KNOWLEDGE VALORISATION: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME? THE VU & VUMC TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICE CAN HELP YOU GET STARTED Does your research or knowledge have potential economic or societal value? Do you want to enter into a partnership with a company? Then you can turn to the VU & VUmc Technology Transfer Office (TTO) for useful advice. TTO is specialized in valorisation: making knowledge suitable or available for use in society and transforming it into competitive products or services. This brochure presents information on what TTO can mean for you and your research.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICE VU & VUMC
‘Valorisation is the process of creating value from knowledge, by making knowledge suitable and available for societal and/or economic application and by transforming it into competitive products, services, processes and new business.’ Innovatieplatform, 2009
VALORISATION AS AN ELEMENT OF SCIENCE Valorisation is a core task of universities and academic medical centres Valorisation is increasingly recognized as an integral part of science, rather than just an ‘optional extra’. Society today demands more and more tangible benefits from its investments in science. Increasingly, research funds are allocated on the basis of societal relevance and exploitation potential, and no longer solely on scientific excellence. Alongside education, research and healthcare, valorisation has now become one of the core tasks of universities and university medical centres. VU University Amsterdam and VU University Medical Center fully endorse the importance of valorisation, which is why TTO was established in 2006. TTO is staffed by a team of legal professionals, patent experts, business developers and financial experts who together have affinity with a wide range of scientific disciplines. Since 2006 TTO has been successful in helping many scientists engage in valorisation. For example, by patenting an invention and licensing it out to a company, by conducting a joint research project with an industry partner, by entering into a strategic cooperation with a multinational or by
helping to start a spin-off company. These are the avenues along which scientific expertise can be transformed into applications that are relevant to society. TTO’s role in the valorisation process is one of facilitation and guidance, serving the interests both of the scientists involved and of VU University and VUmc.
WHY SHOULD YOU AS SCIENTIST OPT FOR VALORISATION? Valorisation will benefit your scientific career • A n impressive track record in valorisation will enhance your ability to acquire research funding. Funding bodies share this vision. Nowadays a section on valorisation is a standard requirement in grant applications. • By collaborating with companies and other institutes, you will find it easier to secure funding for your research. • Valorisation can also be personally financially rewarding. An inventor is entitled to one-third of the net proceeds from the exploitation of his or her invention. • Above all, valorisation is inspiring and challenging. It adds an extra dimension to your research and provides you with personal and professional enrichment in your work.
DAVIDE IANNUZZI, Professor of Experimental Physics at the University,
founded Optics11 in 2011, assisted by TTO. ‘My company develops optomechanical sensors in miniature format. TTO helped me tremendously in securing legal protection for my invention and in analysing the business case. They encouraged me to set up a business. Moreover, they introduced me to Hans Brouwer, an experienced entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Optics11.’ ‘Starting our company was a win-win situation. My research team produces results that Optics11 can quickly assimilate and use – and vice versa. But the most important part of this adventure is that it’s so much fun. Being so new to the world of entrepreneurship, I have discovered that commercial realities are very different from the world of academic research.’
WHAT CAN TTO DO FOR YOU? It is the researcher who valorises, TTO lends a helping hand Thanks to TTO’s broad valorisation expertise and knowledge of the market, the team can provide strong support to your valorisation initiatives. We start with a comprehensive intake interview. Together we look for the best way to exploit your knowledge or invention, which could be, for example, a collaboration, sale, licence or a spin-off venture. Our role is to facilitate and give guidance; you the researcher are responsible for taking initiatives and for implementing the strategy. In the process and with TTO’s support you should also gain valuable experience in valorisation.
Tip | Involve TTO in your project
at the earliest possible stage so that your valorisation process runs as efficiently as possible.
Below you can see at a glance what TTO can offer. • We can assist you in building your external network. TTO provides information and training to help you determine which companies, research institutions or societal organizations you could collaborate with and on how you can get in touch with these parties. TTO can assist in conducting negotiations, documenting agreements and concluding contracts. • Does your valorisation process start from an innovation such as an invention,
new software or a smart questionnaire? Together with you we will subject your ideas to a critical evaluation. Are they really new, do they really have high potential and are they ready for the market? We will help you find a suitable party who is interested in acquiring or licensing your idea in order to develop a new product or service.
Tip | You can read more about proof-of-concept funding and pre-seed loans at tto.vu.nl under Subsidies.
• If you intend to set up a company, then TTO can also provide assistance with that. We can assess the feasibility of your business concept. Does it have real business potential? Is there a healthy balance between risk and reward? What about competition? We can help you find a CEO and introduce you to investors. We will alert you to possible innovation grants and other funding sources, such as pre-seed loans. • Does your idea or invention require legal protection? TTO can help you by applying for a patent or by claiming copyrights on your behalf. It is essential to protect your idea in a timely fashion to ensure commercial success further down the road. You can also approach us for legal assistance with research contracts, licensing agreements, confidentiality agreements, material transfer agree ments, etc. In all these cases, please keep in mind: ‘the sooner the better’.
• If you are involved in negotiating with private parties or consortia, then we can help you with the process, in particular with commercial terms and conditions, intellectual property and legal aspects. TTO does not become involved with the technical objectives or content of your project.
ARJEN BRUSSAARD is the scientific
director of the Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA). ‘NCA is a network in which some six hundred neuroscientists from VU University and VUmc work together. Partly on the initiative of TTO we have established an Industry Alliance Office that focuses on finding collaborative links with industry. My role is that of Chief Scientific Officer: if a potential partner has an enquiry relevant to our scope, I come into action. If matters progress to the stage of negotiation, patents and contracts, we benefit from the business experience of TTO. Valorisation is not only important for a healthy business model, it is also an inspiration to work together with business partners.
• TTO has two sources of funding of its own. We can offer funding in the form of a proof-of-concept grant to cover the costs of technical feasibility studies. We also offer pre-seed loans, giving current and future entrepreneurs the opportunity to set up a business.
EXAMPLES OF VALORISATION Creating value in practice Below are some examples of what valorisation means in practice. We can distinguish two categories of valorisation; through partnerships, which may be research-based or otherwise, or through commercial exploitation of knowledge (either through licensing or sale to a market party or by setting up a spin-off business). Valorisation in practice may involve: • partnerships with industry and government, such as the Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, which specifically seeks cooperation with industry; • licences for the use of questionnaires or tests, such as Olery’s online reputation management system for the hospitality industry (see box). Licences may also be granted for products based on intellectual property or know-how such as patents or copyright; • setting up a private business based on VU and VUmc expertise such as Kieskompas (the Election Compass), Optics11, DCPrime; • contract research: a form of collaboration with the private sector in which research facilities are made available. This may be the case, for example, in clinical trials (patientbased research) for a pharmaceutical company; • collections of research material that may be of interest to businesses, such as the biobank (e.g. the twins register),
a database, library, cell lines, patient cohorts and historical collections; • contract education: special educational programmes for companies and government agencies provided on a commercial basis. For example the VU Law Academy, which provides postgraduate legal training to law professionals. • contract manufacturing, such as Professor Maurice Janssen’s Piezo Valve, an instrument initially designed for research at VU University’s LaserLaB, and later commercially marketed.
IS VALORISATION RELEVANT FOR YOU? Relevant for all branches of science, medicine, the arts and the humanities It is often said that valorisation is only suitable for the exact sciences and the field of medicine. However, every field of science can find application in society. Although research in the exact sciences is more likely to produce technological innovation or new products or processes, the humanities and social sciences have their own role to play in the non-technological aspects of innovation which are often the decisive factor in ensuring success when launching new products or services. The humanities and social sciences are also vital in their own right for finding solutions to societal problems, and they give real value to their knowledge by forming partnerships with businesses and other organisations in society.
IVAR VERMEULEN is an assistant professor in the Department of
Communication Science of the Faculty of Social Sciences. As a communication scientist, he has contributed to the development of several online reputation management systems, one of which was created for Olery, a company that develops these types of systems for the leisure and hospitality sector. Vermeulen relies on TTO to support him in his business decisions. ‘The Technology Transfer Office makes sure funding gets channelled effectively. The TTO team understands what knowledge is worth and how to market it. Formalities, like drafting contracts, are also crucial in business agreements. TTO has what it takes to provide expert guidance in this formal process.’ The Olery partnership was also a win-win venture for the University. Together with Vermeulen, Olery developed the Guest Experience Index and a sentiment analysis in four languages. This has given Olery a significant competitive advantage. Peter Boermans, co-founder and CPO at Olery proudly states: ‘VU University’s confidence in us was a tremendous boost to our project.’
THE VU & VUMC SUBSIDY DESK Advice on external public funding
GET STARTED AT TTO.VU.NL
The VU & VUmc Technology Transfer Office works closely with the VU & VUmc Subsidy Desk. Do you as a researcher need assistance and advice on obtaining external public funding? The Subsidy Desk can advise you on the wide range of national and international grant schemes and funding opportunities that are available. The Subsidy Desk will support and guide you throughout the application process, helping you to improve your chances of a successful submission. The Subsidy Desk can be reached at +31 (0) 20 444 99 23 or by e-mail at subsidiedesk@vu.nl.
To help you get started, a number of standard documents for certain situations are available at www.tto.vu.nl. They include, for example, a template business plan and a confidentiality agreement that may be useful when engaging in discussion with third parties. You will also find the VU & VUmc regulation on Knowledge, Intellectual Property & Participation on the website. This document contains the formal ‘rules’ regarding valorisation.
CONTACT Do you have any questions or are you in need of advice or support? You will find extensive information on the TTO website, www.tto.vu.nl. You can also call or e-mail:
POSTADRES Technology Transfer Office VU & VUmc De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICE VU & VUMC T +31 (0)20 598 99 05 E info@tto.vu.nl W www.tto.vu.nl
BEZOEKADRES VU University Amsterdam Technology Transfer Office VU & VUmc W&N building, room F-554 De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam
This brochure has been made possible by the European Regional Development Fund