Thursday, 6 November 2025 European Innovation Council (EIC) highlights the achievements of Dr. Anna Sandak in the Women Leadership Programme (EIC Women Leadership)

Recipient of an EIC Pathfinder project, researcher and head of the materials research group at InnoRenew CoE and UP IAM, participant of the seventh cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme, and much more. In a detailed interview, the European Innovation Council (EIC) highlights the achievements of Dr. Anna Sandak, with particular emphasis on the ARCHI-SKIN and REMEDY projects.

The EIC describes Dr. Sandak’s journey in the seventh cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme as an example of how confidence and well-developed communication skills can enhance scientific impact and help research move out of the laboratory and into real-world application.

The programme, launched as a pilot in 2021, has so far trained more than 300 researchers and entrepreneurs. The seventh cohort, which included Dr. Sandak, spent three months focusing on developing entrepreneurial skills aimed at founding and growing companies. The effects were immediate: shortly after the programme concluded, the ARCHI-SKIN project received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and was selected for the Science4EU campaign, gaining the opportunity to be presented to the broader public. In the interview, Dr. Sandak emphasized: »The opportunity to work with experienced mentors, inspiring role models, and fellow participants gave me practical leadership tools, greater confidence, and a better understanding of how to navigate the complexities of innovation, technology transfer, and business strategies. I now feel better prepared to effectively lead my team and guide our project toward long-term goals.«

Even before entering the programme, Dr. Sandak’s team had secured EIC Pathfinder funding for the REMEDY project. As the first Pathfinder project in Slovenia led by a woman coordinator, it marked Dr. Sandak as the first researcher in Slovenia to receive both ERC and EIC funding for her projects. She adds that the EIC Women Leadership Programme changed her perspective on innovation and entrepreneurship. She continues: »I am already passing the tools and knowledge I gained on to my team. Together, we are now more aware of our shared abilities, strengths, and our potential to bring our research into the real world. The programme helped me better understand the entrepreneurial mindset and the strategic steps needed to move from scientific discovery to market application.«

Deeply embedded in the academic environment and oriented toward the future, Dr. Sandak continues to successfully lead her team toward new goals. Along this journey, science is accompanied by vision, leadership, and the courage to innovate.

We invite you to read the full interview.