Startup Hub Tour Luxembourg: Speaking with sciencepreneur Rajko Turudija

Rajko Turudija: "Luxembourg provides access to the European and even global market"

 

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are set to have a substantial impact on the global economy. According to report Seeing is Believing by PwC, both VR and AR have the potential to deliver a $1.5 trillion boost to the global economy by 2030. Luxembourg is home to many companies specialising in AR/VR.

Rajko Turudija is a PhD student at the University of Nis in Serbia where he is examining the application of AR in mechanical engineering. As a participant of the EURAXESS Startup Hub Tour Luxembourg, he shared his sciencepreneurial ambition to launch an AR solution dedicated to manufacturing companies.

Tell us more about your research journey?

Rajko Turudija: I studied at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nis, Serbia. Research was not on my radar at first. Coincidentally, I connected with some of the professors at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in the University of Nis and was able to help them with the research they were doing at the time. This inspired me to pursue this path. After completing my master's degree, I started my doctoral studies and since then I have been working on research in the fields of biomedicine, Augmented Reality technology and machining.

How did you decide to explore scientific entrepreneurship?

Rajko Turudija: Somehow, entrepreneurship has been a subject of interest since my childhood. I often watched documentaries, films, series about successful business people, and tried to start my own small businesses when I was younger. When I went to university, I realised that research could have a practical application and be used to develop concrete products or services. Therefore, by combining entrepreneurship and research, it was kind of natural for me to explore sciencepreneurship. 

What kind of startup would you consider launching then?

Rajko Turudija: As I am investigating the application of AR in mechanical engineering as part of my PhD, my idea is that the outcome of my research would be an application that can be used in factories all over the world and that would make the work of factory employees easier. This application would then be the starting point for a spin-off.

Do you think Luxembourg would be a good destination to launch your medical solution?

Rajko Turudija: Luxembourg would probably be an excellent starting point for such a startup, as well as a very conducive country for market expansion, as it provides access to the European and even global market. In addition, the startup ecosystem itself is very well organised, from what I have seen.

Is there a part of the Euraxess Startup Hub Tour in Luxembourg that you particularly valued?

Rajko Turudija: I found the whole tour very useful and insightful. The University of Luxembourg Incubator is impressive as a place to hatch ideas and give them wings.