From Innovation to Impact: How BrachyDOSE Bridged Deeptech with Academia

Ready to meet real gamechangers in the medtech community? Welcome to the journey of an ambitious Lithuanian startup, getting global recognition on the European startup scene – “BrachyDOSE”. The founder, Dr. Neringa Šeperienė navigates us to the key journey steps in collaborations, recognition, and deeptech needs.

The startup’s team is developing a medical device to help oncology doctors prevent radiation injuries for cancer patients. “We are aiming to save doctors’ time and costs for radiotherapy departments as well as provide an efficient tool to prevent up to 100% of the most common injuries for prostate, cervical, breast, and other cancer cases”, says Dr. Neringa Šeperienė.

For “BrachyDOSE”, the collaboration with Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) was an important milestone. “We have met Kaunas University of Technology Physics department scientists and students a while ago at various events, but didn’t have a chance to work on a specific project together. We found their presented project idea, which was the dual-use detector challenge, relevant to us“, remembers the founder.

Participating in “atTRACTION” initiatives opened up a window to jump into a significant partnership. “We value the collaboration opportunity with the university. It is not only contacts, but also students who were excited to work together. It’s a great network for future projects and a good pool to find new employees as well“, says Dr. Neringa Šeperienė.

Of course, not everything moved at startup speed. “The biggest challenge was syncing with the university’s pace,” the founder explains. Startups live by short cycles, quick pivots, and MVPs; academia, by contrast, often moves methodically, with rigorous protocols and multiple stakeholders. But instead of giving in to frustration, the team took a collaborative approach in aligning schedules, setting clear timelines, and building mutual respect processes. Communication, patience, and a shared vision for impact were the key ingredients.

Reflecting on the experience, “BrachyDOSE” offers candid advice for early-stage startups hoping to collaborate with larger organisations or institutions: come prepared with a clear strategy. “Know what you want to achieve,” the founder advises. “Universities and corporations work differently, thus expect slower responses, longer feedback loops, and layered decision-making. But don’t let that discourage you. With persistence and clarity, the payoff is worth it.”

This collaboration is more than a case study, it’s a glimpse into the future of deeptech innovation, where startups like “BrachyDOSE” don’t just disrupt but also unite forces across sectors to drive real, measurable impact in healthcare. Innovation rarely happens in isolation. That’s where joint efforts between startups and corporations become powerful.