In this episode of Lab-to-Market Leadership, Chris sits down with Antti Vasara, Vice President, Quantum at PostScriptum, former President and CEO of VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), and one of Europe's most experienced deep tech leaders, to explore what it really takes to transform scientific breakthroughs into successful companies. Drawing on decades of experience leading one of Europe's largest research and technology organizations, Antti explains why successful founders are defined less by their technical brilliance than by their willingness to continuously learn, adapt, and evolve. He shares how research organizations can better identify entrepreneurial talent, why supporting founders requires far more than simply transferring intellectual property, and how co-founders, customer validation, and investor readiness dramatically improve a startup's chances of success. Chris and Antti also examine the governance challenges unique to deep tech startups, including when founders should bring in an independent board chair, how great boards build trust rather than pressure, and why psychological safety is essential for CEOs navigating the uncertainty of company building. The conversation broadens to Europe's innovation ecosystem, exploring why fragmented markets, inconsistent regulation, and conservative capital continue to limit the commercial success of world-class research. Whether you're a researcher considering entrepreneurship, an innovation leader building commercialization programs, or an investor supporting science-based startups, this episode offers valuable insights into bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and global businesses. What You’ll Learn: Why a founder's ability to learn and adapt is often a stronger predictor of success than technical expertise aloneHow research organizations can identify which scientists have the greatest entrepreneurial potentialWhy successful spinouts require far more support than simply licensing intellectual propertyThe three critical areas where RTOs create the most value: co-founder recruitment, customer validation, and investor preparationHow effective board chairs build trust, challenge constructively, and help founders grow into CEOsWhy Europe's fragmented markets and capital ecosystem continue to slow deep tech commercializationHow policy, regulation, and investment can work together to unlock Europe's innovation potentialWhy shifting from risk avoidance to opportunity thinking is essential for building globally competitive technology companiesAntti Vasara is a technology executive, board chair, venture partner, and one of Europe's foremost leaders in deep tech innovation. He previously served as President and CEO of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, where he spent a decade leading one of Europe's largest applied research organizations and helping transform scientific research into commercially successful companies. With a career spanning strategy consulting at McKinsey & Company and senior leadership roles at Nokia, SmartTrust, and Tieto, Antti brings more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and innovation. Today, he is Vice President, Quantum at PostScriptum. He also serves as Venture Partner at Kvanted, chairs several high-growth deep tech companies including QMill and SemiQon, and acts as Finland's Special Envoy for Technology while advising the European Commission on quantum strategy. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here. Episode Resources: Antti Vasara on LinkedInPostScriptum Website Let us know what you think... Learn more about Lab to Market Leadership: https://www.deeptechleaders.com Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deeptechleaders
