From idea to impact: how Novel-T helps accelerate startups like FlowBeams

In Twente, tech startups are given plenty of freedom and access to resources and networks that allow them to turn ambitious ideas into reality. Through local knowledge institutions, state-of-the-art facilities, and organizations designed to streamline entrepreneurship, innovators from around the world gain direct access to technology, talent, and professional networks that accelerate time-to-market for their innovative ideas.

A supportive ecosystem

Novel-T plays a central role in this ecosystem. “When you come here, you’re surrounded by a team that really thinks along with you,” explains CEO Roy Spit. “We work closely with the University of Twente, where the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) and a team of lawyers handle important matters such as contracts, patents and trademarks. Novel-T focuses primarily on coaching, growth programs, and events.”

Researchers as entrepreneurs

Support begins early. Prof. David Fernandez Rivas, co-founder of FlowBeams, has been connected with Novel-T since his PhD at the University of Twente. This began with the Entrepreneurial Research Program (ERP), an initiative that helps researchers navigate the leap from academia to entrepreneurship. “The program supports researchers at every stage, addressing questions such as how to turn research into a business plan and successfully bring technology to market,” says Lea Milovich, CEO and co-founder of FlowBeams. “Sometimes that means licensing to another company; other times, it means starting your own business.”

“We don’t cherry-pick. Anyone who wants to get involved in entrepreneurship is welcome.”

From lab to business

FlowBeams exemplifies how a research idea in Twente can grow into a high-tech company. Using optics and microfluidics, they have developed a device that delivers fluids through the skin painlessly, eliminating needles and wounds. From their offices and lab facilities in Twente, FlowBeams is already expanding on an international scale. “Our goal is to make a global impact on human well-being,” Milovich confirms. It’s a challenging road. “It requires a lot of patience. You have to believe in your vision and simultaneously gain recognition from the market.” She emphasizes the role that Novel-T has played. “They helped us with international missions, trade fairs and customer contacts. They arrange meetings and ensure we’re in the right place at the right time. That opportunity is immensely valuable for startups.”

Opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs

Spit stresses that Novel-T Is open to more than just a select group of “promising” startups. “We don’t cherry pick. Anyone who wants to get involved in entrepreneurship is welcome. As a startup, you need to have the ambition to reach the next milestone. It’s an interactive process: we provide support, but the other party must be just as driven to seize those opportunities.”

This approach applies equally to all entrepreneurs, including international firms and entrepreneurs from other regions. “There are two options here: either we take the lead and connect them to the right agencies, or we offer a suitable program that meets their needs.”

“High-tech and deep-tech companies can thrive here; Twente has undergone tremendous development in recent years.”

Twente as a breeding ground for innovation

Given the nature of its tech, FlowBeams fits naturally into the microchip, semiconductor, and MedTech-focused profile of the Twente region, reinforced by MESA+ and the TechMed Centre. “Short lines of communication with regional and academic hospitals such as Radboudumc, combined with extensive expertise in the field of medical technology, make Twente an excellent region to establish a company,” says Spit.

Milovich agrees: “High-tech and deep-tech companies can thrive here. Twente has undergone tremendous development in recent years. This is a unique opportunity to showcase our ecosystem, highlight innovations and increase the region’s international visibility.”

Next Tech

Innovation moves from lab to market. In Twente different organizations help transform university research into global health impact, proving how entrepreneurial support and shared expertise make Twente a launchpad for deep-tech breakthroughs.

To showcase Twente’s innovative high‑tech ecosystem to international entrepreneurs, Oost NL and Twente Board jointly developed the booklet Accelerate Next Tech. This article is part of that collection, highlighting how collaboration and technology drive innovation in the Twente region.