As an EIC Accelerator awardee and EIC Women Leadership Programme alumna, Dr. Caroline Kniebs, Co-Founder and Chief Regulatory Officer at O11 biomedical, is proving how science-driven innovation and personal transformation can go hand in hand to bring real-world impact. When Caroline and her team first envisioned an alternative to invasive therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), she was still working in academia. Today, she’s part of the management team of a start-up with a revolutionary solution in hand and a new leadership toolkit, honed with the support of the EIC Women Leadership Programme.
Launched in 2021, the EIC Women Leadership Programme is designed to unlock the potential of women in science and entrepreneurship. So far, more than 300 female researchers and innovators from the EIC and EIT communities have benefited from its tailored trainings, individual coaching and mentoring, and access to high-level networking opportunities.
The 7th cohort, in which Caroline participated this year, focused specifically on researchers and entrepreneurs leading early-stage ventures, providing, among others, strategic guidance on leadership styles, team management and effective decision making.. For Caroline, who co-founded O11 biomedical to transform the lives of 400 million COPD patients worldwide, the programme has been instrumental in her transformation from scientist to part of a start-up leadership team.
O11 biomedical: A radical rethink in respiratory treatment via the gut
At the core of O11 biomedical’s innovation lies a deceptively simple question: What if we could use an entirely different organ to eliminate carbon dioxide from the body?
“In COPD patients, the lungs are not functioning anymore. The oxygen intake is still functioning, but exhaling the CO₂ is not possible anymore,” explains Caroline. “So, Stefan Jockenhövel [CSO at O11 biomedical] and Christian Cornelissen [CMO at O11 biomedical] thought, why can we not get rid of the CO₂ via a completely different organ? And then, came up with the human gut.”
That breakthrough idea led to the development of a novel treatment: a drinkable solution containing micro particles that capture carbon dioxide directly in the gut. “You will stir it in a glass. It's actually a smoothie with small micro particles,” she explains, adding that “the patient will drink it and these particles will capture the CO₂ in the human body, making it possible to use the human gut as an alternative breathing organ.”
Caroline, working at the lab
©Jein Studio
It’s an approach that could free patients from the burdens of current COPD treatments, which often require six to eight hours of daily mask ventilation leading to social isolation and further lung damage.
Having completed all preclinical testing, O11 biomedical is now preparing for its first in-patient clinical study, expected to begin in spring 2026.
Embracing the unknown: From scientist to entrepreneur
For Caroline, building a start-up around such a breakthrough required more than technical expertise: it demanded a complete shift in mindset. “It was a black and white transition, going from academia to a startup,” she recalls.
Securing the EUR 2.5 million EIC Accelerator grant in 2024 was a turning point, but as she stepped into business development responsibilities at O11 biomedical, Caroline knew she needed support to grow into this new role. That’s when she applied to the EIC Women Leadership Programme.
“I thought to myself: this is really the perfect programme to help my transition: being a scientist, but also being part of a start-up, and now being responsible for people having a role in business development.”
But what really set the programme apart for her was the peer environment. “Having all these women in the same situation, coming from a scientific or academic background and trying to switch into this start-up entrepreneurial world... that was for me the biggest motivation to apply.”
The programme’s takeaways: Communication, leadership, and community
The EIC Women Leadership Programme’s hands-on workshops and training sessions helped Caroline tackle one of the biggest challenges she faced in her new role: effective communication to bring their innovation into the real world.
“I really liked the communication and the leadership style trainings,” she says. “Now, being more on the business development side, I have to pitch a lot — to investors, to business angels, venture capitalists. To condense your scientific knowledge in a short amount of time was a huge challenge in the beginning.”
Caroline, pitching at the Chiotec Pitch Battle
The leadership workshops also had a lasting impact. “There are different leadership styles, and you need to adapt them to the people you’re working with. Now that I’m responsible for people, that was super interesting, and the programme helped me a lot on that aspect.”
A word to the next generation of women leaders
As O11 biomedical prepares for its first clinical trials, and Caroline continues to evolve as both a scientist and entrepreneur, her journey reflects the broader mission of the EIC Women Leadership Programme: to equip women with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to lead Europe’s most daring innovations.
Her story is not just about transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship: it’s about building solutions that have the power to transform lives, and doing so with a growing community of women who are redefining what leadership in deep tech looks like.
“I think everyone in a busy startup or academic world should take this kind of break—to invest in themselves, in their growth, and in their network,” Caroline says.
For the next generation of female innovators wondering if they’re ready to make the leap into leadership, into entrepreneurship, or into uncharted territory, Caroline’s message is clear: “you don’t have to do it alone.” The EIC Women Leadership Programme is here to help you lead it.
About the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Supporting women innovators is integral to the EIC's strategic goals for 2021-2027, aimed at enhancing Europe’s economic competitiveness. The EIC has allocated significant resources to women-led companies, demonstrating a commitment to closing the gender gap in research and business. Initiatives like the EIC Women Leadership Programme and Women TechEU are crucial in driving deep-tech innovation and empowering women across Europe.
If you have any questions, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page by choosing the 'EIC Women Leadership Programme' category, or visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ).
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DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.