Turning PhDs into CEOs

Two FunGlass teams proudly took part in the Challenger Science 2025 program, an inspiring initiative organized by ESET in cooperation with  Civitta Slovakia, with support of EIT Health, to support PhD. students and young scientists to change their academic research ideas to the the solutions with societal impact.

Our teams — Dagmar Galusková, Hana Kaňková, Andrea Chrastinová and Michal Žitňan, Branislav Hruška and Mir Saeed Sajjadi — worked intensively over three months throughout the program, developing creative ideas, refining research concepts, and collaborating with mentors from the scientific and innovation community.

Although neither of our teams advanced to the final selection of 11 teams, the entire journey was a valuable learning experience. Participants gained insights into project design, scientific communication, and innovation strategy, all while strengthening teamwork and exploring new perspectives. Being part of Challenger Science wasn’t just about reaching the finals. It was about learning, growing, and proudly representing FunGlass in a community full of inspiring young scientists.

The program motivated our researchers to think boldly, engage in constructive feedback, and strive for continuous improvement — skills that will undoubtedly shape their future research paths at FunGlass.