Mission to Impact: Conference Success and GREC's Call to Responsible Entrepreneurship

The Mission to Impact conference proved to be a resounding success as it delved into the process of translating groundbreaking scientific discoveries into commercial success. The event featured Luis Mejia, Senior Associate at Stanford University, who shared his insider experience and narrative behind the launch and spinoff of Google, including other innovations during his 20+ years in Silicon Valley. The conference showcased impactful innovations from the University of Geneva and the Lake Geneva area, highlighting successful collaborative efforts between research institutions, private companies, and financial sponsors. A panel discussion, including Professor Christina Hertel from the University of Geneva, Dr. Tracy Laabs from the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, Antonio Gambardella from Fongit, and Luis Mejia, addressed the definition of impact and shared valuable lessons learned in optimizing connections and collaborations.

Professor Hertel, Academic Director of the Geneva Responsible Entrepreneurship Center (GREC), highlighted how impact extends beyond mere economic implications; it encompasses a spectrum of social, environmental, and even unintended consequences. As the hub of innovation at UNIGE, the various complexities of impact are being navigated, going beyond traditional models and taking a step further to optimize the positive and minimize the negative impacts. Click here to watch the full video.

GREC’s call to action is for entrepreneurs and businesses to understand the potential impact of their technologies and inventions, to realize their varied applications, and to measure their effects in the short and long term. At GREC, a culture of responsible entrepreneurship is cultivated at UNIGE by reframing societal challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities, fostering responsible businesses, and providing tools to measure sustainability and impact for entrepreneurs through their research, education, entrepreneurial project support, and community building activities.