Analysis

August 8, 2022

Starlab: the 'Noah’s Ark' of scientific research that launched 1,000 startup ideas

Lab-concocted vodka, time travel and epilepsy treatments: welcome to the moonshot factory


Tim Smith

11 min read

Starlab Barcelona

What happens when you round up 100 maverick scientists, working on some of the world’s most groundbreaking ideas, put them together in a Belgian castle and let them run wild? 

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An image of the entryway to the original Starlab building in Brussels
The original Starlab in Brussels
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An image of Christopher Altman
Christopher Altman
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An image of a Starlab “Time Traveller Party” in May 2001, with (from left) Hugo de Garis, Serguei Krasnikov, Roman Zapatrin, Christopher Altman
A Starlab “Time Traveller Party” in May 2001, with (from left) Hugo de Garis, Serguei Krasnikov, Roman Zapatrin, Christopher Altman
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An image of Starlab's red-brick Brussels HQ
Starlab's Brussels HQ
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An image of Ana Maquies looking up at the Fabra Observatory telescope in Barcelona
Ana Maquies looks up at the Fabra Observatory telescope in Barcelona
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An image of two mannequin's wearing Starstim headcaps
The Starstim headcap
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An image of Ana Maiques and Giulio Rufini standing outside Starlab’s Barcelona HQ
Ana Maiques and Giulio Rufini at Starlab’s Barcelona HQ
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An image of a Starlab researcher working on circuitry for a Starstim headcap
A Starlab researcher works on circuitry for a Starstim headcap
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An image of Starlab's Giulio Rufini playing piano in his office.
Giulio Rufini plays piano in his office
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An image of a Winnie the pooh teddybear, a mascot for Starlab
A Starlab mascot sports a Starstim skullcap
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Tim Smith

Tim Smith was news editor at Sifted. He covered deeptech and AI, and produced Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow him on X and LinkedIn

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