, and parents on parental leave. “Co-creation is not just another option. It’s a way to truly understand people and create innovations that naturally fit into everyday life,” adds Vojtěch Jíra, Project Manager at DEX IC.
 

Cross-Border Results That Matter

From experience, we know that early-stage entrepreneurs need more than just advice. They need an environment where they can safely experiment, learn, and grow.

The Womenture programme (Horizon Europe) supported aspiring female entrepreneurs through mentoring, peer learning, and opportunities to present at international events, such as the Latitude 59 conference in Tallinn. “Thanks to DEX IC’s support, we turned our idea into a real business case and pitched it at an international investor summit,” says Tereza Moravcová, Founder of Vetee, participant in the Womenture pre-accelerator.

Through the V4 Startup Force, we help B2B startups expand into the Visegrad markets by providing direct access to clients and partners. “It’s not just about mentoring. The biggest benefit is direct access to clients, experts, and partners who open new opportunities. For each startup, we create a plan that matches its market reality. There is no universal recipe, but there is always a way forward,” explains Adam Červenka, Project Manager at DEX IC.

In the same spirit, we support the B2B sector as a partner of SpinIT (Interreg Danube Region), which was selected as one of only three Danube Flagship Projects 2025, a recognition for initiatives with significant regional impact.

What DEXpertise Means

Our strength lies in connecting strategy, implementation, and practical skills. We work through both international and local partnerships to ensure that innovation results are genuinely applied in practice. “Our role isn’t to be the smartest people in the room. It’s to create a structure that helps others succeed,” says Michal Štefan, Product and Innovation Leader at DEX IC.