of the ACTIVITIES and RESULTS of the

project funded from the GROW

INTERREG IIIC Initiative.

FINALREPORT

C o n t e n t s :

07 Introduction

08 Chapter1-AimsoftheBBaSprojectandtheprofilesoftheprojectpartners.

20 Chapter 2 - The methodology of creating theIndustry-UniversityNetworks developed for theproject

23 Chapter3-Theconsiderationofcharacteristicsofselectedsectors

25 Chapter 4 – Individual Regional experience inorganisingthePathFinderGroupsandtheStudyTours

32 Chapter5-StudyTour1attheUniversityofSurrey,Guildford26th-27thJune2006

35 Chapter 6 - Study Tour 2 at the University ofCordoba,17th-18thOctober2006

39 Chapter 7 - Study Tour 3 at the University ofEindhoven,28th-30thJanuary2007

47 Chapter8-StudyTour4atCITTRU,theJagiellonianUniversity,Krakow26th-28thmarch2007

57 Chapter9-Problemsandsuccessindisseminationactivities

60 Chapter10-ConclusionsbasedontheresultsoftheStudyTours

63 Chapter11-Lastingnetworksandprojects

66 Chapter12-Bestpracticerecommendations

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Introduction

The INTERREG II ICGROWproject

The GROW project is a 7.5 million EuropeanfundedprogrammeconceivedbyfivehighgrowthEuropean regions that aims at collaborativeactions to support achieving a balanced,sustainableandeconomicgrowth.

ThisjointEUINTERREGIIIcfundingprogrammethat run from June 2005 to December 2007coveredanetworkof5Regionalauthoritiesin:

1. AndalusiainSpain2. Emilia-RomagnainItaly3. Noord-BrabantintheNetherlands4. MalopolskainPoland5. SouthEastEngland

Theparticipatingregionshaveorganisedaseriesofcallsfortendersagainstthreepriorities.Sixteenprojectshavebeenapprovedforthedurationoftheprogrammewithanaimtosupportstrategicco-operationsinareasof:

1. GreenGrowth–Environment2. BusinessGrowth –Business cooperation,

innovationandentrepreneurship3. InclusiveGrowth–Employmentandsocial

inclusion

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Theproject‘BridgingBusinessandScience’wasone of the 5 successful proposals under theheadingofBusinessGrowth.

In 2003 during the Spring European Council‘Working for growth and jobs’ it was clearlystatedthatinordertomeettheLisbonagendaand Barcelona objective of 3% GDP investedin the research for innovation, it is necessaryto increase the dissemination of the resultsof university research in Europe. Even moreimportant is theaccess to researchexperts forthe European Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)tofacilitatetheinnovation.

The project Bridging Business and Science(BBaS) was part of the INTERREG IIIC GROWinitiative that aimed at increasing throughcollaboration the economic development offive EU regions. The GROW project had threepivotal aims: People, Planet and Profit. Theobjectives of BBaS brought all these conceptstogetherbyfacilitatingtheinnovativescientificresearchleadingtoincreaseinprofit.TheBBaSprojectwasfocusedinparticularonfacilitatingcollaborationbetweentheuniversityresearchersandSmallandMediumEnterprises(SMEs).

When the GROW project was initiated theseactivities were at a very different stage indifferent Regions of Europe and therefore thecollaboration under the aegis of this projecthaveanexcellentopportunity tocompareandmakeimprovementsinthisarea

Knowledge Transfer (KT) involves the processofcapturing,collectingandsharingexplicitandtacitknowledge,includingskillsandcompetences.Itincludesbothcommercialandnon-commercialactivities such as research collaborations,consultancy, licensing, spin-out creation,researcher mobility, publication, etc. (definition by the European Commission MEMO/07/127 of the 4th of April 2007).

The KT is a mechanism of spreading results oflearning,experienceandresearchfromthosewhogeneratethemtothosewhowilltransformthemintoeconomicoutcomes.Knowledgetransferisawiderconceptthan“technologytransfer”,whichisoftenunderstoodinalimitedwayascreationofspin-outcompaniesbyuniversityresearchers.

UK view of Research & Development andInnovation

During the last decade most of the Europeancountries introduced government programmesaimed at facilitation of such collaborativenetworks. In the UK particularly influentialdocumentwaspresentedtothegovernmentinDecember2003byRichardLambert.Themainfocuspointsofthe‘LambertReport’were:

1. Identificationof thebenefits tobusinessofgreater interaction with higher education,how these can be promoted and how anybarriers holding back business demand foruniversities’ knowledge and skills outputscanbeaddressed.

2.Examination of the national, regional andlocaleconomicimpactsofbusiness-universityinteractions, including how RegionalDevelopment Agencies and Sector SkillsCouncilscanbestsupportsuchinteractions.

3.Assessmentofthelessonstobelearnedfrombusiness-universityinteractionacrossarangeof countries and from best practice acrosstheUK.

Chapter1AimsoftheBBaSproject

andtheprofi lesoftheprojectpartners

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4.Analysisofhowbusinessemployerscanbettercommunicate their skills requirements to aresponsive university sector, and how theycanimprovetheattractivenessofcareerpathstograduatesandpostgraduates,especiallyintechnology

The report1 concluded that the increasedcollaboration between business and universityresearch departments will bring significanteconomic benefits to the UK, but concertedactionbybusiness,universities,andgovernmentwillberequiredinordertograsptheopportunitiesfortheUKeconomy.

RichardLambertconcludedalsothatthebiggestsinglechallengeliesinboostingthedemandforresearchfrombusiness,ratherinincreasingthesupply of ideas and services from universities.However, he suggested that there are reasonsforhopingthatbusinessinvestmentinresearchwill strengthen in the future, and the Reviewcites examples of a wide range of companiesthat have profited from working alongsideacademic researchers. Presenting the report totheGovernment,RichardLambertcommented:“I am very positive about the economic potential which business in the UK can harness through developing stronger collaboration with universities. I am also clear that realizing this potential will require concerted action by universities and business, with support from Government. My recommendations pose a challenge to all those engaged in this increasingly important area of public policy.”

The response to this challenge resulted in thefundsavailable forUKuniversities to invest inBusinessDevelopmentmanagerswhoareactingas intermediaries between the academia andindustry facilitating the process of KnowledgeTransfer (‘KT professionals’). Similar processeshavetakenplaceinmostEUcountries,buttheexchange of experience between KnowledgeTransferprofessionalsfrom different EUcountriesisnotwidelyspreadanditseemsthattheKTmethodologiesdevelopedbythemvaryconsiderably

Research,DevelopmentandInnovationinSpain

Incontrast to theUK,andSouthofEngland inparticular,inAndalusiatheKTactivitiesarelowwhencomparedwiththeEUaverage.TheSpanishR&D+i(ResearchandDevelopment&Innovation)system (bothpublic andprivate) suffers fromamajorlackofcriticalmasswhichresultsinalimitedprogressoneconomicproductivityandkeepsrealscientificoutputbelowitspotential.Thisisclear,for example, from Spain’s participation in theEuropean Research Area (under the FrameworkProgrammes)whichisbelowthepotentialoftheSpanisheconomyasawhole.

To address this problem within the SpanisheconomyascomparedwithitsleadingEuropeanand international competitors, in 2006 theSpanish Government presented the NationalReform Programme (PNR), following therecommendationsmadeby the springEuropeanCouncil meeting in March 2005. As regardsR&D+i,thePNRsetspecificobjectives,includingto increase investment in R&D as a percentageof GDP from 1.05% in 2003 to 1.6% in 2008and 2% in 2010 and to increase private-sectorparticipationinR&D+iinvestment.

Each of theAutonomous Communities of Spainhas their own strategies for developing R&D+iactivities in their regions. This situation is newcomparedwith ten years ago anddemonstratesthat each Community has taken account of theimportance of R&D+i activity in the areas for

1 (http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/consultations_and_legislation/lambert/consult_lambert_index.cfm)

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which the regions are responsible. The PNRreport makes a series of detailed and specificrecommendationsforeachofthe17AutonomousCommunities analysed, taking into account theweaknesses detected and the combination ofanalysesconductedaspartofthisstudy.

From the diagnoses of the R&D+i situation inAndalusiathefollowingconclusionsemerged:

1.Andalusia,asabigregionthatdedicatesahighvolumeofresourcestoR&Dactivities,exactlythe9.3%oftheglobalresourcesinSpain,soitinthisrespectisonthe3rdplaceamongstthe Spanish regions. These investments aremainly developed by the Universities, witha very small participation of companies.In comparison with the regional GDP, theinvestment in R&D activities represents the0.77%. This percentage represents the 8thpositionforAndalusiaandbelowthenationalaverage.

2.Fromtheemploymentpointofview,Andalusiaconcentrates the 10.5% of the overall R&Demployment in Spain. Nevertheless, inrelative terms, only the 0.6%of the overallemployment in Andalusia is dedicated toR%Dactivities,which is under thenationalaverage(0.9%).

3.HightechsectorsarerepresentedinAndalusiaatalevelbelowthenationalaverage.

4.The investment in technological innovationmade by companies in Andalusia incomparison with regional GDP (1.03%) isunderthenationalaverage(1.49%).

5.Andalusia is under the national average intermsofpatentsrequestedtotheEuropeanPatent Office and the Spanish Office ofPatents.

The BBaS plan for the development of goodpracticeinKnowledgeTransferactivities

TheBBaSprojectaimedatinitiatingacollaborativeresearchnetworkbetweenthreegroupsofpeopleworking in five EU regions participating inthe GROW initiative: South East England (UK),Malopolska (PL), Andalusia (SP),NoordBrabant(NL)andEmiliaRomagna(IT).Thethreegroupswere:

1. KT professionals (Business DevelopmentManagers) employed at the business supportorganisations based or associated with theuniversities in these Regions (Universities ofSurrey, Cordoba, Eindhoven, Bologna and theJagiellonianUniversity)

2. University academics from theseuniversities(ortheRegions)

3. Representatives of research orientedbusinesses(mostlyspin-outsandSMEs)

Thesustainabilityandefficiencyofthesenetworkswastobeachievedthroughidentifying,modellingand disseminating good practice in KnowledgeTransfer (KT), crossing the intercultural andinter-sectorialmultidisciplinarybarriersbetweenindustryandacademia,andleadingtoanincreaseinbusinessinteractions.

It has been proposed that by organizingstructuredmeetingsintheparticipant’slocations

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opportunities will be created for these threegroupstointeractontheresearch-businesslevel.Additional focus points for the researchers andbusinesswere the three scientificareas that theBBaSwasfocusedon:

1.Environment,

2.Biotechnology&Health

3. IT&NewMaterials

Additionalaimofthiscollaborativeprojectbetween5EURegionswastolearnaboutKTmethodologyandavailablefundingandtrytodecideonbestpractice that should be implemented by thegovernmentsortheRegionalauthorities.

BBaSPartnerprofiles

PARTNER1:TheUniversityofSurrey–representedbyResearchandEnterpriseSupport(RES)

The University of Surrey is renowned for thequalityofitsresearch,withmanyworld-classrateddepartments.TheSurreyacademicsarecurrentlyparticipatinginover120FP6projects,includingIntegratedProjectsandNetworksofExcellenceinthematicprioritiesofICT,LifeSciencesandNewMaterialsandProcesses.IntheBBaSprojecttheUniversity of Surrey is represented by Researchand Enterprise Support (www.surrey.ac.uk/res),a Department of the University engaged inprofessionalactivitiesrelatedtoresearchsupportand development, knowledge transfer andenterprise. RES activities divide into two areas:support andpromotion forUniversity of Surreyresearch and enterprise activities, and liaisonbetweentheUniversityofSurreyresearchersandbusiness.

TheroleofRESincludessupportfortheUniversity-based research and enterprise, including theprotection and commercialisationof IntellectualProperty generated at the University of Surrey.It also has responsibility for the provision andpromotion of University expertise to industryandSmallandMediumSizedEnterprises(SMEs).RESmanagesmanyoftheprocessesinvolvedin

creating,securingandmonitoringtheUniversity’sresearch income. Inaddition,RES is responsiblefor stimulating and maintaining a wide rangeof “third-leg” activity, entrepreneurship andotherincome-generatingactivities(forexample,professionalprojectmanagement).

RESworksinthefollowingareas:

Research and Business Services promotesresearch expertise and builds new partnershipswith business, sourcing demand-led solutionsand giving advice on business-academiccollaboration, including the UK Governmentsponsored Knowledge Transfer Partnership(KTP)anda rangeofEUfunded research (FP7)andinnovationprojects

• ProjectsandEnterpriseProgrammesTeamworks to source and manage funding anddeliver training to support SMEs and earlystage businesses (for example, this teammanages some of the programmes fundedby the South East England DevelopmentAgency).

• Research Support offers administrativesupport for Research and Consultancyundertaken by members of staff at theUniversity.

• Technology Transfer team is responsiblefor the pipeline of intellectual propertyfrom invention disclosure through patentapplications to exploitation in the form oflicencedeals,spin-outsand jointventures(Enterprise), and provides advice on allintellectual property issues within theUniversity.ItalsohelpsmanagetheCascadeSeedFund.

• The SETsquared Centre at the Universityof Surrey provides facilities and expertiseto nascent entrepreneurs with an idea fora knowledge-based business with a high-growth potential (this unit is based at theuniversitySciencePark).

RESalsoworkstoco-ordinatetheUniversity’srole

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in promoting regional economic development,tocreateafirstclassenvironmentforinnovationandbusinessenterprise.

TheUniversityofSurreyparticipatesinanumberofprogrammesrelatedtotheBridgingBusinessandScience:

• TheLondonTechnologyNetwork (LTN) isanot-for-profitbusinessnetworkingorganisationfundedbytheUKGovernment,theEuropeanUnion and the LondonDevelopmentAgency.Its mission is to help technology-intensivecompaniesbemoreeffectiveintheirknowledgeacquisitionfromuniversities.

• Several European Social Fund projects aremanagedbyUniSdirect(forexample’Flagship’resulting in contacts betweenuniversity andindustry)

• RES ismanaging for theSouthEastEnglandDevelopmentAgency(SEEDA)thetechnologynetworksundertheCommunityofInnovations(COI) initiative.TheCOIaimstodevelopandnurture a series of business led South Easttechnology networks between business andacademia that can bring together regionalcapabilities and develop capacity to addresssectorandtechnologylinkeddriversofchangeandopportunity.

• With universities of Bath, Bristol andSouthamptonUniversityofSurrey (RES)wonHEIF2 (Higher Education Innovation Fundround 2) funding of £12,5M to encourageenterprise, build new businesses and workmore effectively with industry. Within thispartnership (www.universityenterprise.com).The SETsquared Partnership,thecollaborationoftheUniversitiesofBath,Bristol,SouthamptonandSurrey,isthelargestuniversityenterprisecollaboration intheUK.Asthe largestsinglesourceforacademicknowledgetransferintheUKandwithacollectiveresearchbaseofover6,500researchers,theSETsquaredPartnershiphas listed four companies on the AlternativeInvestmentMarketwithacombinedvaluationof over £150m, raised over £30m in follow-on funding for spinouts , and supported afurther successful 170 tech start-ups fromthe local entrepreneurial community throughtheiruniqueSETsquaredBusinessAccelerationProgramme.

• The University of Surrey, alongside RoyalHolloway University of London (RHUL), andLeatherhead Food International (LFI) is afounderpartneroftheSurreyEnterpriseHub-oneofanetworkof22EnterpriseHubstargetedby the South East England DevelopmentAgency (SEEDA) at accelerating the growthof early stage ambitious technology andknowledge based business across the region.TheHubskeytechnologysectorinterestscoverDigitalTechnology,InformationSecurity,NewMedia and Creative Industries, Bioscience,Food Technology. These reflect the worldclass reputations of the founder partners -theUniversityofSurrey,RHULandLFI-whoarecommittedtoworkinginpartnershipwithlocalindustrytopromoteeconomicgrowthinSurrey.TheSurreyHubmainofficeislocatedonTheUniversityofSurreyResearchParkhometoover110companiesandSMEsengaged ina broad spectrum of research, developmentand design activities close to its campus inGuildford.

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University’s links with the ICT/new materialsnetworksinclude:ConnectedSurrey,WiredSussex(accesstobroadband)SecureSoutheast(SEEDA’sSector Groups initiative) and FarnboroughAerospaceConsortium(FAC).

TheUniversityofSurreyhasexceptionallystronglinkswithin the southeast region’sbiotechandhealthsectorconsortia.Theyinclude:TheSouthEast Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA),the health services research Network (HSRN,a national network), Oxfordshire BioscienceNetwork (http://www.oxfordshirebioscience.com), UK Bioinformatics Forum, the ThamesValleyLifeSciencesNetwork(TVLSN).

Environmental technologies: There are 750companiesintheSEEfromthissector–theDTIidentifieditasan“embryonic”clusterwithlargelyregionalsignificanceinits2001FirstAssessment.Southampton University has been identifiedas being particularly strong on environmentaltechnology research (Surrey’s partner in SETsquared Partnership), it also includes SouthEast Centre for Built Environment (SECBE) andEnviroBusinessSouthEast

PARTNER 2: The Jagiellonian UniversityrepresentedbyCITTRU–theCentreforInnovation,Technology Transfer and Development of theUniversity

CITTRU (www.cittru.uj.edu.pl) works in thefollowingareas:

• Promotingthe academic entrepreneurship–transferringtheresultsofscientificresearchtothemarketanddevelopingbusinessescreatedonthebasisofscientificresearch.Thisactivityrequiresbroadco-operationwith commercialcompanies and public institutions aimed atobtaining their support – both financial andessential – for the development of scientificprojects;

• Supporting scientific research related to andusing new technologies, able to competewith advanced research carried out by othereconomicsubjects;

• Co-ordinating strategic investments of the Jagiellonian University related to theeconomic and social development of theschool.

• Creating entrepreneurial attitudes andpromoting inventiveness would not bepossible without diversification of activitiesand identifying miscellaneous problems andneeds–rangingfromraisingfundsandgaininghighvisibilityfortheUniversity’s researchtoco-ordinating individual scientific ideas andprovidingbusinesshelp.Inthisaspect,thewidescope of CITTRU activities also involves co-operation with local authorities, educationaland scientific institutions and businessenvironment (on the regional, national andinternationalscales).

CITTRUspecializesinorganizingworkshopsandseminarsforscientificstaffoftheuniversityonentrepreneurship and innovation, mostly aimedat young researchers wishing to commercializetheirresults.Themostrecenteventsinclude:

• “Commercialization of research and creating businesses at the Jagiellonian University” workshops,withthecooperationofDr.KlausPlate, director of TechnologieparkHeidelberg(October 2003) and Prof. Lars Jonsson,directorofUppsalaUniversitiesUtvecklingAB(November2003)

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• Annualconference“UniversityforIndustry”

• Branch Meetings of specific companiesand the scientific staff. So far the meetingswere dedicated to the biotechnology andthe cosmetic branch, companies which usechemical analyses, environment protectionsector and IT companies; Tailor-madeMeetingswereorganisedwithleadingBiotechandITcompaniesintheregion

• InformationDays forUniversity facultiesonIPR protection, research commercializationandfinancialsupport

• Projectleader”ThedevelopmentofcooperationintheareaifknowledgetransferbetweentheJagiellonianUniversitiesandEntrepreneurs”including workshops and summer schoolscalled“Innovativeentrepreneurship,orhowto turn innovation into business” (part-financedbytheEuropeanSocialFund)

• Innovativeness and business workshopsorganised for students, PhD students andresearchers

• OrganizerandparticipantintwoInterregIIICprograms: FINESSE (Facilitating IncubatorNetworking and Exchanges of Servicesfor Small Enterprises) and BEPART (BalticEntrepreneurshipPartners)

• 6th Framework programs participant: RIS-NAC: Enhancing of Regional InnovationStrategy in Malopolska, and ScanBalt –IntellectualPropertyKnowledgeNetwork

• MemberofProTonEuropeNetwork(InnovationforPublicResearch)

• The Jagiellonian University supports theJagiellonianBusinessClub(JagiellońskiKlubBiznesu),themembersoftheclubcollaboratewithCITTRUintheirprojects.

CITTRUstaffisexperiencedinprojectmanagementissues, project preparation, INTERREG III, FP6(CITTRUstaffparticipatesintheactivitiesofthe

BranchContactPointforEuropeanProgrammesinthenetworkofNationalContactPoints),businessdevelopment,start-upsandIPR issues.Theunithas also broad contacts with scientists workingin the field of Life Sciences and biotechnologycompanies.

CITTRUisalsoinvolvedinanumberofprojectsrelevanttotheaimsofBBaS:

• Other INTERREG III C programs in whichCITTRUisinvolvedareaimedatenhancementof trans-regional cooperation in the domainof entrepreneurship promotion, facilitationofbusiness science interaction, creatingnewemployment possibilities and stimulatinggrowthintheregion.

• RegionalInnovationStrategy–NewAccessedCountries (FP6). The objective of theproject is to work out a sustainable regionalinnovation strategy that should be build onthepreviousexperienceoftheregionandtheexperienceoftwoRITTS(RegionalInnovationand Technology Transfer Strategies) regions(KentandUmbria)andonenon-RITTSregion(Thueringen).TheRIS-NACprojectenablestheassessmentandanalysisoftheregionsstrengthsonthetechnologysupplyanddemandside.Italsocreatespossibilitiesfortrans-regionalandtrans-borderbenchmarkingpractices.

• CITTRU manages 4 European Social FundPrograms, including activities aimed atpromoting entrepreneurship culture at the

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University(workshopsandsummerschoolsforstudentsandyoungresearchers)andfacilitatingofdevelopmentofstart-upcompanies.

• OrganizationofConferences–“UniversityforIndustry”whichbringtogetherscientistsfromvarious areas of specialization, technologytransfer institutions and company managersfromtheregion.Nexteditionsoftheconferenceareplannedtobeinternational.

• CITTRU is a member of various initiativesconnected with Intellectual PropertyManagement.

The main regional organisations working withCITTRUare:

• Employers Union of Malopolska (regionalrepresentative of Polish Confederation ofPrivateEmployers)

• PolishConfederationofPrivateEmployers

• KrakowChamberofCommerceandIndustry

• MalopolskaAgencyforRegionalDevelopment

• PolishAgencyforEnterpriseDevelopment

• InnovationRelayCentre-SouthPoland

• British-PolishChamberofCommerce -SouthPolandBusinessLink

• Internet websites: IT in Krakow Initiative -it.wkrakowie.org,biotechnolog.pl,nanonet.pl

• Regional Network of Capital Investors -Malopolska

• Business and European Information Centre,etc.

PARTNER3:FUNDECOR,UniversityFoundationfortheDevelopmentoftheProvinceofCordoba,

FUNDECOR was established in 1996 as a nonprofit organisation aiming at the promotionand development of the dialogue between theuniversityand industry, inaway thatadvancesandpromotes research benefitingboth partnersandfinallybenefitingtheprovinceofCórdoba.

FUNDECOR, in collaboration with otherorganisations, develops projects oriented atresearch, development and innovation of smallandmediumcompanies(SMEs),aswellasworkingtowards development of diverse technologicaladvances that favour this type of companies.Theseactivitiesinclude:

• 6thFrameworkProgramme(FP6)–FUNDECORwasinvolvedinthespecificactivitiesforSMESwith companies from Spain, Italy, UnitedKingdom,AustriaandHungary.

• PROFIT-programthatpromotestheresearchofthedepartmentofScienceandTechnologyofSpain.Thisprogramaimsatthestimulationof activities of research and technologicaldevelopment in the companies and otherentities.

• Entrepreneurship – FUNDECOR is anintermediary between researchers andcompanies

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• ProgramEQUAL-WiththisactionFUNDECORstarted to use the universities as a point ofinformationandsupporttothelabourmarket.This action is directed at those personswhose situation, due to discrimination andinequality,prevents them from theprocessesofintegrationinthejobmarketandtheaccessto the policies of promotion of employment.This project is integrated in more than 15centresbelongingtouniversitiesacrossSpainandtheparticipants,asthefoundationONCEor the Secretary of State of Education andUniversities,contributetoit.

• Conference ‘Management of Innovation’- The aim of this conference is to show theuniversitystudentshowtomanageinnovatingprojectsinthecompany.

• FORINTEL - This project is formed in NewTechnologies15000

• Foundation BIODIVERSITY – Project relatedtoinformationonenvironmentalmatterstoallautonomousworkersacrossSpain.ThisprojectconsistedofpresentationsandseminarsandaCDcontainingthelegislativedocuments.

FUNDECORstimulatesthecooperationbetweenthe University of Cordoba and its socialsurroundings in the scopes of the research,development and innovation. Specifically in thematteroftechnologicalinnovationtheenterpriseinitiatives and joint projects of innovationare initiated, giving support to entrepreneursin meeting with the research teams of theUniversity,orotherrelevantexperts.FUNDECORalso promotes the technological innovationamong the companies through organization ofinnovation days, events and training sessions.Themain contact networks for FUNDECORare,forexample,RAITEC(RedAndaluzadeInnovaciónyTecnología–AndalusianNetworkofInnovationand Technology), RATRIC (Red Andaluza deTransferencia de Resultados de Investigación– Andalusian Network for the Transference ofResearch Results), CESEAND (Centro de EnlaceparalaInnovacióndelSurdeEuropa–LinkCentreforInnovationintheSouthofEurope),RAFUEM(Red Andaluza de Fundaciones Universidad –Empresa – Andalusian Network of FoundationsUniversity – Companies), Parques Tecnológicosde Andalucía (Technology Parks of Andalusia)etc.

FUNDECOR is involved also in a number ofprojectsrelatedtotheKTactivities:

• Projectsatthenationallevel-TheincreaseoftheinvestmentinResearch,DevelopmentandInnovationonthepartofthepublicauthoritiesas a whole and on the part of the privatecompanies is one of the main challenges forthe definitive incorporation of Spain in theKnowledge Society and for the expansioninto international markets. In this way, theinnovationpoliciesofthegovernmentpromoteand encourage the technology transfer, thecooperation between the public system ofR+D+I and the companies, and the creationof companies by the university researchers(spin-outactivities),supportingandfinancingprojects of R+D+I and the creation ofTechnologicalCompanies.

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• Projectsattheregionallevel-ThemodificationinthisnewlegislatureofthestructureoftheAndalusian Government, with the creationof the new Ministry for Innovation, Scienceand Enterprise, shows the determination ofthe Presidency of the Andalusia GovernmenttointegrateinasinglepoliticalstructurethestrategicdecisionsofallthemainactorsthattakepartinthedevelopmentoftheInnovationandtheKnowledge.TheSecondModernizationis the opportunity for the incorporationof Andalusia to the Society of Knowledge,and represents the political motivation tocarry out this transforming process. For thispurpose, the Innovation and ModernisationPlan has been developed in Andalusia tosupporttheworkofotherexistingstructuresas in example, the Andalusian Network ofInnovation and Technology, The AndalusianNetworkofTransferenceofResearchResults,the Innovation and Development Agency ofAndalusia,etc.

PARTNER4:EindhovenUniversityofTechnology(TU/e),representedbyTU/eInnovationLab(TU/e IL), Organisation for Innovation, TechnologyTransferandBusinessDevelopment.

Using its social responsibility as a platform,Eindhoven University of Technology strives toachievemore effective utilisation of the resultsofscientificresearch:valorisationofknowledge.Itisusedtosupportnewproducts&servicesandtohelpnewand,ofcourse,existingtechnology-based companies. Eindhoven was, for example,the first university in the Netherlands to havea Transfer Point with a Starters’ Centre andTemporary Entrepreneurs’ Places (TOP). AtEindhoven University of Technology, a greatdealof contract research is carriedout and theteachingstaffincludesalargenumberofvisitingprofessorsonloanfromindustry.Theuniversityparticipates in public/private partnerships,advises industry and plays a leading role inStimulusandHorizonProgrammes.AllthecurrentprojectsinthisareahavebeencombinedinTU/e

InnovationLab.Withinthisinspirationalsetting,knowledge activities are extended, intensifiedandstreamlined.Asaresult,TU/eInnovationLabhasdevelopedintoacrucialplayeronthecuttingedge of scientific knowledge and its practicalapplicationthroughoutindustry.

TU/eInnovationLabobjectivesandactivitiesareasfollows:

• Expandingandprovidingprofessionalsupporttocontractresearch

• Facilitating and integrating MultidisciplinaryGraduation on Entrepreneurship (spin-outopportunities)

• Enhancing the position of the knowledgeownerthroughproactivemarketingandsalesofIP

• Making results quantifiable and offerperformance-relatedrewards

• Improving and facilitating interactionwith SMEs to stimulate knowledge basedinnovation

• Goal-oriented generation of more high-techstart-upsandspin-outsfromTU/e

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• Providing knowledge valorisation andinnovation & entrepreneurship in educationandresearch

• Acquisition, account management andrelationshipmanagement

• Developingstrategicpartnershipsandstrategiccollaborationinresearchanddevelopment

• Contacts & matchmaking, interactionmanagement

• Process & project support, contractmanagement

• Acquisition (or support) of funds andsubsidies

• Incubator&start-upsupport(inIncubator)

• TOPscheme

Thespecificprojectsinthisareainclude:

• Incubator3+isaninitiativeof8organisations(TU/e, Fontys, TNO, BOM, Rede, Syntens,Rabobank, Philips) in the region Eindhovento support technology-based start-ups byoffering them a network, coaching, housing,facilitiesandsmallloans.

• UnitedBrainsisanintermediateforSMEstogetintouchwithknowledgeofTU/e,Fontys,TNOandROC.

• TechnoSpurt is the regional interpretationof the national program TechnoPartner, tostimulateandsupporttechnology-basedstart-ups.

• The 3 universities of technology in theNetherlands are working close together, alsoonvalorisationofknowledge.TU/eInnovationLab is the southern pillar under the nationalplatform3TUInnovationLab.

• The Cluster Department Entrepreneurship&Innovationisauniquenetworkfocusedonthe needs of high technology entrepreneursfrom the leadingEuropean Universities ofTechnology.It was created in 2000 to share

best practices on educating technologistsand scientists on the issues they will facein launching a high technology venture inEurope

• High Tech Campus Eindhoven is a well-knowntechnologycentre,withadiversityofhigh tech companies who work together inthe development of new technologies, fromidea, concept to prototyping. Together withTU/e and larger technology companies, itprovidesadvancedfacilitiesandanoptimisedworking culture for many thousands oftop-notch engineers. It focuses on crucialtechnological areas such as microsystems,devices,embeddedsystems,signalprocessingandnanotechnology.

• Brainport Eindhoven contains a closerelationship between knowledge institutes,business and government (Triple Helix) tocontinuetheuniquepositionofEindhovenastheonly region in theNetherlands thatmeettheLisbonobjectives.

• In the Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen Triangle(ELAT) knowledge institutes, business andgovernment combine their forces to becomeanabsolute top technology region inEuropeandevenworldwide,by2010.

• TheHorizonProgrammeisastrategicactionplantostrengthentheeconomicstructureoftheEindhovenRegionoverthemediumterm.Twentyprojectswereformulatedattheoutsetbasedontheprogrammethemes.InseveraloftheseprogramsTU/eplaysanimportantrole.

PARTNER5.ASTER(Observer status)

ASTER,theformerEmiliaRomagnaTechnologicalDevelopment Agency, was established in 1985in order to promote the competitiveness ofthe regional industry by means of technologytransfer and innovation. Its role and missionhavebeenenhancedbytheRegionalLaw7/2002and ASTER is now a consortium for industrialresearch, technology transfer and innovation,

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composed by the Emilia-Romagna RegionalGovernment, the Universities of the region,the national Research Centres CNR, ENEA andINFM, the regional association of Chambers ofCommerceandIndustryandtheEntrepreneurialAssociations.

ASTER’s mission is to enhance, also on aninternational level, the results attained by theresearch organisations in Emilia-Romagna andguarantee the transfer of these results to theindustry, thus encouraging innovation andcompetitiveness. Its main strategic objectivesare:

(1)to construct a network that encourages thecreationandexchangeofknowledgebetweenresearch centres and to disseminate theirfindingsthroughoutthecompanies/businessesoftheEmilia-Romagnaregion;

(2)toencouragetheparticipationandcollaborationofresearchcentresandbusinessesthroughoutthe region in the establishment of nationaland pan-European projects aimed at thedevelopmentoftechnologicalinnovationand

(3)toexploitfullythevalueofregionalresearchinItalyandabroad.

Inthelastyears,AsterhasassistedtheRegionalGovernmentinthedefinitionofregionalpolicies

oninnovationandindustrialresearch,inparticularfortheelaborationoftheEmilia-RomagnaregionalLaw on Innovation n.7/2002 and the RegionalProgramme for Industrial Research, InnovationandTechnologyTransfer(PRRIITTProgramme),aswellasforitsmanagement.Withinthisframework,ASTER coordinate and support the activities oftheregionalHighTechnologyNetwork,including27NetworkedIndustrialLaboratories,24CentresforInnovationand6InnovationParksandcarriesout specific initiatives and projects (in severalcasesfundedwithinECprogrammes),relatedtoinnovation,technologytransfer,industry-sciencerelations, regional and technology foresight,researchspin-outsupport.Asforthislastfieldofactivity,ASTERismanagingalsoprogrammesandinitiatives supporting and financing innovativestartupandresearchspin-outcreation,includingtheSPINNERprogrammeaddressingtechnologytransferandresearchspin-out,andI-TECHOFFa technology incubator offering services toICT based companies. Finally, it is worthwhilementioningtheorganisationofthefirsteditionofRICUBO,aregionaleventincludingconferences,technicalseminars,aventureforum,anexpositionarea and collateral events aiming promotingentrepreneurship,innovationandfinanceofstartupcompanies.FinallyASTER is themanageroftheKREOnetwork,withinthePAXISprogramme,onbehalfoftheEmilia-RomagnaRegion.

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ThemainobjectivesoftheBBaSprojectwereto:

1. Derive and disseminate to major players themodels and protocols of best practice in keyaspectsofKnowledgeTransfer(KT)

2.Build core international networks betweenthe 4 participating institutions in three keysectorsimportantfortheregionaleconomicaldevelopment(BBaSfocussectors):

• Biotechnology/Health(BTech),

• Information Communication Technology/NewMaterialsandTechnologies(ICT/NMT)

• Environmentalsolutions(Env)

3. Createhands-onlearningopportunitiesfor20+KnowledgeTransferProfessionals,48academics(researchers) and 48 industry representativesfromtheparticipatingRegions

4. Create lasting and sustainable engagementbetween research institutions and industryleading to efficient and timely innovationagreements

5. Create consortia for EU funded research andinnovationprojects(inparticularforFP7)

In respect of the ‘best practice’ aspect of ourproject ithasbeendecidedverysoon (after theFirst Study Tour) that there is no possibility ofdefining the one and only ‘best practice’ forKnowledgeTransfer, because thepracticemight

differconsiderablybetween the regions, sectorsandplayers.Therefore,weagreedthatweshouldbe seeking the ‘good practice’ and this phraseis used throughout the remaining part of thereport.

It was proposed that the network building willbe achievedbyorganising4 StudyTourswhereon each occasion 12 academics, 12 industryrepresentatives and a minimum of 9 KTprofessionals will have opportunities to engagewitheachotherandwithinvitedlocalcompaniesandacademics.TheparticipatingKTprofessionalswerepreparingtheprogrammes,organisingandfacilitating the Study Tours. Each Study Tourwas structured in suchway as to stimulate thecreation of personal collaborative researchnetworks between the participants and provideopportunitiestoexchangetheKTexperienceandtodiscussthegoodpracticeinspecifiedareasofKT.

TheStudyToureventswereaimedatprovidingsector-orientated models of good practice inKnowledge Transfer that could lead to moreefficient contracting and business developmentprocesses. Dissemination of the guidelines forgood practice in KT activities was done withinthe project networks, our regional developmentagencies and other existing networks leadingto learning and training opportunities of allthree groups of people (business-science-KTprofessionals).Also:

1. The models of KT good practice derivedfrom the BBaS were widely disseminated toregional businesses, universities and relevantorganisations to facilitate the learning aboutthecriticalsuccessfactorsinKTactivities

2. Theprocessofdisseminationandthecontentofthereportsfacilitatedbetterlinkagesbetweenthe regional research active organisations,international KT organisations and identifiedtechnology needs in these three sectors(technologypull)

3. TheobserversfromEmiliaRomagnaorganized

Chapter2The methodology developedfor creating the Industry -UniversityNetworks

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specificfocusgroupsandaRegionalPlatformintheirregioninordertodisseminateregionallythegoodpracticeoutcomesofBBaSandactasaliaisonbetweentheparticipantsofthestudyvisits and relevant organisations in Emilia-Romagna.

In order to achieve the goals listed above, theparticipatingtechnology-transferunitsorganised4 Study Tours located in the four participatingregions.EachStudyTourinvolved4networkinggroups comprising of knowledge transferprofessionals,academics/researchersorstudents/recent higher degree graduates interested incommercialisation of their research results andprofessionals from the industrial sector – thePathFindergroups(PFG).Intotaltheseincluded48 industry representatives (4Regions,4StudyTours-3eachfromthreesectors),48researchersandover20KTprofessionals.

To increase the impact of the Study Tours anumber of supporting activities was organisedbetweenthetours:

• In advance of each tour there were regionalpreparatory meetings or workshops with thePFGandotherinvitedmembersofthetargetgroups, to create insight in their needs andwishes,questions,experienceandexpectationsconcerningthetopicsofeachStudyTour.

• It was the intention of the project to createsustainablepartnershipbetweentheuniversityacademicsandtherepresentativesofindustry

and specificmeetingswereorganised for thepotentialgroupsofresearchcollaborators.

Whenever possible, the BBaS project partnerswere trying tofindduring theseprep-meetingsthe information about the actual topics forcollaborative research and the type of expertssought,sothattheprojectpartnerscouldprogramtheirStudyTour“tailormade”andinvitethemostappropriatescientistsandindustrialpartners.

Each Study Tour was rigorously structured toinclude:

• Informationpackfortheparticipantsavailableaweekbeforeeachmeetingthatincludedtheinformation about the institution organisingthe Study Tour, detailed programme of theStudy Tour and professional profiles of allPFG participants and Knowledge Transferfacilitators.

• Activities designed to stimulate networkingbetween the PFG participants and pre-arrangedmeetingsbetweenpotentialresearchcollaborators.

• KT specialists’ presentations summarisingcurrent practice of the various aspects ofspecificKTactivitychampionedby thehost-institutionandpresented forassessmentandfinalagreementofgoodpracticetothethreesectorsrepresentatives.

• Sectorial and interdisciplinary cross-nationalroundtablediscussionswereledbyappointedrapporteursaimedatdefiningthegoodpracticeineachtypeofKTactivity.

• Conclusions, in a form of a Study TourNewsletterweredisseminatedtoallparticipantsandeachoftheBBaSpartnersforwardedtheBBaS Newsletters to the regional businesses,research institutions, agencies and otherindustry-research networks and individualplayers

• TheinformationpackforeachmeetingandtheconclusivegoodpracticereportwereavailablesoonaftereachStudyTourontheBBaSwebpage (www.growbbas.com).

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EachStudyTourcreatedatleast6networksperBBaSpartnerbasedonapersonalcontactbetweenthe3researchersand3industryrepresentativesparticipating in the Path Finder Group andfacilitatedbytheKTprofessional.Thesepersonalcontacts form a nucleus network betweenresearchandindustrythatwillbedevelopedintofurthernetworksaccordingtotheentrepreneurialdevelopmentneedsofthespecificindustry.

The Study Tours had a considerable learningpotential for all three parties: KT professionals,researchers and industry. Usually the workingcontacts between these three groups are notinternational and interdisciplinary. Additionally,the environment provided by the Study Tourswas non-competitive and commercially non-committing.

Bringing together participants from 5 verydifferent European regions and three differentsectorshasbeeninitselfanimportantinnovativepotential. For the BBaS partners’ technologytransferunits,theexperienceoforganisingStudyTourswasofhighimportancefortheirwork;whilefor industry it should lead to lasting personalnetworking contacts with the members of therelevant research active academic communityintheirregionandopenpossibilitiesofpan-EUinnovationengagements.

Itwasenvisagedthattheseactionsimproveandinfluence the process of technology transferin each of the participating regions and fostermoreeffectivecooperationbetweenindustryanduniversity, eventually leading to an improvedeconomicperformanceoftheregionalsmallandmediumsizeenterprises(SMEs).

TheplannedspecifictopicsfordiscussionattheStudyTourswereasfollows:

• TheUKKnowledgeTransferPartnership(KTP)(Surrey)

• Intellectual Property transfer procedures(SurreyandEindhoven)

• Aspectsof intercultural, interdisciplinary andinternational communication between theacademicresearchandindustrialcommunities(allpartners)

• Multidisciplinary Graduation onEntrepreneurship(MGE)(Eindhoven)

• EducatingResearchers in thepotentialofKT(Krakow)

• The importance of IT in Knowledge Transfer(Cordoba)

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Chapter3The consideration of characte-risticsofselectedsectors

Toachieve theprincipal objectives (3Pmodel –People,Planet,Profit)oftheGROWprojectwehaveselected for the BBaS activities 3 economicallyimportant industrial sectors of InformationCommunication Technology and New MaterialsandTechnologies,EnvironmentalSolutions,andBiotechnology and Health. These sectors couldalsobeconsideredas thecommondenominatorforR&Dinallparticipatingregions.Additionallytheseare thehigh-growthsectors that strive toachieve a sustainable economic growth throughinnovation.

In the planning phase of the project we havehopedthataninterdisciplinaryparticipationwillstimulatediscussionsbetweenexpertsindifferentareas of science and industry, and will giveopportunityforresearchandinnovationcrossingtypical scientific and commercial boundaries.However,thediscussionswithourpotentialPathFinderGroupmemberssuggestedthatthemajoritywas interested mostly in meeting professionalsfocusedonaverynarrowresearchfield.

The Study Tour networking proved that theinteractions between experts in differentindustrial sectors were often most revealing tothe participants, but from the organizationalpointof viewwecould see that theattitude toinnovationofparticipantsrepresentingdifferentsectorsdifferedinseveralaspects.Belowwegivesomeexamples.

1. IPrelatedsectorcharacteristics

Oneof themost important keys for success foranew start-up is a clearposition regarding theIntellectualPropertyRights(IPR)oftheidea,ortheproductonwhichthenewventure isbased.This is especially true here since the sectorsselectedneedcomparativelylargeinvestmentsinordertocreateabusinessoutoftheinitialidea.

It isobviousthat it isverydifficult topersuadeinvestors to invest in a new venture when theIPR position is unclear.During the Study Toursweaddressedthis issueseveral times,especiallyduringthevisittoSurrey.Thediscussionsrevealedthat theBiotechand ITsectorswerewellawareoftheimportanceofsecuringtheIPR,whiletheresearchersworkingonthetopics relatedtotheenvironmentwerelessinterestedinthismatter.

2.Entrylevelcharacteristics

All selected sectors have similar characteristicsregardingtheentrylevelfornewbusinesses.Hugeinvestmentsareneededtotransformthefirstideasto valuable products or services. This commoncharacteristic formedaconnectionbetween theparticipants. Such high entry levels cause needforcollaborationwithpartners thatcanprovideneededinvestment.AsaresultthebusinesspeopleinthePathfinderGroupswereoften lookingforcollaboration with (mostly foreign) universitiesandother companies to providefinance for theinnovationtheywereworkingon.TheBBaSprojectmade possible such international collaborationbetweensmallbusinessesanduniversities.Manyof thePathFindergroupmemberswouldneverbeabletomakesuchcontactsasthosearrangedby this project. In a number of cases the EUresearchfundingFrameworkProgramme7(FP7)wasconsideredasmeansforfundingtheneededinnovationandtheprojectStudyToursprovidedexcellent opportunity for creating internationalresearchprojectconsortia.

3.Throughputtimeoftheinnovation

Innovationinthesectorsselectedoftenrequiresrelatively long lead times. Small business inparticular finds these lead times difficult tomanage.Furthermore,smallbusinessesoftendonothavethepossibilitytoworkonaninnovationduring a long period of time. As a result thesectorsselectedallneedthehelpofuniversitiesthathaveinplacearesearchagendathatcoverslongperiodsoftime.

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For a short time scale research projects theindustry representatives have learned at ourmeetings about government and universityschemestosupportuniversityinputintofindingquicksolutionstoindustrialdevelopment,theUKexampleofKnowledgeTransferPartnership(KTP)andschemesforuniversityconsultancyserviceswereparticularlyuseful.

4.Regionaldifferences

DuetothecollaborationoffivedifferentEuropeanregionstheimpactofthegeographicalspreadonthe sectors considered became apparent. ThiswasespeciallytrueforthesectorEnvironmentalsolutions. Each region has somewhat differentinterestsinthissectorandthisfactcanreinforcethe potential collaboration. For example, in theNoord Brabant region and also in the SouthEast England biofuel research is increasing inimportance,butthereisnolandavailabletogrowthe necessary crops. Therefore the businessesconcernedwithproductionofbiofuelsarelookingfor solutions. It was important informationfor such businesses that in Malopolska there isa potential for the delivery of the basic inputmaterials,and in theProvinceofCórdoba thereisalreadyamethodologyforinnovativewaystoproducebiofuels.

Somegeneral remarksonthecharacteristicspersector

• Information Communication Technology andNewMaterialsandTechnologies

This sector is quite broad. As far as ICT isconcerned,itseemsthattheabovementionedcharacteristics have the least influence.IPR can be established anywhere in Europe,although software cannot be patented. Alsotheentry level is lowandthroughputtimeislessrelevant.SinceICTmostlyusesinternetasacommunicationtoolregionaldifferencesaredowntoaminimum.

The creation of New Materials on the otherhand needs the right infrastructure of

knowledgeinstitutesandindustry.Entrylevelin combination with regional influences canbeofmajorimportance.Thereisalottogainbyjoiningforcesoverthedifferentregions,aswe’veseenintheBBaSproject.

• EnvironmentalSolutions

For this sector throughput time and regionaldifferencesareimportantfactors.Sincethesesolutions need governmental approval it cantakealotoftimebeforenewtechnologycanbeimplemented.FundingforR&Dcanbehardtogettoo.Environmentalkeyquestionsdiffersubstantiallybetweentheregionsparticipatingin the GROW initiative, but sooner or latereveryregionwillhavetofacethem.Thereforeaclosecollaborationofallregionalauthoritiesin Europe in this area will be of crucialimportanceinthelongrun.

• BiotechnologyandHealth

All four characteristics listed above are ofutmostimportanceinthissector.Sinceittakesalotoftimeandefforttoreachsuccess,patentsarecrucialtobeabletogenerateprofitinthelongrun.Alsotheentry level ishigh,duetostate-of-the-art technology that isneeded inthissector.Regionaldifferencesarestillthere,butthenewEUcountriesarecatchingupveryfastandsometimeseventakingalead.

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Chapter4IndividualRegional

experience inorganisingthePathFinderGroups

andtheStudyTours

This chapter presents experiences of the BBaSregional partners in selecting the Path FinderGroupmembers andorganising theBBaSStudyToursineachpartnerregion.

RecruitmentofPathfinderGroup(PFG)members

EachoftheBBaSpartnershasdevelopedaregion-specific scheme to reach industryandacademicrepresentatives who would be appropriate andcommittedtoparticipateintheBBaSStudyTourasthePFGmembers.

Themainchannelsusedbypartnerswere:

• direct personal contacts with researchers(regional universities) and entrepreneurs(regional business organisations), at BBaSdisseminationeventsoratothermeetings

• advertising theproject throughe-newslettersandmagazines(CITTRUNewsletter,INFORETAin Andalusia, Vector magazine in Eindhoven,SEEInnovationHubs)

• disseminationofBBaSleafletsduringdifferentevents (regional workshops, seminars,conferences,DTIFP7conferenceinLondon);

IthasbeennotedthatformostBBaSpartners,theresearchersweremorewilling than the industryrepresentatives to takepart in theBBaSevents,includingStudyToursandregionalworkshops.Itseemsthatthisimbalancewasrelatedtothefactthat the regional BBaS partners represent unitsestablishedbytheuniversities,andthereforearewellknownattheirinstitutionsandhaveextensivenetworksofpersonalcontactswithinuniversities.

Also, the academics have greater experience inparticipating in international conferences andseminars,anditwasonlynecessarytoconvincethem that they should focus more on creatinglinkswithbusinessesactuallyparticipatingintheStudyTours.

At theUniversity of Surrey the academicsweregenerally interested in the project, but wereconcerned about the tangible outcomes of theStudy Tours. The interest of both, researchersandSMEs,inparticipatingintheBBaSmeetingsstrongly increased with the launch of the EUFramework Programme 7. The small businesseswereverycurioustolearnmoreaboutthissourceof research funding and could see BBaS eventsasa simple route tofind researchpartnerswhoweremoreexperienced inapplying for researchfunding.

It seems quite clear that creating a point ofcontact alone,without any subsequent fundingforthecollaborativeprojectwasnotsoattractivetobothparties,academicsandSMEs.

All of the BBaS regional partners acknowledgethattheyhadthegreatestdifficultyinrecruitingentrepreneurs for the ST. Their main argumentwasthelackoftimeastheStudyTourstookabout3–4days,includingtravelling,andthiswasseenastoolongperiodofabsencefromthebusiness,especiallywhenoutcomesofthemeetingsastofindingtheexactresearchpartnerwereuncertain.Anotherreasonexplainingweakerthanexpectedinterest of the beneficiaries could be that smalland medium enterprises are less interested inestablishinginternationalcontacts.

Use of English as a working language was alsoa problem for other than UK participants. Italso became apparent that both researchersand entrepreneurs in some of the Regions (notSouthEastEnglandthough)receiveanexcessivenumberofproposalsthroughthesamechannels.Insomecases,entrepreneursseemedtoberatherinterested in gathering industrial intelligencethanestablishingcontacts.

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Astheprojectprogressedwehavebeenmodifyingandadjustingourrecruitmenttactics.Forexample,for the first Study Tour, due to the very shortperiodofrecruitment,RES(UniversityofSurrey)accepted two people representing networks ofbusinesses. In principle it seemed like an ideaworth testing, since they shouldhave access toa large group of SMEs that could be helped tocreatemorenetworks.However,itturnedouttobenotveryuseful,becausethenetworkfacilitatorsthemselveswerenotengagedinspecificscientificproblems. In one case CITTRU accepted two ITcompanies insteadof justoneas therewerenocompany representing environmental solutionswillingtotakepart.

ProgrammesandaimsoftheStudyTours

Organising the PFG recruitment and preparingtheprogrammefortheStudyTourswasevolvingin time as the project partners gathered moreexperience. We were collecting from the PFGmembers standardised evaluation forms aftereach Study Tour and that gave us the mostimportant insight intotheirperspectiveattheseevents. It turnedout that thereshouldbemorefocus on creating opportunities for thematicnetworking and exchange of information aboutpossiblecollaborativeprojects.Basically,theydidnotwanttohearordiscussthe‘goodpracticeinKT’,buttheywantedtotalkscienceandresearchideaswiththepeoplesharingtheirinterests.Thisopinion was expressed by many participants inevaluationforms.PresentationsfromtheexpertsonspecificKT issuesweremostlyconsideredasinterestinganduseful,butnotalwaysrelevanttoallparticipants.

FollowingthisinsighttheprogrammesofourStudyToursevolvedfromthefirst,organisedinSurrey,thatwasbasedonanumberofpresentationsfromexpertsonIntellectualPropertyandgovernmentfunded KT schemes in UK, to the fourth STin Krakow where we were visiting universitydepartments and laboratories and facilitatingone-to-one meetings between researchers and

companyrepresentativestotalkaboutaspecific,earliersubmitted,researchproposals.

Wehavealsodiscoveredthatnetworkinggamesconductedinabaronthefirsteveningofthetourwere extremely useful to make the participantstotalktoeachotherandbreaktheice.ThiswasintroducedforthefirsttimeinEindhoven,wherewewereallscoringpointsfortalkingtoasmanypeopleaspossibleandthewinner(fromtheUK)wonaprize(afunnybookabouttheDutch).

In the further chapters of this report weinclude detailed reports from the Study Tours.Programmes, names of all participants of theStudy tours, presentations and comments areavailable on our webpage: www.growbbas.com (this webpage will be on the Internet until theendof2008).

Individualregionalexperiences

PARTNER 1: Research and Enterprise Support(RES),UniversityofSurreyinGuildford

Organising the first Study Tour

The BBaS ST in Surrey was the first we haveorganisedandtherewasverylittletimeavailableafterourkick-offmeetingon the14-15ofMay2006toorganiseeverythingforthe28ofJune.The agreed format of the ST was based onpresentations from the experts on IP and KTmethodology,plusroundtablediscussionsaboutthesetopicsamongstthePFGmembers.

Wehadnodifficultiesinrecruitingthespeakers;we have been able to have top professionals intheirfield.The lectureswereveryusefulforus,the Knowledge Transfer professionals, and ofgreat interest forourguests from theotherEUcountries.However,formanyofthePFGmembersitwasonlypartlyrelevant.Therigidtopicaimingat ‘goodpractice’didn’tseemsogoodanymoreaftertheroundtablediscussions.

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Recruiting the Pathfinder Groups

ForthefirstST,consideringtheveryshorttimeavailable, we had to rely on personal contactsandthatwasnoteasy,againbecauseoftheshortnotice.Attheendwehadmorethan3researchersfromouruniversity,butreallyonlyone‘business’representative (spin-out from our university–hegaveareallygoodpresentation).Theothertwo industrial PFG members were representingnetworksofbusinessesintheSEandthatwasnotveryusefulforcreatingrealresearchnetworks.

The second ST recruitment was done on thebasisofatargetedBBaSdisseminationmeeting,Invitations went to over 200 e-mail addresses,about24peopleconfirmedattendance,butonly12 attended. Out of these 12 we selected threebusinessrepresentatives.InfactonlyoneofthemwasreallyinterestedinEUresearchcollaboration.The others were just gathering intelligence,it seems, because they did not continue withany collaborative schemes. From the academiccommunity we selected two researchers whowereSpanishspeakers,hopingthattheywillhaveeasieraccesstothelocalresearchersandbusiness,butthatdidnotworktoowelleither.Thereweretwo more researchers in our PFG (one of thempaid their own costs), but theyhavenot foundanyonewithinthegroupwithwhomtheywouldhavecommonresearchinterests.ThisexperiencemadeustryharderatfindingPFGmemberswhowouldhavescientificsynergywiththeinstitutionorganisingtheStudyTour.

This attitude helped us to find much betterparticipants for the third ST in Eindhoven.Perhaps it helped that the University of Surreyand Eindhoven University of Technology havesimilar profiles. The recruitment of the SMEsfor thisStudyTourwasmade througha specialdissemination seminar for one of the SEEInnovation Hubs. This was a very successfulapproachandwewereabletoselectanexcellentgroupofbusinessrepresentatives.Theuniversityresearcherswererecruitedonthegroundsofourpersonal knowledge of them and their researchtopics thatfittedwellwith theEindhovenareasofresearch.ThePFGwasverywellfocusedand

collaborationoutcomesmostsuccessful.

For the ST in Krakow the selection was madepartly through theDTI FP7meeting in LondonandpartlythroughtheSEEInnovationHub.Theuniversityresearcherswereagainselectedonthegroundsof their research interestsandpersonalknowledge.ThistimeweworkedverycloselywiththeorganisersfromCITTRUandarrangedspecificresearchmeetings for our PFG. Thiswas also averysuccessfulmethodology.

PARTNER 2: Centre for Innovation, TechnologyTransfer and University Development (CITTRU),JagiellonianUniversity,Krakow.

Recruiting the Pathfinder Groups

IntheMalopolskaregion,projectBBaSingeneralterms was perceived as interesting, useful andfruitful. Thus, there were no severe problemsencounteredduringtherecruitmentprocesses.InCITTRU,wehaveelaboratedaspecialrecruitmentform in order to safeguard equal access forpotentialparticipantsintheBBaSStudyTours.

Each recruitment process – undertaken beforeevery Study Tour - was preceded by similardisseminationactionsinordertoattractattentionofindustryandacademicrepresentativestoformthefuturePFG.Therewerevariousmethodsused,suchas:

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• disseminationoftheCITTRUnewslettertothescientificstaffoftheregionaluniversitiesandbusinessorganisations;

• direct contacts with researchers andentrepreneurs;

• informationabouttheforthcomingSTduringeveryregionalworkshops;

• dissemination of BBaS leaflets in seminars,conferences,etc

TherecruitmentprocessforthefirstStudyTourinSurreywentquite smoothlybutontheotherhand at the very beginning, it was difficult toattract proper people to participate in the STbecause theproject itselfwasnotyetpromotedwidelyandwedidnotknowwhattoexpectfromthetriptoGuildford.

However, we were able to select 6 personsfulfilling the recruitment criteria. Theywere allsatisfiedwiththevisitandimpressedbysomeofthepresentedUKKTschemes.OurPFGmembersconcluded that although itwas difficult to finda perfect business/scientificmatch for research,thepresentationsanddiscussionsprovidedthemwithveryinterestingandusefulinformation,andideasforsolutionsofproblemsinKTinPoland.

RecruitmentfortheSTinCordobawasthemostsuccessful–theinterestinparticipationwasthehighest in the overall BBaS. Nevertheless, therewere also some problems with the quality andadequacy of the recruitment forms sent to us.Most of the people interested in participationwere coming from the University side and alsomostofthemfromthebiotechnologicalfaculties.

ButwemanagedquiteeasilytofindasuitablePFGandalsoitwaspossiblefortheFinancialManagerof the Jagiellonian University to join the BBaSgroup.TheywerealsoveryenthusiasticabouttheSTprogramme,butunfortunatelyitwasonlyoneofourPFGmemberswhofoundapartnertothebusiness/scientificcooperation.

Recruitment process for the Eindhoven ST alsowas not difficult. The only change we had tomakewastolet2ITcompaniesgotoEindhoven(instead of one), as both of them were verydynamic developing companies with a stronginnovation potential and proved vested interestinparticipatinginthisST.Andhereagain–ourPFG members were impressed by what theyhaveseeninEindhoven,butitwasverydifficultfor them to establish sustainable contacts andundertakecollaborativeprojectswithotherPFGmembers. The reason for this situation is thatPolish researchers and entrepreneurs have stilllittle experience in undertaking collaborativeprojects even locally, and starting internationalcooperationseemstothemevenmoreofarisk.

Undoubtedly,thevisitinthePhilipsheadquartersintheSTprogrammewasaverystrongincentivefortherecruitmentprogrammetobesuccessful.

Organising the fourth Study Tour

WhenorganizingtheSTinKrakow,werealisedthatthemostdifficulttaskwastoattracttherequirednumber of the participants of the appropriateprofile.Ontheotherhandwearrangedanumberofone-to-onemeetingsforvisitingPFGmemberswith researchers who were not included in ourPFG.

We had also difficulties in convincingentrepreneursandscientiststogivepresentationsabouttheirideasforcollaborativeresearchduringtheST.Recruitmentprocesswasconductedonasimilarbasistothepreviousonesbutintheverylastmoment someof our participants informedus that theycouldnotcomeor they simplydidnotappear.

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Welearnedherealessonthatitisbettertotakethe PFG participants for a foreign trip, wherethey are engaged in such meetings ‘full-time’,becausewhen they donot leave their own citythen always something more important andurgentcomesup.

However, in general terms, although some ofour participants were circulating and attendingthe meetings only partially – we had a largergroupof people interested in participation thatiswhy – first of all, therewas always someonepresent, secondly higher number of scientists/entrepreneurscouldbenefitfromthemeeting.

PARTNER3:FUNDECOR,UniversityFoundationfortheDevelopmentoftheProvinceofCordoba

Recruiting the Pathfinder Groups

We have developed very similar disseminationprocessesandrecruitmentprocessesforall fourStudy Tours in order to reach the number ofindustry and academic representatives for thePFGs.Thechannelswehaveusedweremainly:

• DirectcontactwiththeresearchgroupsattheUniversityofCordoba(UCO);

• Press releases dissemination through e-bulletins(INFORETA,etc);

• Dissemination of BBaS leaflets in seminars,conferences,etc;

ThemainproblemsoftherecruitmentprocessforallStudyTourshavebeenverysimilarandusuallylinked to the lack of reply to the disseminationcarried out previously (especially with industryrepresentatives). The explanation of theseproblemscouldbeassociatedwith reasons suchasthesmallsizeofcompaniesinourregion,thenecessityofknowledgeofEnglishlanguageandperhaps also excessive information through thesamechannels.

In the evaluation forms of each Study Tourreturned to us by the PFGs members, we havefoundanumberofsimilarcomments:

• AllofthemconsideredtheSTasaninterestinginitiativeinordertoestablishpotentialnetworksto participate in joint projects in the nearfuture(FP7inparticularwasmentioned);

• Despite the fact that they had enough timefor networking, in general terms they didn’testablishfruitfulcooperationduringtheStudyToursbecausethecorrectprofilesforthemwerenotavailablewithinthePFGmembersofotherdelegations.ItseemsthatthelanguagebarrierwasparticularlyimportantfortheSpanishPFGmembers.

Organising the second Study Tour

Withrespecttotheorganisationofthe2ndStudyTourinOctober2006inCordoba,wecanhighlightas a main problem the difficulties to obtainconfirmation from speakers fromour regionontime in order to develop a final version of theInfoPack for theStudyTourandcirculate it tothepartners.

The emphasis of the programme of the secondStudy tour in Cordoba were on the efforts ofthe regional government to facilitate the KTactivities using IT and also, due to the timing(October 2006)we had presentations about theforthcomingEUFrameworkProgramme7 (FP7)and meetings of the FP7 consortia that werepreparingsubmissionsofproposals.

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PARTNER 4: TU/e Innovation Lab, EindhovenUniversityofTechnology

Recruiting the Pathfinder Groups

For the Eindhoven partner, the process oforganising PFG members for the Study Tourshasevolvedoverthetimeoftheproject.Atthebeginning we were very much depending onthe specific program of the Study Tour and itsspeakers. For theorganisingpartners (includingourselves)itwasalwaysverydifficulttohavetheexactlistofspeakersatanearlystage.AsaresultitwasdifficulttousetheprogramandspeakersassellingargumenttopersuadepeopletoparticipateintheTour.Duringtheprojectwehave learnedthat we should not focus on the program andspeakersbutfocusonthepotentialthatourPFGmembers could experience by participating inthe Study Tours. This potential was in meetingpeoplefromthefiveparticipatingregionsoftheEUdirectlyrelatedtoaspecificsector.Basedonthese contacts further collaboration could beestablished.Inouropinionmeetingpeoplefirstisessentialforsuccessfulresearchcollaboration.

Ingeneralwewereactivelyapproachingpotentialmembers of the PFG. Only for our meeting inEindhovenwewerecontactedbythosewhowereinterested in participating. This was based onanannouncementoftheGROWBBaSproject inVector(magazineofTU/eInnovationLab).

During the recruitment process we have beenusing information about the partner regions,their universities and the industrial sectors, incombination with the personal interest of ourmembers,asargumentstopersuadetherelevantpeopletocomewithustotheStudyTours.

The main argument against the participationwasusuallythetimeavailabilityintheirbusinesscalendar.TheStudyTourtakesabout3–4days(includingtravelling).Itappearedthatthiswasforsometoomuchtimetodevotetoaneventwhentheoutcomeisuncertain.ThereforetheeffortsoftheKTprofessionalstoorganisealsospecificpersonal1-to-1 meetings with researchers or companiesthat might be potential research partners wasmuchappreciatedbytheparticipants.

Organising the third Study Tour

TheStudyTourinEindhovenwasfrom28–30January 2007. We have started organising ourTour at the beginning of September. We had afirstdraftoftheprogramduringtheStudyTourinCordobaandingeneralthisfirstdraftdidnotchange thatmuch in comparisonwith the finalprogram.

It was not very difficult to find speakers forthe Study Tour. It was quite easy to explainthe objectives of themeeting and our speakerswere very willing to contribute to the project.Ourobjectivewastodemonstratetothepartnerregions our efforts in networking and spin-outactivities in the Noord Brabant. Therefore, wehadinvitedthekeymanagersinthisregionfromtheUniversity, formTU/e InnovationLab, fromBrainportandfromtheHighTechCampus.Basedon the responseof thepartnerswebelieve thatwehavesucceededinourobjectives.

We have strongly promoted the project at theUniversity. As a result the representatives ofeach university department were present tomeet with the PFG members of the partnersover lunch. In thiswaywewanted to relate theknowledgequestionsofthesegroupsdirectlytothedepartments.Webelievethatthiswasaveryefficientwayofdealingwiththeindividualneedsoftheparticipants.

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PARTNER5:ASTERScienzaTecnologiaImpresa,Bologna

TheparticipationofAsterinallBBaSStudyToursallowedustogetdetailedinformationabouttherelevantgoodpracticedevelopedbythehostingorganisations and to establish contacts withresearchers and entrepreneurs belonging to thedifferentcountriesparticipatingintheproject.Italsogaveusachancetospreadinformationaboutthe Emilia-Romagna High-technology Networksand to promote possible exchanges with someItalianresearchunitsandcompanystart-ups.

The active participation of Aster in all StudyTour sessions, including workshops, permittedustointroduceinthediscussionstheexperiencegained by Aster during its 20 years of activityinmanaginginnovationandtechnologytransferprojectsinEmilia-Romagna.

ThefirstStudyTouroftheBridgingBusinessandScience GROW project took place in Guildford.The meeting brought together three groups ofprofessionals engaged in scientific research andinnovation activities: university researchers,representatives of the business community andKnowledge Transfer (KT) Professionals. Themembersofthese‘PathfinderGroups’(PFG)camefromfivedifferentEuropeanRegions(SouthEastEngland,Malopolska(Poland),Andalusia(Spain),NoordBraabant(Netherlands)andEmiliaRomagna(Italy)),andthreedifferentmarketareas:IT/NewMaterialsandTechnologies,Health/BiotechnologyandEnvironment.Foradayandahalfmorethan40 participants discussed two specific topics ofgreatimportancefortheeconomicdevelopmentand innovation activities in their Regions: themanagementofIntellectualProperty(IP)resultingfrom collaborative industry-university researchand UK government schemes as examples offundingdirectedatstimulatingKT.

Chapter5StudyTour1AttheUniversity

ofSurreyGuildford26th-27thJune2006

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The guest speakers, from both industry andacademe, introduced topics for discussionrepresenting the business-science interactionfrom both perspectives. This was followed byRound Table discussion groups which focusedonprovidingsuggestionsforgoodpracticeinIPmanagementandKTfundingschemes.

Monday26thofJune

ThemeetingwasopenedbyGregMelly,Directorof Corporate Services, the University of Surrey,who emphasised the importance of knowledgetransfer to be included in all modern researchintensiveuniversities.Thentwoopinionsongoodpractice inmanagementof IntellectualPropertyrightswerepresented.Dr.JeffSkinner(UniversityCollegeLondonandtheAssociationofEuropeanScienceandTechnologyTransferProfessionals–ASTP)talkedaboutthe‘University’s perspective on Industry’,andthen‘Industry’s Perspective on university- industry collaboration’waspresentedby Ross Bradley, Chairman of the FarnboroughAerospaceConsortium.

Dr. David Parry, Chief Executive of the SouthEast Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA)talkedabout‘IP and research collaboration with universities – the industrial experience’.Thiswasfollowed by Prof. John Hay, Head of School ofBiologicalandMedicalSciencesoftheUniversityofSurreyinapresentationoftheopinionofthe‘other side of the bridge’ in a talk on ‘IP and research collaboration with industry University perspective’.

The mid-day session was centred on the UKschemes for support to the university-industrycollaboration with Peter Hicks introducing theLondonTechnologyNetworks,andWendyMannix,KTPManagerLondonandSouthEastandTanyaBoardman, KTP Manager at the University ofSurrey,presentingtheprinciplesandpracticeoftheUKGovernment fundedKnowledgeTransferPartnership(KTP).Thefirstpartofthedaywas

rounded up by Dr. Phil Martin, the ManagingDirector of ‘Invitrogen’ telling us ‘How KTP changed my life’.

The afternoon included a plenary discussion ofproposed suggestions for the topics for RoundTable sessions, and then everyone took a placeat one of the 3 Round Tables (BTech, Env andIST/NMT).EachRoundTableconsistedof8PFGmembers+1rapporteur+1facilitator.

AttheeveningnetworkingdinnerintheYvonneArnaud Theatre in Guildford a number of theresearchers from the University of Surrey tooktheopportunitytomeettheBBaSPFGmembersanddiscussthepossiblecollaborativeprojects.

Tuesday27thofJune

ThemorningsessionsstartedwithpresentationsbytheRoundTablerapporteursoftheconclusionsfrom the discussions. Then Mark Mawhinney,General Manager of the Isis Enterprise createdby theUniversityofOxford some15years ago,summarisedtheIsisexperienceofthetechnologytransfer. Finally we had two presentations oftheUKGovernmentandtheRegionalauthoritiesviewatthetechnologytransfer,onebyLawrenceCullenofTheGovernmentPatentOfficeandtheotherbyEdMetcalf,HeadofInnovationinSouthEastEnglandDevelopmentAgency(SEEDA).

TheFirststudyTourof theBBaSGROWprojectwasclosedbyProf.ChrisSnowden,ViceChancelloroftheUniversityofSurrey.

ConclusionsfromtheFirstStudyTour

Itwasgenerallyagreedthatuniversitiesrepresentaverydifferentorganisationalculturetoindustriesand that this represents the largest stumblingblockfortrouble-freecooperation.IPissueswerealsoidentifiedasanobstacle.

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THEUNIVERSITYVIEW

Thereisanincreasingpressureonuniversitiestobring-inasmuchexternalfundingaspossible.TheIPresultingfromcollaborativeresearchcanhavean important monetary value to the university,althoughthereisanewrealismregardingitsexactvalue.DisputeswereidentifiedbetweenpartnersinEuropeanfundedprojectsrelatingtothisissueduringcontractnegotiations.

Industry-universitycollaborationremainslargelybasedontheresearchagendadrivenbyacademics,nottheuniversities’managementstrategyorthemarketpull. This situation can create a conflictbetween the need for funds and the academicmission.

THEINDUSTRYVIEW

Acrucialpointraisedbythespeakersrepresentingindustry is thedifferent time scales of researchactivities in these two cultures. Industry veryoften needs quick and timely solutions whichoften cannot be provided by the academics,notbecauseof the lackof scientificability,butbecause research at the universities is a part-time activity shared with teaching and writingscientificpapers.

Forindustrythemaindriversare:profit,cashflow,competitiveedgeandmaintainingflexibilityandresponsiveness to market changes. IP resultingfrom research gives a company a competitiveedge.

All EU countries participating in the projectappearedtoagreewiththeworkshopconclusions.For example, there was a complete agreementbetweenthespeakersrepresentingbusinessthatthe industry-university research collaborationhas tobemarketdriven rather than technologypushed, although applied rather than pureresearch is a culture change for someacademicresearchgroups.

It was remarked that multinational companiesin certain sectors arenotparticularly interestedin innovation, that they might find it hard togenerate the same momentum as SMEs (SmallandMediumEnterprise)involvedinchange,andin some cases are usingmainly spin-in activitywithin the company to generate innovations.ThereforeitwasproposedthatthebestpartnersforuniversitiesshouldbeSMEs.However,itwassuggested thatSMEsmayhave littleknowledge

ofuniversitiesandmightfeelintimidatedbythemandfinditdifficulttoengagethemduetocost,as universities may be competing in the samemarket. In the countrieswhere the governmenthas invested inKTprofessionalsworking at theuniversities,whocanprovideacontactpointforSMEsthesituationseemstobeimproving,whilethere are also regional funding sources gearedtowardsprovidingfinancialassistancetoSMEstocontactuniversitiesfordevelopmentwork.Therewasa commonagreementamongst all speakersthat there is a definite need for a professionalcadre of people familiar with both cultures toprovidethelinkbetweenbusinessandacademe.

Itwassuggested that theKTofficefinancedbya universitymight not be the best solution forregionaleconomicdevelopment.Thewayforwardmaylie inseparatebusinessservicessupportinga number of universities and companies. TheKT experts in these organisations should haveexperienceofworkingwithSMEsandautonomyfor signingdeals andcontracts.Thismodelhasnotbeentestedasyet.

Some University academics ask themselves ifatalltheyshouldengagewithIP.Ifso,awholenew set of questions are raised, for example:wherethepatentshouldbesought(national,EU,international?)andcantheiruniversityaffordit?Itseemsthatevenfromtheuniversityperspectivethe optimum route for patentsmay bewith anindustrialpartner.Inthissituationthecompanycouldbearthecostofapatentwiththeacademicretaininginventorship.However,inthiscasetheIPhastoberealisticallyvaluedandtherehastobebothanunambiguousroyaltyagreementandanunderstandingaboutthelinkbetweentheIPandfuturecompanyproducts.

Consideringtheabove,itneedstobeemphasisedthat the three fundamental activities at theuniversities, namely teaching, research and KTareallrelatedandfeedbackintoeachother.

GOOD PRACTICE IN IPR MANAGEMENT,CONCLUSIONS:

• The topics for collaborative research shouldbe market-driven but Universities should bebetter at marketing their scientific expertiseandthefacilitiesavailable.

• To avoid problems with IP ownership

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collaborative research standard agreementsshouldbeused(forexample,theUK‘Lambert’agreement)

• Exploitationofinnovationhastobefast

• ThebigcompaniescouldprovideapivotalroleinKTandbea linkbetweenuniversitiesandSMEs, but this theory needs to be tested incasestudies

• KT offices should be independent from theiruniversities, but royalties resulting from IPshouldbepaidtotheuniversities.Thispointhas not been accepted by all participantsandithasbeensuggestedthattestcasesareneeded.

• Universitystudentsandacademicsshouldlearnabout the importance of IP and knowledgeflowonaregularandformalisedbasis

• University professors should be involvedin decisions concerning the value of IP inspecialityresearchprojects

• There is a need for government researchfunding that is aligned with the market andtherequirementsofSMEs

• Theprofessionalmanagementofexpectationsofbothindustryanduniversitiesregardingthebenefitofcollaborationisessential

• The universities and research centers shouldsupportthecommercializationoftheirpatentsby getting industrial partners, so the IPownershiphastobeagreedbeforehand.

• Different countries have different models ofIPmanagement. For example: in Poland andNetherlandstheIPisnegotiatedoncasebycasebasis, in the UK joint ownership is generallyavoided while the university invariably ownstheIPandnottheacademic;onepartyowns,the other has freedom to use. In Andalusianegotiations are undertaken mainly by theadministration of Universities. Evaluation ofthesedifferentmodelsshouldbeundertaken.

CONCLUSIONSONVARIOUSSCHEMESOFKNOWLEDGETRANSFER

ForFurtherinformationontheSouthEastEnglandRegionalprojectsforTechnologyTransfercontact:DrSophieStos,ResearchandBusinessServices,UniversityofSurrey,SenateHouse,GuildfordGU27XH,e-mail:s.stos@surrey.ac.uk

- The International Relay Centres are a good tool for introducing cross-European collaboration, but they need to be better marketed, also, they don’t work well as part time organisations

- The UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership has been assessed as an excellent scheme and was suggested as a very good way forward for the Polish KT needs.

- In Netherlands there is an organisation for Applied Technology (TNO) identified as a good

example of satisfying short term industry requi-rements for innovation.

- In Andalusia there are public and public/private bodies fostering technological innovation (Innovation and Technology Transfer Centres).

- The London Technology Network was seen as needing a specific assessment for its application in other countries

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Chapter6StudyTour2attheUniversity

ofCordoba16th-17October2006

Background

ThesecondStudyTourofthe‘Bridging Business and Science’GROWproject(BBaS)tookplaceintheAndalusiancityofCordobaonthe16thand17th

ofOctober.Followingtheproject’sobjectivesthismeeting brought together the four Path FinderGroups of researchers, industry representativesand Knowledge Transfer Professionals from theEURegionsthatwereparticipatingintheBBaS.Themembersof thesegroups representedthreekeysectorsimportantfortheregionaleconomicaldevelopment (BBaS focus sectors): ICT/NewMaterials and Technologies, Biotechnology/HealthandEnvironmentalsolutions.

On this occasion 34 participants had theopportunity to discuss the following specifictopics relevant to innovation activities in ourRegions:

• The Information and CommunicationTechnology (ICT) based tools for KnowledgeTransfer(KT).

• Nationalandculturaldifferencesbetweentheparticipating regions in making sustainablecontactsbetweenacademiaandbusiness.

ThefirstpartofMondaymorningsessionincludedpresentations of the current Andalusian ICTbased projects that facilitate the collaborationofuniversityresearchersandindustry.Thispartof the session was closed by the representativeoftheDutchbranchofPhilips(TheRoyalPhilipsElectronics),who complemented theAndalusianregionalpointviewofthepreviousspeakerswithhis wider experience in managing innovationactivitiesbasedoninternationalcollaboration.

Inthesecondpartofthemorningallparticipantswere involved in a professionally facilitatednetworking activities in small groups. Thisexercise focused on the main research areas ofinteresttotheparticipantstopromotediscussionsandcollaboration(‘gettingtoknoweachother’).

In the afternoon the participants took part inRoundTablediscussionsongoodpracticeinICTbasedtoolsforKTandmakingsustainablecontactsin innovation activities between researchersand industry. TheMonday eveningguided tourof Cordoba and a traditional Andalusian buffetdinner gave excellent opportunity for informaldiscussionsaboutpossiblecollaborativeresearchprojects.

Theseconddayofthemeeting(Tuesday)startedwith presentations of the results of the RoundTablediscussions.LaterpartofTuesdaymorningwas devoted to the discussion of guidelines forpreparationofresearchproposalsforFrameworkProgramme 7 by consortia created during themeeting.

Topic1:TechnologyOffer&DemandMatchingServiceBasedonICT

The most interesting presentation on this topicwas about the MASTRIX tool designed by theInnovation and Technology Transfer Centre inAndalusia – CITANDALUCIA (www.citandalucia.com).ThissoftwareallowstodetecttherealR&DneedsoftheregionalcompaniesandtolinkthemtotheinformationaboutdifferenttechnologicaladvancesandresearchresultsofvariousEuropeanresearchgroups.

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CITANDALUCÍA compiled a Database ofTechnological Resources that is fully integratedvia Internet with the automatic matching andselectivedistributionsystem(GEOP).ItcontainsasetoftoolsthatcanbeappliedintheStudyofInnovationandTechnologyStrategies(MASTRIXandSETsystem).

MASTRIXisacross-linkedmatrixoftechnologiesand industrial regional sectors that allowsthe analysis of the Technology Transferopportunities.

TheoperativenucleusofMASTRIX includes thecontributions and technological needs of 1300Innovation and Technology centres, universityresearchgroupsandcollaboratingorganizations.Aswellasholdingallthisinformation,MASTRIXconnectsthetechnologyonoffertothedemandsof10000AndalusianSME.

TheSETsystemisaimedatestablishingregionalandsectorialtechnologicalstrategies.Itisbasedon information gathered from companies andR&Dcentreswithinanygivenregionalsectorandontheanalysisoftheircapabilitiesandneeds.Bymeans of an appropriate codes assignation, ledby a team of experts, sustainable “technology”relationshipsbetweensciencedevelopmentsandindustryapplicationscanbeestablished.MASTRIXcan be used in any country, region or town,becauseisaterritorialandsectorialsystem.

The representative of the Red Andaluza deEspacios Tecnologicos - RETA (AndalusianNetwork of Technological Spaces - (www.reta.es)stressedtheimportanceofnetworkingduetotheirwidegeographiccoverage(8differentpartsofAndalusia)andthecomplexityofthetasks.Thisnetworkoftechnologicalspacesandagentsallowstheflowof informationand technology,aswellastheknowledgetransferbetweenorganizationsatdifferentlevels,regardlessastowhethertheyare companies located in technology parks,technology centres, public or private researchcentres, or private companies. This networkingrequires excellent coordination and an efficientknowledgetransferamongallthepartiesinvolved.ThiscanonlybeachievedwithmanagementtoolsbasedonthelatestdevelopmentsinInformationandCommunicationTechnologies(ICT).

GOOd practices in ict tOOls fOr Kt, rOund tables cOnclusiOns:

Severalwaysofimprovingcommunicationbetweenuniversity and industry were recommended:through the recognition of shared interests(usually university and industry have differentpoints of view); through theuseofTechnologyTransferOrganisationsasintermediates;throughthepromotionofspin-outs;PhDstudentswithincompanies; etc.However, for the assessment oftheuseof ITCbased tools the followingpointswere highlighted as themost important for thegoodpractice:

• Very good ICT based tools for KnowledgeTransferareavailable,but thekeypotentialusersmustbemadeawareoftheirexistence.

• ICTtoolshelpbutthepersonalcontactandservicearethekeyissuesinKT.

• Mastrixdatabaseisagoodexampleofausefulsystemforbothindustryandresearchers

• These tools should be managed byorganizations in whose confidentiality thecustomers (research groups, companies,intermediaries)cantrust.

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Expo92

The technology Parks should be conside-red within strategic planning of the region(usuallyittakesnolessthan4yearstobuildthemand6years toconsolidate). It isworthmentioningtheCartuja93case,anexampleofreusinganinfraestructurebuiltandaimedatotherobjetives.

Cartuja93

CartujaIsland86

• Different possibilities for these ICT toolsmanagement:

• Ideal solution: Customers input theirrequestsonthesystem.

• Intermediate solution: The requests arecollected and uploaded by one personresponsible for each group (researchgroups/companies).

• Easier solution: Intermediaries input thedata.

• Bidirectional Communication should bepursued to facilitate thematching betweenTechnologyOffers(TO)&TechnologyRequest(TR)-ItseemsthatusuallytherearemoreTOthanTR.

Topic2:SustainableContactsinKT

This second specific topic was introduced byrepresentativesoftwomainorganisationsworkingin Andalusia to enhance collaboration betweenacademiaandindustry.

One of them is the network called OTRI whichrepresent a national network of TechnologyTransferOfficesinuniversitiesandpublicresearchcentres coordinated by the Spanish UniversitiesRector’sConference.Itsmaingoal istopromoterelations between University departments andresearchgroupsandthebusinessworld.Toachieveit, the OTRI located in a university or researchcentre determines the actual R&D demandof companies and refers it to the appropriatedepartment or a research group. Further, OTRIoffices identify transferable results of researchanddisseminatethembetweenthecompaniestofacilitate their transfer; promote and negotiateR+D or technological support and guidancecontracts, patent licensing agreement betweenUniversityandcompanies;alsotheygiveadviseontechnicalmattersanddealwithR&DEuropeanprojects.

TheotheristhenetworkofTechnologicalParksforasustainableKTinAndalusia.TheParksarerecognized as “Andalusian Knowledge Agents”,havelegalentityandarelinkedtotheAndalusianMinistry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise.

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TechnologyParksprovidesolutionsforlocalsectorand/orcompaniesandtheyareintegratedintotheregionaldevelopmentpolicyoftheGovernment.Assuch,manyAndalusianTechnologyParksarefocused on a sector, and the managing boardofeachTechnologyPark tries tobring togetheron one site different organizations involved inTechnology Transfer: Universities, TechnologyBasedCompaniesandResearchCenters.

Conclusions:GoodpracticesincreatingSustainableresearchContacts–Culturaldifferencesbetweentheregions,RoundTablediscussions:

It has been agreed at the start that if thereare any minor cultural differences betweenthe participating regions, then they are not asimportantasthedifferencebetweentheculturesofacademicresearchandindustrialinnovation.

Furtherpointswereraisedinthediscussions:

• Problems in creating and conductingcollaborativeresearchprojectsareusuallythesameinallEUcountries:

• Bureaucracy

• Timescale-longforacademiaversusshortforindustry

• Communicationproblemsdue todifferentbackgrounds between scientists andentrepreneurs

• Differentaims-educationversusprofit.

• TherearenorealdifferencesbetweentheEUcountries, but there are cultural differencesbetween different branches of industry:for example, research in industry politicallyimportant for governments is usually muchbetterfundedthantherest

• Company size is important in collaborativeprojects:

• FundingisthekeyfactorforSMEs,

• Largercompaniesoftendonotrespectlongtermresearchtargetsofauniversity.

There was a common agreement that the KTunitsareusefulas facilitators,butanumberofcomplementary actions were also suggested toimprovetheirresults.Forexample:

1. early introduction of students into the “realworld”throughsecondmentsinindustry

2. collaboration between universities to bringtogetherresourcestosolvespecific industrialresearchproblems

Another result of the discussion was a listof conditions to promote good collaborativeprojects:

• Cleardefinitionofprojectobjectives,structure,performanceindicators,scheduledinseparatesteps,withdescriptionofshorttermresultstobeachieved;

• Flexibility(lessbureaucracy);

• Creatingnetworksofdedicatedpersonswithintheuniversitiestosupportthelinks

• Facilitatingexploitationofpersonalcontacts;

• Integrating entrepreneurship courses incurricula

ForFurtherinformationontheAndalusianRegionalprojects

forTechnologyTransfercontact:AntonioPerezatFUNDECOR

e-mail:europa1.fundecor@uco.es

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Chapter7StudyTour3attheEindhoven

UniversityofTechnology28th-30January2007

The3rdStudyTourofthe“BridgingBusinessandScience”GROWproject(BBaS)tookplaceonthe28-30JanuaryintheDutchcityofEindhoven.Once again, following the project’s objectives,thismeetingbroughttogetherPathFinderGroupsof researchers, industry representatives andKT professionals from the different EU regionsengagedintheBBaS.

During this event the 53 participants attendedpresentationsandhelddiscussionson“TechnologyEntrepreneurship&Networking–Howuniversityand industry can cooperate in creating andsupportingnewhightechbusinesses”.

On the 29th of January, Monday morning,Wim Bens – Director of TU/e Innovation Lab- presented the main activities and generalhistory of Eindhoven University of Technology,its connection and importance within theinnovation scene as well as within the growthoftheEindhovenregion,botheconomicallyandscientifically.ThemainaimsandactivitiesofTU/eInnovationLab,thedirectcooperationofthreeTUs(namelyDelft,EindhovenandTwente,Dutchtechnologyuniversities), thedifferentprocessesof knowledge translation and the Incubator 3+

Foundation were generically introduced andexplained.

This was followed by presentation of theTechnology Entrepreneurship program of TU/e by its coordinator, Peter Verdaasdonk. Thepresentation was focused especially on thecontent of the program, and some of the mostsuccessfullydevelopedprojectswerediscussed.

Three different round table discussions closedthemorningsessionprovidingdiscussionsonthefollowing Technology Entrepreneurship projectspresentations:

• Biotechnology & Health – Bioplasma Needleproject

• ICT&NewMaterials–Validusproject

• EnvironmentalSolutions–Xpressproject

The‘MeetandMatch’Lunchthatfollowedprovidedaninformalencounterwithrepresentativesofallthe 9 departments which constitute EindhovenUniversity of Technology, enabling contacts ininnovationactivitiesbetweenthedifferentpartsinvolvedwithintheBBaSandthisUniversity.

Theafternoonpartof the session tookplaceatthePhilipsHighTechCampus,whereEmileAarts(VicePresidentofthePhilipsScientificResearchProgram) presented the company ideologies,strategies and history, the open innovationconcept,andtheproductsandareasofresearchof the company. The afternoon ended up witha guided tour amongst some of the Philipsprototypes,suchastheI-cat(personalrobot).

Onthesecondday,Tuesdaythe30thofJanuary,thefocuswasonthevalueofnetworking,commencingwith a lecture on the ‘Designing principles forcreatingTechnologyEntrepreneurship’bySjoerdRomme. This presentation was followed by theBrainportEindhovenpresentationofRobert-JanMarringa program manager. This presentationillustrated a successful example of Business &Technology Communities. Afterwards the roundtable discussions were devoted to Networkingand Entrepreneurship issues. The late morning

40

indevelopingideasandstartinganenterpriseattheuniversity’srisk.Theuniversitywillonlyhaveprofitsifthecompanyactuallysucceeds-ifnot the start-upswill notbe charged.Thebasictheoryis“Whenyou’llearn10Ferraris,we will want one back” as the share for theuniversityinvestment.

• Advice to SMEs – ‘Syntens’ is an agencywhichprovidesenterpriseproblemsolvingbygivingadvice,creatingthe rightconnectionsand by giving answers and / or directionregarding specialist institution which suitfor a specific problem. These specialists arethe so called ‘United Brains’ (formed by:TNO; TU/e; ROC and Fontys). In an obverseprocess, theUniversity tries tobringpeople,on a free basis, to the campus, in order tocreate inspiration on both sides – universityandcompany.TU/eInnovationLaborganizesamongst others roundtable discussions andbreakfast meetings which potentially lead tonewideas,projectsandsolutions.Studentsgetinvolved by translating scientific knowledgetothecompanies,andresearchersarefreetomoveonfurther.

• Large industry cooperation / involvement– creating people-based bilateral contactshas been found to be the best way to keepconnectedtothelargeindustry.PhDprojectsshould be related and match each other, inorder to create bilateral inspiration, amongprojects,companiesanduniversities.

Incubator3+

The university, together with other 8 partnerinstitutes, form the so called Incubator 3+, aregionalinter-institutionallinkagewhichsupportsstart-ups.Thesepartnersconcurondifferentwaysaccording to their own field of work, expertiseandinterest,tothebirthandgrowthofnewhightechstart-ups.

Incubator3+givessupportduringthe“Idea”and“Plan” phases of the company creation, giving

closingsessionbeganwiththeStudyTourreviewandevaluation,thefollow-upactionssuggestionsandrecommendationsandtheclosingspeechbyRob de Groot, which outlined how positive theBBaSandGrowprojects’ outcomehavebecomeforthegeneralgrowthintheregion.

The success of this Study Tour was alsodemonstrated by the number of participantswhowereabsent fromthemorningsessionandinsteadwereactivelyengagedinnegotiationswithfuture business and/or research partnerswithinEindhoven University of Technology and somecompaniesintheRegion.Thereareanumberofresearch partnerships planned with TU/e staffandtheparticipantsoftheStudyTour.

Monday29thJanuaryInnovation and Eindhoven University ofTechnology

TU/e Innovation Lab tries to assure theconnection between two different worlds:AcademeandIndustry.Themostimportantgoalof TU/e Innovation Lab is to translate acquiredknowledgetothecompanies,therebydispersingthisknowledgebeyondtheuniversitywalls.

Theuniversityreachestheoutsideworldthroughthree different knowledge translation andvalorisationprocesses,namely:

• Start-ups incubatoractivity–equity support

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supportatastagewhenalmostnooneelsewould.The Incubator 3+ offers money, a temporarysalary,legalandinvestorcontacts,tools,housing,labfacilities,assistanceincreatinganetwork,andoffersacoachingteamduringthefivetosevenyearsofincubationtime.

ThepartnersthatformtheIncubator3+areTU/e,Fontys,Synstens,BOM,Philips,TNO,NVRedeandRabobank,anditsaimistocreate15companieswhich will have a good chance of expandingoutof the400hundred start-upswhichwillbesupportedforthenext4years.

CertificateprogramTechnologyEntrepreneurship(CTE)

Theentrepreneurshipeducationalprogramaimsto reach undergraduates, Master degree andPhDstudents.Itsbiggestchallengeandyetmainproblemishowtoreachallstudentsandhowtoidentify the future new entrepreneurs amongstthem.AtpresentthefocusismainlyonthemasterTU/e students in the Certificate TechnologyEntrepreneurshipprogram.Inthisprogramteamsare created around ideas that will develop intonewstart-ups,throughgraduationprojects.

Theaccessproceduretothiscertificateprogramis based on a self-assessment tool available onthe Internet, followed by an interview and bycontinuous research under the TU/e InnovationLabadvisors.PartoftheprogramisanAdvisoryBoard,whichfollowsthenewbornstart-upduringthewholeincubationperiodforhiscompany.

Thefuturechallengeswillbethesearchfornewideas, the students stimulation for this kind ofactivity, the cooperationwithotheruniversities(Tilburge.g.) and the engagementonEuropeanProjects,suchasGrowandBBaS.

Roundtablediscussions

ICT & New Materials start-up project: Securitytechnologies

Thisprojectenablestheapplicationofaninitialtechnologyintodifferentareas/markets,andwas

thefirstonetobeawardedaTEcertificate.Theyoung entrepreneurs developed an applicationforopticalsecurityandauthenticitycertification.In this project a new market for an existingtechnologywascreated.

Their experience as a start-up of TU/e isstrongly positive, despite the initial difficultiesinunderstandinghowtonegotiatetheirvariousindividualagreementswiththeuniversityanditsdepartments.Asauniversityspin-off importantdiscussionhavebeenheldabout:Whowritesthepatent? To whom does it belong to thereafter?Is it worth for the university to apply for thepatents?

TU/eanswersfortheseare:

• Theuniversitywritesandowesthepatent,butit’slicensedexclusivelytothestart-up.

• Equitieswillbepaidtotheuniversity.

• The concept has a cost, but is balanced byanincreaseintheuniversity’sreputationandencouragingstudentenrolment.

• Insupportingthesestart-upstheregionalandnationalgrowthisgenerated.

• TU/eappliesfor5to8patentsayear,followingastrictevaluationprocedure.

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Biotech & Health start-up project: BioplasmaNeedle

TheBioplasmaNeedleisaprojectthataimsatusingcoldplasmaforhealthcarepurposes.Theprojectiscurrentlybeingcarriedoutbytwostudents:TomBaedeandRobinvanGastel.Themainapplicationfields of this technology development currentlyenvisioned are dentistry (treatment of dentalcaries) and dermatology (treatment of burns).Oneotherapplicationthatisunderconsiderationisthetreatmentofatherosclerosis:adiseasewherearteriesareblockedbytheformationofplaques.Froma business standpoint, this opportunity islessviableintheshorttermsinceitismuchhardertogetclinicalapprovalforintra-bodytreatment.

Thereisadistinctpossibilitythatthistechniquecanbeusedforthetreatmentofcervicalcancer.The plasma needle group from EindhovenUniversityofTechnologyisinterestedinexploringthisapplicationfieldinmoredetail.

During the presentation, it was said thatadditionalfundsareneededforfurtherresearchand development to strengthen the plasmatechnology’s business case. The EuropeanFrameworkProgram7givesagoodopportunityfor young leaders with innovative ideas to getfunding and support to build their businessesusing the IDEASprogrammeandaproposal forthissourceoffundingisplanned.

AmongsttheBBaSpartnersBolognahasaprogramsimilartoCTEcalled“Master”forPhDstudentsthatwanttorunahigh-techstart-uporwishingto improve their managerial / entrepreneurialskills. It is a very new program, started just inDecember 2006. The University of Surrey hasentrepreneurship course (ETITB-Enterprise,IT and Business) for engineering students thatprovidesgenericengineeringskillsalongwithanenterpriseandbusinessfoundation.

Many universities around the globe offerprograms that stimulate entrepreneurship.Shoulditbetheobjectiveofuniversitiestocreate

(high-tech)start-ups?MembersoftheSurreyPFGwereoftheopinionthatthisisindeedthetaskofuniversitiessincenotalluniversitystaffmembershave the capabilities to be top scientists or theNobel laureates.People thatareable to translatescientificoutputintousefulconceptsforindustryandsocietyarealsoveryvaluable.Inthatregard,universities should also generate and supportstart-upcompanies.TheparticipantsofthisBBaSStudyTouragreedunivocallythatthereisaneedforatwotiersystemattheEuropeanUniversities,whereby development activities are as importantas research in support of the academic careerprogression.

Several difficulties can be seen for industry/SMEs to tap into the knowledge that is presentat universities. Representatives of Cordoba andBologna mentioned that universities are oftennot well-organized in providing information onavailablecontactsforbusiness;thereisnosinglepoint of contact or place to access information.The‘UnitedBrains’thatservesasasinglewindowformultipleorganizationsinEindhovenisagoodexampleofhowtotacklethisproblem.

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Theotherimportantquestionwas,whetheryoungresearchersknowhowtopresenttheirinnovativeideas topotential investors.This skill is seenasextremelyimportantandneedsspecifictraining,inparticulartheabilitytoillustrateinaclearandpersuasivewaythestrongpointsofnewideasandtheirpotentialeconomicadvantages. Ingeneral,themarketingactivityhastobetakenintoseriousconsiderationforasuccessfulstart-up.

Environmentalsolutions:Xpress

Xpressisaboutprecisionengineering.TheprojectisleadbyErnstTreffersandEdwinBos.Intheirpresentation they gave some details of theirbusiness and plans: ‘Nano-metrology at yourfingertips’. Xpress is able to measure objects inthreedimensionswitha50nmresolution.

In these types of projects IPR is always animportanttopic.ThepatentsareownedbyTU/e,while Xpress has an exclusive license, with theresearchers benefiting following the sale of thepatentandthedeductionofresearchcosts.TU/eisanadvisorondemand.

After the presentation by Xpress the discussionstarted with the aim of establishing a learningpoint instimulatingandsupportingTechnologyEntrepreneurial start-ups. The followingconclusionsweredrawn:

• There is a big gap between universities andcompanies.MostEuropeanuniversitieshavenointerestindevelopment,onlypureresearch.

• TheproblemintheUKistogetco-financingforstartingupabusiness,thepublicfundingisassistanceinaformofloansthathavetoberepaidwhatevertheoutcome

• InPolandthedevelopmentonentrepreneurialskillsatuniversitiesisonlyjustcommencing

• InSpain valorisationawareness is beginning.However, students still do not receiveentrepreneuriallearningincourses.

• Smalluniversitiesneedtothinkonaregionalscale.

• IntheUKthereisanetprofitgroupmethodologywhichisverysuccessful.Itcomprisesbringingtogether SMEs and exchanging experiences,for example in SEEDA Hubs – 22 of themlocatedthroughouttheSouthEastEngland.

• There is an initiative called the “Growenterprise”, which offers information aboutthe experienceof the other grow regions onstart-ups.InformationcanbeobtainedviaRobdeGrootfromtheprovinceofBrabantintheNetherlands(http://www.growenterprise.nl/)

TheBBaSvisittothePHILIPSHighTechCampusinEindhoven

During our visit Philips presented itself as anentrepreneurial company which looks into thefuturewithanopen innovationand investmentattitude. Economic prosperity, environmentalqualityandsocialequalityarethecompany’smainconcernsandstrategyparameters,expressedbythe new slogan Sense and Simplicity, focusedon people rather than products, leading to theincreaseinsales.

ThePhilipsHighTechCampusistheevidenceofthe Open Innovation attitude itself. Within this1 km2 there are research labs and facilities, theincubator - e.g. the prototype’s “show room”which the competitors are invited to see. It isenvisagedthatsuchanopeninnovationconceptwill lead to mutual learning, development, andinspiration.

The Campus provides an extremely well-builtinfrastructurewhichmanagestoinvolvethecityand the region,establishingclose relationswithTU/eandthegovernment.

Although the cooperation with the universityis not part of the company strategy, theyworkclosely with universities in the region on someprojects, occasionally giving access to theirfacilitiesandinvestinginPhDprojects.

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Tuesday30thJanuary

Creating university spin-outs – a designperspective,Sjoerd Romme

AccordingtoSjoerdRommetheremustbeclearrules which enable the university spin-outs tosucceed, thereby preventing damage to theuniversity’sreputation.

University spin-outs will for example providefundsforthestart-ups,fortheresearchfacilitiesandlabs,forlegalmatters,forexamplethepatent,andforthecomingstart-upprojects,butremainadifficultandriskysolutionwhichmustbebasedon“Construction Principles & Design Rules”.

Someofthemost interestingandvaluablerulesoffered were the need of a good network ofinvestors, managers and advisors around start-ups on one hand, and on the other, the needfor the appropriatemixof entrepreneurial skillsof the start-up team selected; the need forprovision of facilities and centralized supportinfrastructures thatwill guarantee a good levelofautonomy.Finallythereisaneedtoreinforcetheentrepreneurialattitudeoftheprofessorsandresearcherswiththedevelopmentofauniversitycultureandrewardsystemmadeoftheappropriatemixofincentives.

Amongthedifferentdesignsolutionsmentionedwere the entrepreneurship certificate programs,andthecreationofformalandinformalnetworksaroundincubatorsandstart-ups.Theadvantagesandtheneedforflexibleorienteduniversitypolicies

are obvious. The good example of flexibility inapolicyof a company iswell illustratedby thePhilipsexampleof“Fridayresearch”,whichallowsemployeestodotheirpersonalresearchthatmayturnintocompany’sadvantageusingthePhilipsfacilities.

Business&technologycommunities–networksinBrainportEindhoven,

Robert-JanMarringa

The Brainport Eindhoven is the 3rd economicport of the Netherlands, following Rotterdam(Exports)andTheHague(Finance),anditsmaingoalistoenhanceregionaleconomicstabilityandraise the private and governmental investment,providing a continuum for economic and socialdevelopment.AtitsbasisareEindhoven,Leuvenand Aachen Triangle (ELAt) and its success isdue to the close cooperation existing betweengovernment, business world and knowledgecentres,universitiesandresearchinstitutes.

Thissuccessopenedthedoorstothefutureoftheport:inthe‘BrainportNavigator2013’agendathemostimportantobjectiveistobecomethepremierEuropean Economic port. Through the creationofastimulatingenvironmentforcompaniesandindividualstomeetinanaturalway,forexampleattheDesignIncubatororattheDesignCafé,andtheleadershipofvariousprojectsofcooperation(ADMIRE, Metaphors, Embedded House e.g.),theBrainport is attractingmore companies andmore students, it is creatingbetter connectionsbetween various types of firms and promoting

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their cooperation and entrepreneurship andis moving towards the top of the EuropeanEconomicalportsranking.

RoundtablediscussionsNetworking&entrepreneurshiptopics:

• ‘Teaching of entrepreneurship’ vs. ‘Learning entrepreneurship’: the latter can be reachedbyexposingpeopletorisksandengagingthemin processes to develop an entrepreneurshipattitude: this practical approach is moreeffective than teachingskillsandknowledge,whichwillbelearntbyexperienceinanaturalway. This type of activity justifies needs forfundsandismoreeffective.

• University and company flexibility: theuniversityshouldbeabletoadapt,tosupportscientistsleadingtheworthystart-ups,andtoleavethemfreetimeforresearch.Occasionalsabbatical leave or non paid licences are agood solution for employees, along with theuseoflaboratoryandinfrastructurefacilities.

• Funds to create start-ups: Governmentdepartments, local economical and businessinstitutions andpublic funds institutions aretheprincipalresourcesforsuchfunds.

• Big companies cooperation vs. brain drain risk:The wisest way of establishing cooperationwithbig companies isonapermanentbasis,maintainingaprofitablepartnershipforboth.

According to professor Sjoerd Romme andWimBensthereisnobigriskofabraindrain,sinceuniversityresearchersandprofessorsareusuallyheartilyembeddedwithintheuniversitysystemandabettersalarywouldn’tbeenoughto motivate them to move to industry. Thegroupofresearcherswhomightwanttoworkfor a company is represented by part-timeprofessorsworkingalsoforcompaniestherebyincreasingtheirstatusandthecompany’satthesametime.InNetherlandstherearecooperativestrategiesbasedongovernmentfundstobringandkeepbrains.Forexample,therecruitmenttraining project where the university offersmaster degree to foreign top talent studentsandthecompanyoffersaworkcontractevenbeforethestartofthegraduationstudies.

• Strategies of the Eindhoven region to become the first High Tech Region of Europe: todistinguish from the direct competitors(Cambridge and Munich), study their strongandweakpoints,anddevelopbothstrongandweakpointsofEindhoveninordertoreachthenumberoneposition.

ClosingSession:StudyTourEvaluationandFollowupSuggestions

The most important knowledge transfer issuesthatweresuggested:

• Goodorganizationofcreatingnetworks

• Networkopeningpossibilitiesandfacilitation

• Innovationandcooperationstrategies

• Best systems of organization of TechnologyTransfercentres

• Entrepreneuriallearningstrategies

• Rulesforstart-upcooperationanduniversityspin-outs

• Better awareness of the own situation, andhowtoimproveit

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Follow-up/improvementsuggestions:

• Moreinteractionbetweentheparticipantsonthefollowingtourorganization

• Displaytheinformationabouttheparticipatingcompanies/researchorganisations

• Engage more regional governmentrepresentatives (RobdeGrootparticipated inthisStudyTour)

• Possibility of pre-arranging specific personalcontacts

• TU/e is interested in Certificate Programexchangeproposals

• Future companies’ presentations should givemoreanswersandexplainbetterthebasisonwhich the partnerships with the universitiesarefounded.

ForFurtherinformationontheNoord-BrabantRegionalprojectsforTechnologyTransfercontact:PeterVerdaasdonk,TU/eInno-

vationLab,Horsten1,MMP0.01,5612AXEindhoven,E-mail:P.J.A.Verdaasdonk@tm.tue.nl

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Chapter8Study Tour 4 At CITTRU, theJagiellonianUniversity,Krakow

26th-28thMarch2007

The 4th Study Tour of the GROW-BridgingBusinessandScienceproject(BBaS)tookplaceon 26-28th March, 2007 in Krakow, Poland.The meeting brought together researchers,industry representativesandknowledgetransferprofessionals from five EU regions engaged inthe BBaS. The Study Tour “Bridging Business and Science in Kraków” focused on creatingnetworking opportunities for the participants,aswellasonpresentingthePolishexperienceinbusiness-sciencecooperation.

OnMonday,26thofMarch, theparticipantshadan opportunity to take part in a conference“University for Industry”, an annual eventorganised by CITTRU. During the conferenceacademicsandentrepreneursdiscussedthemostimportantissuesofbusiness-sciencecooperationwithaspecialemphasisontheavailablefunding.Onthesameday,someoftheparticipants(bothscientistsandentrepreneurs)attendedindividualmeetingswithKrakowscientists.Intheevening,a networking event was organised to enableall participants to exchange their ideas andexpectations.

OnTuesday,27thofMarch,themorningsessionswere devoted to visits in the region’s researchinstitutes and leading companies, whereopportunities for cooperation were presented.All participants were divided into three groupsaccordingtotheirareaofinterest:Biotechnology& Health (BIO), Information CommunicationTechnology (ICT) and Environmental Solutions(ENV).BIOgroupvisitedtheInstituteofNuclearPhysics(PolishAcademyofSciences)andFacultyofBiophysics,BiochemistryandBiotechnologyof

the JagiellonianUniversity;ENVgroupwent tothe InstituteofCatalysisandSurfaceChemistry(Polish Academy of Sciences), followed bymeetingwithInstituteofEnvironmentalStudiesof the Jagiellonian University; ICT group metwiththerepresentativesoffourleadingKrakow-basedICTcompaniesandlaterpaidavisittotheDepartment of Information Technologies of theJagiellonianUniversity.

Theafternoonsessionstartedwiththepresentationof the Jagiellonian University’s regulations onintellectual property rights and the spin-outcreationprocess.Someotheraspectsofbusiness-sciencecooperationwerealsodiscussed.ThiswasfollowedbytheRoundTablemeetings,whereeachof the Pathfinder Groups members was able topresenthis/herofferforcollaborativeprojects.

OnWednesdaymorningallparticipantsgatheredtohearexamplesofbusiness-sciencecooperationinitiatives realised in the Małopolska RegionrelevanttotheresearchinterestsofthePathfinderGroups.Later,allparticipantsweredividedagaininto three groups to discuss recommendationsfor the key players, e.g. governments, regionalauthorities, TT centres, on how to improvecooperation-supporttools.

TheseconddaywasconcludedwiththeSteeringCommittee Study Tour review and evaluationmeeting.

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tuesday 27th Of March

Biotechnology&Health

Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy ofSciences

Prof. Marek Jeżabek, Director of the Institute,presented the general information on theresearch conducted in the Institute in the areaof biotechnology and health. All participantsaccompanied by Prof. Wojciech Kwiatek weretaken around five laboratories of the Instituteworking on the developments in biotechnology.These were: Department of Radiation andEnvironmentalBiology,DepartmentofRadiationPhysics and Dosimetry, Department of AppliedSpectroscopy, Department of Physicochemistryof Ecosystems, and Department of RadiationPhysics and Dosimetry. Research group leaderspresented the most important results of theirresearch(forexample:equipmentforprotoneyeradiotherapy),aswellasproductsofferedbytheInstitute(including.thermoluminiscentdetectorsfordoseratemeasurements).

Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry andBiotechnology,JagiellonianUniversity

Dominik Czaplicki, PhD student, welcomed theBiotechgroupinthenewbuildingoftheFacultyofBiochemistry,BiophysicsandBiotechnologyattheJagiellonianUniversityCampus.Hepresentedthe main research conducted there, whichcomprisesawiderangeofbothbasicandappliedstudies which address important biomedicaland biotechnological problems and focuseson fundamental biophysical and biochemicalphenomenainanimal,plantandbacterialcells.

Several laboratories of the Facultywere visited,starting from the Department of AnalyticalBiochemistry, where the vice-dean Prof. AdamDubin gave an overview of the Faculty andpresentedhisownstart-upcompany BioCentrum Ltd., the first spin-out company at the

JagiellonianUniversity.Lateron, laboratoriesoftheDepartmentofMicrobiologywereviewedandbrieflydescribedincludingapresentationoftheconfocalmicroscopysystemattheDepartmentofBiophysics.TherewasalsoanopportunitytoseeachromatographicproteinpurificationsystemofDepartmentofPhysicalBiochemistry.

EnvironmentalSolutions

Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry,PolishAcademyofSciences

Dr.TadeuszMachejwelcomedenvironmentalistsintheInstituteofCatalysisandSurfaceChemistry(ICSC), which is the only independent scientificinstitutioninPolandandoneofonlyeightintheworlddevotedentirelytotheresearchincatalysisandchemistryofinterfaces.

Hepresentedoneof the researchgroupswherecatalyticresearchisusedtodevelopsolutionsforenvironment protection. It focuses on catalysisforgreenchemistryandendofpipetechnology.Theyhavenow44patents(includinginternationalpatents)and10licenses.Hediscussedoneofthemwhich is SWINGTHERM, a novel catalytic, lowenergyconsumingprocessforpurificationofwastegasesfromorganicpollutants.Thereareseveralhundred ICSC-licensed installations, available in

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differentsizesrangingfrom300to30000m3/hcapacities,soldinPoland,Europe,China,USAandCanada. The SWINGTHERM technology is usedbya spin-out companyKatalizator Ltd.,whichwas created in order to promote the industrialimplementationofcatalyticmaterialsdesignedatICSC.

Institute of Environmental Studies, JagiellonianUniversity

Piotr Zygmunt, PhD student at the Institute ofEnvironmentalStudiesandco-ownerofa spin-out company Biospekt, presented the researchpotential of the Institute. The research andinfrastructurewerechosentopointoutareasforpossible cooperation. Participants were shownlaboratoriesofmolecularecologyandeco-toxic-chemistry. The Institute’s climatic chambers,an equipment enabling simulation of differentenvironments,wereofgreatinteresttotheTourparticipants.

In this context, Piotr Zygmunt discussed alsocooperationofhiscompanywiththeUniversity.

Biospekt company is a spin-out companyestablishedbyPhDstudentsandyoungresearchers.It offers commercial services of microbiologicaland chemical analyses using the equipment ofthe Institute. Discussion arose regarding theadvantages and difficulties in the cooperationbetweenthecompanyandtheUniversity.

InformationCommunicationTechnology

ICTcompanies:EricpolTelecom,GrupaOnet.pl,Google,SoftwareMind

RepresentativesoffourKrakow-basedcompaniespresentedtheirmainbusinessandR&Dactivities,as well as their experience in cooperationwith universities and their offer for futurecollaboration.

RafałTrznadel,Grupa Onet.plManager,presentedthecompany,whichoperatesthebiggestinternet

portal inPolandwithmorethan6millionusersandmorethan2billionpageviewsmonthly.HepresentedOnet.plactivities inthreemainareas:content, community services and e-commerce.He talked also about his company involvementin cooperation with Polish top universities.It embraces different fields like exchange ofexperienceandscientificknowledge,organizationoftrainingforstudentsanduniversityemployees,workshops of company employees for students,transfer of practical knowledge about internetservices, support in writing MSc and PhDthesesand incubator-likeactivities for teamsofprofessors,tutorsandstudents.

Onet.pl presented also a special project called“DreamConcept”, inwhich it looks for creatorsof innovative solutions based on newesttechnologies,constructionofcommunityservices,interpersonal communication and creation ofadvancedmultimedia.

Wojciech Burkot, Engineering Site Director atthe Google R&D Centre in Krakow, presentedGooglephilosophyofwork,aswellasreasonsforestablishing itsR&DCentre inKrakow, thefirstandsofartheonlyengineeringcentreinCentralandEasternEurope.Hearguedthattworeasonswere behind this decision: growing Internetmarket in CEE and high potential of Polishprogrammers (proven by number of finalists invarious programming contests) coming fromMałopolskauniversities.

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Robert Szewczyk presented Ericpol Telecom, acompany that is now the second largest PolishexporterofITservices.Hediscussedthemainareasof itsbusinessactivities, that isConsultingandOutsourcingServicesinIT&TelecomandSolutionProviding. Later on, he described cooperationof his company with Polish universities andpointed out main areas for future cooperation:EducationandRecruitment(definingcompetencepaths, preparing courses, giving lectures atuniversities, organizing internships, supervisingMScdissertationsandparticipating in job fairs)andR&Dprojectsintelecommunication,IT,ande-Health (FP7 projects and projects with otherEuropeanornationalgrants).

MarcinSieprawski,representingSoftware Mind haspresentedthedevelopmentofthecompany.ItwasestablishedinKrakowin1999,nowithasfiveofficesinEurope,amongthemtwoR&Dcentersin Krakow and Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France.SoftwareMindfocusesontwoareasofbusinessactivities: ITBusiness Solutions&Services andCustomer Management. He has underlined theimportanceofcooperationwithuniversities.Hiscompanyisinvolvedinresearchanddevelopmentcollaboration with University of Southampton,LvivPolytechnicNationalUniversity,IvanFrancoNational University of Lviv. They give alsolectures on quality aspects at Higher School ofManagement and Banking in Krakow and AGHUniversityofScienceandTechnologyinKrakow.Finally, he has given information on their newdevelopments in Semantic Web and NaturalLanguageProcessing.

Department of Information Technologies,JagiellonianUniversity

ChristianMerkwirth,postdoctoralresearcherattheInstituteofAppliedComputerScience,presentedresearchgroupoftheDepartmentofInformationTechnologies, established in2004.Thegroup iscarryingresearchandteachinginwiderangesofcomputersciencetopics.Heoutlinedthefollowingmainfieldsofresearchinterest:

• Patternrecognitionusedinclinicalimagingofvarious biological tissues andorgans helpingdevelop new techniques for computer-aideddiagnosing systems. They developed modelsutilizingtexturalinformationcontainedintheskin lesion images e.g. for early detectionofcutaneous melanoma and leads to effectivetreatment;

• Applied Data Analysis using generalmathematicalconceptstocopewithgrowingamountofdatacapturedbymeansofdigitaltechnology;

• StatisticalLearning,thatincludesdevelopmentofaMatlabToolboxforEnsembleRegressionModelling – ENTOOL, designed to makestate-of-the-art machine learning algorithmsavailableunderacommoninterface;

• Random Networks. They use the randomgraphstheorytoworkonlargesetsofdataforreal-worldnetworks.

They have presented two examples of theircollaborativeappliedresearch:

• withtheDepartmentofDermatology,CollegiumMedicum (Jagiellonian University) they workoncomputertechniquesandtoolsforsolvingsomedermatoscopydiagnosisproblems,

• with Drug Transport Group in Saarbrücken,Germanytheydevelopedstatisticalmodelsforpredictingpercutaneousdrugabsorption.

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IPRregulationsandspin-outsattheJagiellonianUniversity,Maciej Czarnik

In2005,therewasintroducedinPolandanewLawonHigherEducationthatdescribedasoneofthetasks of universities cooperation with business,especiallybyallowingcompaniestouse(freeofchargeoruponpayment)resultsoftheresearch.Also, it has been stressed that Universitiesneed to promote entrepreneurship among theiremployees and students. Unfortunately, lack ofinternal university regulations resulted in verylimited cooperation between academics andentrepreneurs. Similarly, number of patentsgrantedinPolandisextremelylowwhencomparedto Western European countries. Therefore, tostimulate business-science cooperation, theJagiellonian University has decided to preparethe regulations on intellectual property rightsandspin-outcompanies.

The regulations state that University supportsresearchers during the patenting process, bothfinanciallyandorganisationally.Theschemegives50%ofprofitstoaninventor(s),then15%toafaculty,10%toIPSupportFundandfinally25%totheUniversitycentralbudget.Theregulationsenvisage three ways for commercialisation ofIP: selling, licensing, or creation of a spin-outcompany.TheregulationsallowtheUniversitytotakesharesinspin-outcompaniesinanamountwhich isequal totheUniversitycontributiontotheIPofacompany.

Finally, Maciej Czarnik concluded that theprotectionofintellectualpropertyrightsisoneoftheelementsimportantinthecommercializationprocess. Construction of effective mechanismssecures University and scientists’ interests andhelpstoavoidconflictsofinterest.

RoundTablediscussions

Biotechnology&Health

The following presentations were given in theBiotechnology&Healthgroup:

Eduardo Pareja from Spain talked about hiscompany Era7 Information Technologies SL, abioinformaticscompanyspecialisinginbiomedicalknowledge management. He presented theoutlineofthemainresearchofthecompanyandofferedcollaborationinR&D(e.g.EUFrameworkProgramme7) and in software development, aswellasagreementsinmarketinganddistributionofproducts.(asaresultofthemeetinginKrakowtogetherwithtwoscientistsfromtheUniversityofSurreytheysubmittedaproposalforFP7).

FranjoCeceljarepresentingSchoolofEngineeringoftheUniversityofSurreyinvitedcollaborationin two projects: one aiming at creatingbiocompatibleH-fieldsensors(asaresultofthediscussionthereisapossibilityofcooperationwithanotherparticipantinthisfiled),anddevelopingtelemedicine solutions for patients with cardiacconditions (here, Eduardo Pareja expressed hisinterestincooperatingwithinthisproject).

GeorgeKasspresentedanoverviewofBiomedicalScienceattheUniversityofSurrey.Hefocusedon the research conducted in five main areas,which are Neuroendocrinology, Pharmacology,Molecular Toxicology, Nutrition, Dietetics andFoodScience,andMicrobialSciences.Discussionsfollowingthispresentationsuggestthatinmanyareas there will be cooperation initiated withotherparticipantsoftheTour.

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EnvironmentalSolutions

The following presentations were given in theEnvironmentalSolutionsgroup:

Arno Pronk, Associate Professor at EindhovenUniversityofTechnologypresentedhisresearchon new solutions in architecture, especiallymembranebuildingsandshellstructures.

Prof.WłodzimierzWójcikandJoannaBąkgaveapresentationon research ledby their researchgroupintheDepartmentofWaterandWastewaterTreatmentoftheCracowUniversityofTechnology(Politechnika Krakowska). They focused on theresearch areas, where they want to start bothscientific and business cooperation. These are:water/wastewater quality management, water/wastewater treatment technology, environmentremediation,andecologicalengineering.

FransBastiaanssen,PresidentofBasFoodcompanytalkedabouttheirproductcalledCropLook.Itisa software that enables measurement of cropyieldandgatheringnumberofqualityparametersduringthegrowingseason.Dataisgatheredviasatellitebasedsensors.

JoséM.BernabéandEncarnaÁguilapresentedtheir expertise in environmental and technical,consultancy which is used in their companyEmaplicada, formed by a research group fromtheUniversity of Seville. They concentrated onphysical and chemical characterization of soils,study of content in toxic elements, evaluationof the contamination and potential risks, andrecoveryofpollutedareas.

Han van Kasteren from Telos presented hisresearch in environmental solutions in biofuelsand solid waste issues. He discussed severalissues related to different ways of producingbiofuels fromwasteandbiomass, likepyrolysis,gasification, bio-ethanol from biomass/waste,syngasorwood.

MichaelDebijepresentedMaxxuncompanywhichisaspin-outcompanyofEindhovenUniversityofTechnologydevelopingnewtechnologiesinsolarenergyuse.Theproposeddirectionoftheresearch

is related to the current disadvantages of thisformofenergyandmakingitmorecompetitiveusingtheluminescentsolarconcentrators.

PiotrZygmuntprovidedmoreinformationabouthiscompanyBiospekt-ResearchandEducation.Hetalkedalsoabouttheservicesprovidedbyhiscompanyinmeasuringtheelementalcompositionofpollutionsinthesewagetreatmentplantsandfungimonitoringinbuildings.

Rinie van Tilburg fromBioDsl company talkedabouttheirplanstostartproductionofbiodieselfrom used cooking oil, animal fat, and rapeseedoil.Hewaslookingforresearchpartnersinthe areas of feedstock supply, development ofproductiontechniques,andsupportinlogistics.

Steve Tennison represented company MASTCarbonthatproducesnovelcarbonmaterialsusedfor catalysis, membranes and separations. TheMASTCarbonalsohasexperienceindevelopingand producing carbon cloth for biomedical andmilitaryuse.Hedescribedalsotheirinvolvementin multinational projects on membranes, VOCcontrol, water purification, catalysis and fuelcells.

Tony Book representing Riomay, talked abouttheir business activities in the area of solarenergy,especiallysolarthermalsystems.Fornewresearch, the special interest of this companyis in hybridisation of solar energy with othertechnologiesandinuseoftherenewableenergytechnologyinbuildingdesigns.

InformationCommunicationTechnology

The following presentations were given in theICTgroup:

Arturo Montejo from the University of Jaén,representingResearchGrouponIntelligentSystemsfor Information Access (SINAI), presented someaspects of their research on Natural LanguageTechnologies, which include: Text Mining(DocumentClassification,Question&Answering,TextualEntailment,TopicDetectionandTracking),Multilingual/Multimodal Information RetrievalandSpokenDialogueSystems.

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MoiraSmith

Fernando Bienvenido (University of Almería)talked about university’s research groups and aspin-out company - Iberocons S.A. He invitedother participants to join two of their projects:“Development of a Network of SustainabilityIndicators for Rural Development Processes”and “Development of an Integrated AgrarianInformationSystemforaSafeManagementoftheProduction”.

Christian Merkwirth from the JagiellonianUniversityexpandedonhismorningpresentation,focusing on his own research. He expressedinterestincooperationwithotherparticipantsintheresearchintheareaofanalysesoflargesetsofdata.

Moira Smith, representing the Guildford-basedWaterfall Solutions (on the photograph) haspresentedageneraloverviewof theiractivities.It offers a wide range of products used inspace, security & surveillance, transport andenvironmentapplications.Sheshowedexamplesoftheirproducts:theelectro-opticsensormodelandareal-timeimagefusion.

RobertSzewczykfromEricpolTelecomdevelopedhis presentation from the morning session,focusing on one project that his company hasprepared,thatis‘DrEryk’applicationformedicalapplications.

Ton Kooijmans from Kooymans IndustrialDesignbroughtanotherperspectivetoindustry-science cooperation. He started from the user,hisorherneedsandpreferences, toarrive toa

solutionwherespecialistknowledgeisdemanded.HepresentedhisideaofabicyclerackthatneedstobedesignedwiththehelpofengineersandICTspecialists.

Wednesday 28th March

Good practice in business-science cooperation–presentationofon-goinginitiatives

LifeScienceClusterKrakow,KazimierzMurzyn

Kazimierz Murzyn, Managing Director of theCluster Life Science Krakow, presented the ideaof a network of 32 institutions representingbusiness, science, healthcare, business supportorganizations and the local government. Themission of this cluster is to create sustainablenetwork that will provide global connectivityand optimization of existing potential ofindividuals and organizations. The Life ScienceCluster supports innovation and encouragescommercializationofresultsoftheresearch.ItalsohelpstodeveloptheresourcesandcompetencesintheLifeSciencesectorintheRegioninordertoexplorecurrentandfutureopportunitiesrelatedtodevelopmentofaknowledgebasedeconomy.TheLifeScienceClusterdirectlyaddressesgoalsincluded in Małopolska Regional InnovationStrategymissionstatement,whichaimtoincreasethe level of innovation and competitiveness ofcompanies through stimulating the cooperationofSMEswithawiderangeofinstitutionsinthefield of science, research & development, andtransferoftechnologies.

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Department of Ecological Microbiology, Prof.KatarzynaTurnau

Prof. Katarzyna Turnau from the Departmentof Ecological Microbiology of the Institute ofEnvironmentScienceshaspresentedherscientificwork on mycorrhizal and saprobic fungi, whichis used by her research group for recultivationof industrial waste. She remarked that theirresearch is mostly done in collaboration withcompaniesfromabroadratherthanfromPoland,wherethereisstillnotmuchoftheawarnessoftheenvironmentalissues.Prof.Turnauhasgivenan example of a zinc waste sedimental tank ofTrzebionkaMiningcompany,wherespecificplantswereusedtore-inforcethewasteheaps.

Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics andBiotechnology,PiotrLiguziński

Piotr Liguziński, PhD student and researchassistantattheFacultyofBiochemistry,Biophysicsand Biotechnology, presented his collaborativeresearchprojectintheareaofbioinformaticswithFQSPoland,Krakow-based subsidiaryofFujitsuKyushu System Engineering Limited,. The aimsof the project are in modelling of metabolismand quantum chemistry to improve algorithmsofmetabolicpathwaysinCellIllustratorsoftwaretool. In this case the company is using a rareexpertiseoftheuniversityresearchertodevelopitsproduct.

RoundTablediscussions-Recommendationsforkeyplayers

Allparticipantswereaskedtothinkofaperfectsituationinbusiness-sciencecooperation.Itwasto be a projection of their own experience intheir national context. Participants were askedtorelatethisidealfuturesituationtofiveareas:Companies, R&D Public System, InnovationSupport Infrastructure, Public Authorities andEnvironment. The following questions wereraised:

• howtomakecompaniesawareoftherelevanceofinnovationandhowtochangetheirattitudetowardsuniversities?

• what incentives should be introduced toencourage the scientists to produce market-orientedresearchresults?

• whatroleshouldbegiventotheintermediaryorganisationsthatsupportinnovation?

• what policies should be designed by thepublicbodies to facilitate the creation andgrowthofhigh-techcompanies?

• isthereaneedtocreatespecialprogrammesto support business-science cooperationandtechnologytransfer?

The discussions were continued in the samegroups as the day before. The outcomes of thedebatescouldbesummarizedasfollows:

Biotechnology&Health

• Academicsworkingonappliedresearchshouldhavebiggerawarenessofcompanies’real-lifeproblems,hencetheimportanceofnetworking(meetings, consultancy, student placement,etc.); researchers must get more commercialskills;

• IntheUK,thereisamodel(KTP–KnowledgeTransfer Partnership) where the governmentgivesincentivestoindustrywhentheywanttocollaboratewithuniversities;governmentpaysupto67%ofprojectcosts;itcouldbeausefulmodelforlessdevelopedcountrieswhereSMEsdon’thaveenoughfundsforresearch;

• In order to get connected there must be aprior relationshipbetween the SMEs and theuniversities;networkingisveryimportant;

• One cannot speak about one strategy forall companies; different strategies must bedevelopedfordifferenttype(size,sector,stageofdevelopment)ofcompanies;

• Onemustnotspeakaboutknowledgetransferbutabout“peopletransfer”tobringknowledgetothebusinesses;

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• Innovationneedstobeseenbyallplayersasanopenmodelthatcanbetailoredtotheneedsofindustry;

• ItcanbedifficulttofindresearchpartnersinveryspecializedareassotheKTnetworkingandexchange of information should be extendedtotheresearchersandindustrialentrepreneursacrosstheEU;

• There is a need for simpler procedures forSMEs to apply for EU R&D funding; Forexample,intheNetherlandsthereisamodelofR&DfundingforSMEscalledthe InnovationVoucher. The voucher is distributed by theMinistryofEconomicAffairsandcanbeusedonly for research activities in collaborationwith specific organizations (Universities,Scientific Foundations, etc.). In this waySMEs are stimulated to get in contact withuniversities and other Government fundedresearchorganizations.

EnvironmentalSolutions

• Both, researchers and entrepreneurs, needa support from development agencies, alsothere should be more collaboration withinternationalsupport institutionstoestablishwidersupranationalnetworks;

• Universities need business developmentmanagerstoprovideadvisoryresearchsupportto university researchers and enterprisingcompanies;

• Thereshouldbemoreprojects likeBBaSthathelptoestablishpersonalcontactsoranofficeshould be created (supported by regionalgovernment)formatchingindustryneedswiththeresearchexpertise;

• Such a matchmaking centre should be aninstitution supporting cooperation betweenindustry and science, an institution on aregionallevel(notassociatedwithanyspecificinstitution); this institution should set mainpaths of development, targeting sectors thatshouldbedevelopedaccordingtotheregionaleconomicalneeds;

• Other centres associated with differentinstitutions should direct people to placeswheretheycouldgainimmediateandaccurateinformationhowtofindtherightcontactsandappropriatesolutions

• Focused and productivemeetings of specificindustrialsectorsprovideanidealgroundfordeveloping ideas and should be frequentlyorganised(bytheregionalauthorities?)

• Implementation of the results of scientificresearchontheconsumerlevelisimportantasitraisespublicawarenessofscience;researchersshouldbelookingforpracticalsolutions,andfocusontheconsumer’sneedsthroughoutthewholeprocess;cooperationbetweenbusinessandscienceshouldbefocusedonthemarketgoals;

• ThereisaneedformoreinformationabouttheRegionalservicesrelatedtoR&Dcollaborationbetweentheresearchersandindustry.Perhapsthere should be regional websites enablingexchangeofideas,listingproposals,etc.(hostedbythebusinessdevelopmentoffices?).

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InformationCommunicationTechnology

• CurrentsituationintheNoordBrabantregionseemstobeclosetoanideal–researchcentresare working together with large companies;finding out the research agendas from largecompanies to match them with researchstrategies of universities and analyzing themarket potential of products resulting fromtheresearch.ThePhDstudentsplayakeyrolein taking the research results to the marketandobtainingfinancialreturnstouniversitiestofundmoreresearch;

• Continuous monitoring of the market needsisessential,theneedforsolutionswillinspireresearchers to provide specific products (inthe areas of ecology, energy, elderly people,diseases,logistics,etc);

• RegionofAndalusiashouldtrytousetheDutchand English models, including: strong andexperiencedorganizationsthatwouldprovidebusiness-research intermediaries, clear andwellorganisedstart-upcreationprocessandanincreased collaborationwith large industries.Forcompaniesitwouldbeeasytofindresearchpartnersintheirfields(information,resources,etc)throughthethematicclusters;

• GoodexamplesforfacilitatingR&Dpartnershipand KT are TU/e Innovation Lab, BrainportEindhoven and the Incubator 3+; they werehighlighted as networks and single doors tofacilitate communication and to create spin-outs.

• Collaboration always generate problemsbecauseresearchersprefertowork internally,soinaperfectsituationtheEUgovernmentsshould create clear “market” objectives forthem that would strengthen their universitycareerpath.

• Scienceandindustryusedifferentlanguages,therefore both sides should be supported byexperiencedintermediaries;

• Regionally there should be a single contactpointbetweenbusinessandscience,one-stop-

shopforscientistsandbusinesspeople;

• This single contact point should provide areliableandup-to-dateinformation(currentlythere are problems with a huge amount ofavailable information and it’s not easy todiscriminatetherelevantfromnotvaluable);

• InformalnetworksshouldalsoplayarelevantroleinKT;

• There should be regionally available fundingto startuniversity-industrycollaboration (forexample:facilities,training)

• Thereisnoadequatesupportfrompoliticiansand no influence of technical information intheirstrategies(i.e.incubatorsarebeingcreatedwithnoclearobjectivesaboutbeneficiaries,nostrictaccessrequirementsandnospecializedorfocusedservicesorlinkstoresearchcentres).

ForFurtherinformationontheMalopolskaRegionalprojectsfor

TechnologyTransfercontact:JaroslawDzialek,Jagiellonian

University, Centre for Innovation, Technology Transfer and

UniversityDevelopment(CITTRU),ul.Czapskich4,Krakow31-

110,Poland

e-mail: jarek.dzialek@uj.edu.pl

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Chapter9Problemsandsuccessindisseminationactivities

A unified marketing plan was envisaged in theapplication form of the project proposal. ThismarketingplanwasanalysedindetailsduringtheKick-off meeting held in Krakow in May 2006,andatimetablewasagreedforthedesigningoftheprojectwebsite,printingoftheBBaSprojectleafletsandwalletstobeusedinthedisseminationoftheresultsoftheproject.

TheUniversityofSurreycreatedandmaintainedtheprojectwebsiteandFUNDECORcoordinatedthe design of logos and publicity material, andthewalletsand leafletswereprinted inCordobaanddeliveredlatertoeachpartner.

All the dissemination activities, logos andmaterialsmeetthetermsofthepublicitystandardssetbytheEuropeanCommissionandtheGROWprogramme.

WEBSITE

The project’s website (www.growbbas.com) hasbeenthemaincommunicationchannelbetweenthe consortium and the stakeholders. The webpage contains all the information relevant totheproject:itsobjectives,calendarofactivities,locations,newsupdates,newsletters,etc.Themaininformation is in 3 languages (English,SpanishandItalian).

The BBaS Webpage contains detail informationabout the programmes of the Study Tours. Thelists of all participants of the Study Tours (thePFGmembers)arealsoavailableonthewebsite,butareaccessibleonlywithapasswordthatcanbeobtainedfromtheprojectCoordinator.

SincethecreationoftheBBaSwebsite(July06),itreceivedmorethan20.000visits.

Page Percent Count

Main.HomePage 21% 5382

Main.Downloads 8% 1952

Main.About 8% 1943

Main.Objectives 7% 1865

Main.Partners 7% 1842

Main.StudyTours 7% 1841

Main.Contact 7% 1760

Main.ContactDownload 6%

1608

Main.Help 5% 1342

Tour.Eindhoven 4% 1124

Tour.Cordoba 4% 1098

Tour.Krakow 4% 1047

Tour.Surrey 4% 981

Over 80% of our webpage visitors read thepages in English, Spanish pages were read byapproximately12%ofreaders,andItalianpagesby2%.

LEAFLETS

Wallets and leaflets explaining the project aimsandbenefitsweredesigned,printedanddeliveredtoallthestakeholders.Thebrochureshavebeenwidelyused for theprojectpromotion from thebeginningoftheproject.

Allmaterialshavebeendisseminatedbyusingthenetworksofeachindividualpartnere.g.throughthe local development Agencies, Chambers ofCommerce, strategic partnerships and otherestablished Special Network events, partner’s

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websiteandpublications.TheEUandtheGROWprogramme were acknowledged on all publicityandmarketingmaterialsproduced.WealsousedthekeyEuropeanRegionaleventsandtheRegionaloffices inBrusselsforpracticaldisseminationoftheBBaSinformationpacksandleaflets.

STUDY TOURS NEWSLETTERS

During the whole project special attention wasgiven to promote the results of each StudyTour. Study Tour Newsletters were distributedby each partner on a regional level, includinginformationaboutproposalsofcooperation,andsubjects discussed of each area (Bio, Env, ICT).In order to support networking activities Asterprepared threecataloguescollecting researchersandentrepreneursbasicprofiles.Eachcataloguewas relatedtoaspecificareaofactivity, takingintoconsiderationBiotechnology,EnvironmentalSolutions,ICTandNewMaterialTechnologies.

All this documentation has been distributedvia email, direct meetings, regional workshop,and major events arranged or participated bypartners.

REGIONALWORKSHOPS

Each region has organised its own regionalworkshops, aimed at disseminating the resultsfrom the Study Tours and stimulating a debateattheregionallevel.Theseworkshopshavebeencoordinated by each project partner and theymustbefocusedoneachrelevantsectorfortheproject;Biotechnology,EnvironmentalSolutionsandICTandNewMaterialTechnologies.

Forexample:“EnterprisescreationintheBiotechsector” coordinated by Aster, gave a goodopportunitytoanalyseandcompareopportunitiesand criticalities in enterprises creation,exploitationofresultsandcollaborationbetweenacademyandbusiness,exploringexperiencesandopinionscomingfromresearchers,entrepreneursandinvestorsarea.

“BBaS regional workshop TechnologyEntrepreneurship”coordinatedbyTU/e,aimedtoyoungentrepreneursandresearchers

“BBaSandtheopportunitytocollaborate inEUresearch” coordinated by University of SurreyaddressedtoSMEsaudience.

PARTNERSBULLETIN

SomeofthepartnersdisseminatedtheinformationabouttheBBaS,explainingtheproject’saimandbenefits through its own periodicals, reachingmore than 1000 people representing science,business and business support institutions,including Aster’s electronic newsletter (F1RST),theCITTRUNewsletterandtheVectorMagazineofTU/eInnovationLab.

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OTHERWAYSOFDISSEMINATION

Summarizing articles have been published inmonthlyJagiellonianUniversitymagazine“AlmaMater”.ManyotherregionalwebsiteswereusedtodisseminatetheprojectinMalopolskaregion.Severalannouncementswerebroadcastedontheradioandduring regional televisionprogrammeinregionaltelevisionchannel.

CONCLUSIONS

Itbecameapparentduringthelifeoftheprojectthatthemostsuccessfuldisseminationreliesonusingpersonalcontacts,workshopsorseminarstopotentiallyinterestedpeople.Anactiveapproachin trying to interestpeople in this projectgavethebestresult.

Multipledisseminationactions(brochures,websiteandmailings)contributedtocreatingawarenessin the regions, although they did not produceexpectedrequestsformoredetailedinformation.

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TheaimoftheStudyTourswastwo-fold:

• to create lasting collaborative researchnetworks between ‘Two Cultures’ (Businessand University), three different industrialsectors(IT,BiotechandEnvironment)andfiveEuropeancountries.

• todiscussthe‘goodpractice’intheKnowledgeTransferwithfeedbackfromtherepresentativeofindustryandtheresearchers

OureffortsinassemblingthePathFinderGroupsconfirmedthatthe‘TwoCulture’problemisstillapparent,andthiswasthecaseinallparticipatingregions. The intensity of the division varied:theNoordBrabant isperhapsmostadvanced inbringing these twoworlds together.Malopolskahas a longway to go in thismatter, but it hasto be said that the young entrepreneurs fromthe Jagiellonian University and other researchorganisations in Krakow engaged very stronglywiththeactivitiesoftheBridgingBusinessandScience.Thisgroupofyoung researchers (someof them PhD students) and entrepreneurialgraduates was most enthusiastic and rewardinginourproject.

Wearenotabletodecidewhichgroup(academicresearchers or entrepreneurs)weremorewillingto participate in the StudyTours; it seems thattheresponsedependedstronglyontheeffortputintothepresentationoftheproject’sbenefitsbythe Knowledge Transfer experts. However, thedisseminationofthe“goodpractice”didnotseemtobeofgreatinterestneithertotheSMEsnortotheresearchers.

All members of the Path Finder Groups wereinterestedonlyinspecificprojectsforthemselvesandthereforeastheStudyToursprogressedwehave been adjusting their programmes towardsstrictly specified thematic networking and theaimsofBBaShadtobere-examinedinthelightofthisexperience.Atfirst,theGuildfordStudyTourwasverymuchanexerciseinexaminationoftherelationship industry-university, with a numberof experts expressing their views and everyonetaking part in the discussion, but not havingenoughtimeto‘getdowntobusiness’oftalkingtopeoplewhomightbereallyinterestingresearchpartners. Thiswas themain complain from theparticipants.ThereforewitheachnextStudyTourwewereincreasingthenumberofopportunitiesfortheplannedindividualcontactsandorganisednetworking,ratherthangeneraldiscussionsabouttheaspectsofKnowledgeTransfer.

The adjustment of the Study Tour programmescreated a possibility of a very successfulconsortiummeeting for theBiodiesel project inCordoba,andseveralverypromisingcollaborativeundertakingsinEindhovenandinKrakow.

The‘goodpractice’aspectoftheBBaSprojectwasdone somewhat on the side and perhaps itwasmost useful and engaging for the participatingKnowledge Transfer experts, who have learnedagreatdealfromtheprocessoforganisingandfromtheparticipationintheStudyTours.

Chapter10ConclusionsbasedontheresultsoftheStudyTours

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Over95%ofcomments in theevaluationformswere praising the concept of bringing togetherthe researchers and industry representatives insmallgroupsfocusedonthepossiblecollaborativeresearchtopics.ThePathFindergroupmemberswho did not benefit as much as possible fromthesemeetingsweremostlylimitedbytheirpoorknowledgeofEnglish,orbythelackofpersonalnetworkingskills.ThisproblemcouldberemediedbymoreextensivepreparationfortheStudyTour,including personal coaching by the KnowledgeTransferprofessionals.

Itisclearfromthestudytoursthatalluniversitiesinvolved strive to achieve more effectiveutilizationoftheresultsofscientificresearch.Itisalsoclearfromtheparticipantsfromindustrythattheyareconstantlylookingforopportunitiesto collaborate with universities to help themwith specific problems. The leads to the overallconclusion that it is worthwhile looking forstructured ways for bridging the two differentworlds.

Everybridgehas two ends, in this context it isabusinessandauniversity.Thesetwodifferenttypesoforganizationshavedifferentreasonstomakealastingconnection.Thereforeweconsidertheirdifferentpointsofviewhere:

BBaS:thebusinesssideofthebridge:

TheexperiencefromourprojectshowsthatitisdifficultforSMEstofindtheirwaytoknowledgecreated by their local university, let aloneinternational universities. It is important forbusinesstohaveaclearunderstandingofhowtogetanswerstotheirquestions.Inmajoritycasesthesmallbusinessmendonotknowhowtofindthespecificscientistswhomightbeabletohelpthem.

AtEindhovenUniversityofTechnology,theyhavedeveloped a model to open their knowledge tobusiness. In thismodel they have created frontofficesthatactasintermediatesbetweenthetwoworlds.Therearedifferentfrontofficesbasedonthesizeofbusiness.Start-upcompaniescango

totheIncubatorofficer,SMEscancontactUnitedBrains, and large companies can contact theiraccountmanager.

Wehaveseenthatsuchamodelwithfrontofficeshelp bridging the gap between business andscience.Thefrontofficesunderstandtheproblemsofbusinessatonehandandon theotherhandtheycantranslatetheknowledgequestiontowardscientist.Asaresultbusinessesgetaquickerandbetteranswer.

Wehavealsoseenthatalotofthebusinessesthatparticipateddidnothave international contactsthatwouldbeveryvaluabletothem.Forinstance,based on the study tours, lasting contacts inBiofuelshavebeenestablishedbetweenpartnersin Surrey, Cordoba and Eindhoven. Withoutthe study tours it was very unlikely that thesecontactswouldbeestablished.This implies thatthereisaneedtohaveaninternationalplatformon which business is able to look for answersto theirquestionsandanactive involvementofknowledgetransferofficersisneededthere.

Whenspeakingaboutknowledgetransfer,businessis often greatly helped by the people transfer.Peoplefromuniversitiescouldlearnmuchaboutbusinesswhen they are actively involved in thecompany’swork,andthenaftersometimetheycancrossthebridgeagainandgobacktotheiruniversity.

BBaS:thesciencesideofthebridge

Bridgingthegaptobusinessisadvocatedbyalluniversities. However, this need to bridge thegap isnot feltbythemajorityof thescientists.Several reasons contribute to this situation.The most important reason is that transferof knowledge to business is not included inthe rewarding systems of universities. At theEuropeanuniversitiesscientistsareevaluatedontheirresearchresultsrepresentedbythenumberof papers published in high quality journals,and teaching results. Knowledge transfer is notincludedintheevaluationandthecareerpathoftheacademics.Asaresult,onlythosescientistwho

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haveapersonalbeliefthatknowledgetransferisimportant,arewillingtoputmucheffortinthis.If the universities want to stimulate knowledgetransfertheyhavetochangethissystem.

We have seen that most of the universitiesinvolved put much effort in creating spin outswithknowledgecreatedattheuniversity.Inordertobesuccessfulwehaveseenthatsomespecificdesign rules have to be followed. At the BBaSStudy Tour in Eindhoven Prof. Sjoerd Rommehighlighted some of the rules that universitiesneed to follow to be successful in creatingbusiness.Someofthemostimportantpointscanbesummarizedasfollows:

TheUniversitiesshould:

• Allowexclusivelicensingtoentrepreneurs

Permitstart-upstouseuniversityresources

• Make disclosure of inventions by academicstaffmandatory

• Create university funds to support studentsand academics in the orientation (pre-seed)stage

• Createways toobtainsignificantamountsofindustryfunding

• Permitequityinvestmentsinspin-outs

• Createnetworksforthestartuptointegrateinindustryandtoacquireaccesstoresources

• Cultivatetheprestigeoftheuniversitytogainaccesstoexternalresourcesforthestart-up

• Shapeauniversitycultureandrewardsystemthat reinforces rather than discouragesentrepreneurialbehavior

Inretrospectitseemsthattheideaoforganisingsmall international meetings (around 30participants) to create international industry-universityresearchconsortiaisaverygoodone.Itresemblesinsomewaythebenefitsofscientificconferencesandworkshops,butwhilethosefocuson presentations of the results of research, ourStudyTourswerepreparinggroundforKnowledgeTransfer. This concept worked better with eachnextStudyTourorganisedfortheBBaSproject.

ThisconceptworkedbetterwitheachoftheToursorganisedintheBBaSproject.

The best results were achieved when theparticipantshadtimetopreparethemselvestomeet specific potential collaborators sourcedby the KT professionals, who then were alsoabletoadviseonpossiblesourcesoffundingforKTactivities.

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Chapter11LastingNetworksandprojects

The main aim of the GROW project ‘Bridging Business and Science’ (www.growbbas.com) isto create lasting networks between universityresearchers and companies (in particular SMEs)acrossthefiveEUregionsparticipatinginGROW.The scientific focus was on three industrialsectors: Biotechnology, IT/New Materials andEnvironment.

Theprojectmethodologywasbasedonarecruitmentof4PathFinderGroups (PFG), each consistingof3 scientists and 3 representatives of industry, toparticipate in 4 networking events (Study Tours)organisedby theKnowledgeTransferProfessionalsbased at universities of Surrey, Cordoba, KrakowandEindhoven.ASTERfromBolognaparticipatedinBBaSasanobserver.

Themethodsofrecruitmentvariedindifferentcountriesdependingon the local innovation framework. Forexample, Eindhoven, Surrey and Cordoba reliedmostly on the university and Regional networks,but in Krakow much wider recruitment, includinglocalTVandmedia,wasused.Weweresuccessfulincreatingtheperson-to-personcontactsthatwillallowmanyfutureinnovativeresearchcollaborationprojects, but the time was not sufficient to bringthepartnerstothepointofsigningagreementsandseveralprojectsarestillinapreparatorystage.OnlyveryfewofourPFGrepresentativeswerecomingtothemeetingswithspecificideasforresearch.Inmostcasestheparticipationinthe2dayStudyTourwastreatedasanexploratoryeventandformanyitwasan‘eyeopener’andaspringboard.

Thefirst12monthsoftheprojectcoincidedwiththelaunchoftheEUFrameworkProgramme7(FP7)anditalsoprovidedafocalpointforEUinter-regionalresearch collaboration. Interest in this source of

research fundinghas risen to a certain extend theparticipation of SMEs in our regional recruitmentanddisseminationmeetings.

Tangibleresultsafter12months

1. International collaboration between SMEsanduniversities:

TheMillenniumBlock–SouthEastEnglandSMEininnovativebuildingmaterials:

Following the Study Tour in Eindhoven thecompany engaged in a collaborative projectwith the scientists from the Departmentof Architecture, Building and Planning ofEindhovenUniversityofTechnology.Thefacultyis evaluating their innovative product for thebuildingindustry.Basedontheinformationofthisdepartmenttheparticipantsarenowtryingtogetallnecessarycertificates intheUKfirst.Furthermore, a contact has been establishedbetweentheMillenniumBlockandThermeco,aDutchcompanywhoworksonasimilarproduct.ThermecowanttostartafactoryinRomaniaandthereisapossibilityofcollaborationbetweenthisDutchcompanyandtheUKbasedMillenniumBlock.Also,MillenniumBlocksoughtassistancefrom the Civil Engineering Department at theUniversity of Surrey for compliance testing oftheirproduct.

Riomay-SouthEastEnglandSMEproducingandinstallingsolarheatingpanels:

FollowingtheStudyTourinKrakowameetingwasarrangedforRiomayandresearchersfromtheUniversityofMiningandMetallurgyinKrakowworkingonalternativesourcesofheating.WiththesupportoftheBBaSteamtheyarecurrentlynegotiating a collaborative research projectwhichwillalsoinvolvesomesalesfromtheUKtoPoland.

Cedova(NL)

Collaboration arranged with the Universityof Surrey (Dr. Stephen Sweeney) to do joined

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research on photonic devices and a possibilityoftrainingMPhysstudentsduringtheirindustryyear inCedova.Currently theyarepreparingaproposalforFP7ICT2ndcallforthedeadlineinOctober2007.

Xpress – Spinout from Eindhoven University ofTechnology

During the Study Tour in Eindhoven a guestparticipant from the University of Brightonand Xpress reached an agreement on researchcollaboration between the university, Xpressand one of their German customers on thedevelopmentof a biotechnological applicationofoneoftheirproducts.

Ingenia andTelos– twoDutchorganisations inthesectorofbiofuels

ThesetwocompaniesmadecontactduringtheStudyTourswithscientistsfromtheuniversityof Cordoba and together they received grantfromtheDutchMinistryofEconomicAffairsforfundingofaresearchprojectonheterogeneousenzymaticprocessforbiodieselproduction.

CommentfromHanvanKasterenofTelos:

‘RonaldVerbernefromIngenia,aDutchSME,wentto a GROW BBaS meeting in Guildford in June2006 andmet there Prof.Diego Luna from theUniversityofCordoba.Ihaveaclosecooperationwith Ingenia about bio-energy projects andRonald understood from Prof. Luna that it wasinterestingtomeeteachotherinCordobatotalkaboutbiodieselprojectwewerebothworkingin.

InOctoberlastyearIwenttoCordobatogetherwithAlwinHoogendoornfromIngeniainordertospeaktoProf.LunaduringthenextBBaSmeeting.WediscussedtheinterestingR&DLunawascarryingout in relation tobiodiesel. It appeared that hefound a way to produce glycerol free biodieselproductionfromusedvegetableoils.IngeniaandI decided to investigate this opportunity morecloselyandappliedforagrantintheNetherlandstocarryoutafeasibilitystudyentitled:‘Glycerolfreebiodieselproductionwithenzymes’.BesidesthisalsoapossiblecooperationofProf.Lunain

a bio-ethanol project was discussed and LunadecidedtojoinaEuropeanconsortiumapplyingforanEUgrantentitled:SYN2NOL(FP7-ENERGY-2007-1-RTD) Production of Bioethanol fromSyngasFermentation.Partnersare:VTT-Finland,Cordoba University, JRC Europe, TU/e, IngeniaandWageningenUniversityNetherlands.

WithouttheBBaSmeetingswewouldneverhavemetandnotbeinspiredbytheideasofeachotherbecause we are working in different expertisefields(LunaincatalysisandimmobilizationandTU/eandIngeniainprocessengineering).’

2. CollaborativeproposalsforEUFP7andotherinternatoinalResearchfunding

FP7 Call Environment: Three proposals onbiofuels were submitted involving UniversitiesofCordoba,BolognaandDutchSMEs.

FP7CallHealth:1proposalonsecureandopenmiddleware for personalised health telematicsincludingpartnersfromtheUniversityofSurreyandERA7InformationTechnologiesSMEfromCordoba.

Polish-Spanishresearchprogramme:1proposalwas submitted for collaborative researchon hybrid photo catalysts based on TiO2 byresearchersfromtheJagiellonianUniversityandtheUniversityofCordoba.

CIP call for support to Knowledge Intensiveservices: The BBaS consortium joined OxfordInnovation (the coordinator) and threeuniversitiesfromthenewMemberCountriesinaproposalKISMETtotheCIPcallthatclosedinSeptember2007.

3. CollaborationontheRegionalscale

This is the most surprising outcome of theproject, participants of the BBaS Study ToursfromthesameRegionhadopportunitytotalktotheresearchersandKTprofessionalsfromthesamegeographicalarea!

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ZinirLimited–SouthEastEnglandSME:

Through the BBaS, the University of SurreyAdvancedTechnology Institute has helped thecompanyinsecuringproof-of-conceptfundingprovided by CommercialiSE, through FinanceSouthEast.Thefinancialsupportistoprovethecompany’stechnologyandcalibratethedevice.Further collaboration is sought to widen theapplicationofthetechnology.Therelationshiphas been enhanced through the assistanceof the SEEDA supported Enterprise Hub inEastbourne.

WaterfallSolutions

WaterfallTechnologyisinnegotiationswiththeUniversity of Surrey in regard to participationin the UK Department of Trade and IndustryTechnology Programme for CollaborativeResearch and Development with a view tosubmittingaproposalforfundingtotheAutumn2007call.4. Unexpectedmultidisciplinarycollaboration

Two scientists, Prof. Diego Luna from theUniversity of Cordoba and Han van Kasterenof the TU/e Innovation Labmet at our StudyTour in Cordoba and started a most fruitfulresearch collaboration that would have neverbeenpossiblewithouttheBBaS.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The benefits from networking events aredirectlyproportionaltothecarefulselectionof participants – ideally the matching ofresearch interests should be done by theorganizers before the meeting. To engageSMEs in research it is advisable to focus asmuchaspossibleonfindingtheresearcherswhoareexpertsinthefileddirectlyrelevanttothecompanies’product.Generalnetworkingmeetings do not bring good results. ThisraisestheneedforprofessionalKTfacilitators,scientifically trained, who are familiar withtheresearchexpertiseintheRegion.

2. Somekindofpump-primefundingisastrongincentiveforboth,SMEsandUniversities,toengage in collaborative innovative research.On the EU level the funding from theEuropeanCommissionProgrammescouldbeaveryimportantincentiveforcollaboration.

3. Regional thematic networks are good forbringing researchers and SMEs together,butthereshouldbeaRegionalgroupofKTprofessional facilitators to work with thenetworks.

4. OntheEUlevel,widerinvolvementofSMEsin the FP7 projects is beneficial to theinnovation in the Region. However, smallbusinesses need help that can be providedviatheRegionalauthoritybytheuniversities.Alternatively,regionalfundsthatcanbespentonengagingwithSMEsorresearchersabroadwouldbeveryuseful.

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ThebringingtogetherofKTprofessionalsfromfiveEuropeanregionsintheGROWINTERREGIIIc funded project on Bridging Business andSciencewasaveryimportantlearningexperienceforallofus.Itisclearthatalluniversitiesinvolvedstrivetoachievemoreeffectiveutilizationoftheresultsofscientificresearch,butnotallofthemareequallyeffectiveindoingso.

We have discussed during our Study Toursmainlytwoaspectsof‘bridging’universitiesandindustry:

1.Astraightforwardscientifichelpinsolvinginnovation problems arising in industrialsectors

2.A creation of university spin outs, mostoften very small and fragile businessventures based on the IP resulting fromresearchconductedbytheacademics

Collaborationofuniversitieswithindustry

Toprovideinnovativesolutionsitisessentialforuniversities to have contacts with appropriateindustrial networks. We have been reassuredby the Path Finder Groups members fromindustry that they are constantly looking foropportunities to collaborate with universitiestohelpthemwithspecificproblems.Thisleadsto the overall conclusion that it isworthwhilelookingforstructuredwaysofbridgingthetwodifferentworlds.

The round table three-sided (Business -KT professionals - Researchers) discussionsconductedduringourprojectconfirmedthatfor

smallbusinessesitisdifficulttofindtheirwayto knowledge createdby their localuniversity,let alone international universities. In our EURegionsthereisnowidelyknownandacceptedcommongroundwheretheuniversityresearchersand small businessmen (and businesswomen)canmeet and get to know each others needsand strengths. It is important therefore tocreate such ‘market place’ (‘Agora’?) wheresuchcontactsandexchangescantakeplace.

InSEEandNoordBrabantthegovernmentandthe regional authorities are funding variousschemestofacilitatesuchcontacts(forexample:SEEDA funded Knowledge Networks), but theawareness of their existence is still low andthey do not go beyond the Regional researchresources.

At Eindhoven University of Technology, theyhavedevelopedamodeltoopentheirknowledgeto business. In this model they have createdfrontofficesthatactasintermediariesbetweenthe two worlds. It is accepted that such amodelwithfrontofficeshelptobridgethegapbetweenbusinessandscience.Thefrontofficesunderstandtheproblemsofbusinessatonehandand on the other hand they can translate theknowledgequestiontowardscientist.Asaresultbusinessesgetaquickerandbetteranswer.

Chapter12BestPracticeRecommendations

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Close contacts with industry can benefituniversitiesandsomeEUinstitutionshavealreadydevelopedsuchcontacts.ForexampleUniversityof Surrey has a programme for students calledProfessional Training Year, where they can goand work in industry after their 2nd or 3rd yearattheuniversityandthecomebacktocompletethedegreecourse.However,thisschemeisaimedat large companies or government institutions,notSMEs,becausesmallbusinessesoftencannotprovide the right environment for training thestudents. A similar problem is with another UKscheme – the Knowledge Transfer Partnership(KTP).

Wehavealsoseenthatalotofthebusinessesthatparticipateddidnothaveinternationalcontacts.However, such contact would be very valuableto them. For instance, based on the StudyTours lasting contacts in Biofuels have beenestablishedbetweenpartnersinSurrey,CordobaandEindhoven.ThesmallconstructionbusinessfromSEEfoundresearchpartnersinEindhoven,andasolarheatingcompanystartedresearchonnewtypesofrenewableheatingsystemswiththeresearchersfromauniversityinKrakow.Withoutthe Study Tours it was very unlikely that thesecontacts could be established. This implies thatthereisaneedtohaveaninternationalplatformonwhichbusinessisabletolookforanswerstotheirquestions.

However, it has to be emphasized that in eachof these cases the involvement of multilingualKnowledgeTransferprofessionalswasvital.

The academics have generally low interest intalkingtopotential industrial researchpartners.TheacademicinterestinthistypeofKnowledgeTransferislimitedtosmallconsultancycontractsorsearchforpartnersfortheEUornationallyfundedresearchproposalsthatrequirepartnershipswithindustry.

It has to be considered, that not all researchactivitiescarriedoutatuniversitiesareofinteresttoindustry,andonthewholeonlyabouthalfofthe university academics is involved actively ininnovative research. There is only a very small

groupofacademicswhohaveapersonalbeliefthatknowledge transfer is importantandarewillingtoputmucheffortinthistypeofactivity.

New business resulting from research – theuniversityspin-outs.

Bridging the gap to business by creating spinout companies is advocated by all universities.However, this need is not often shared by theuniversityresearchers.Themostimportantreasonforthelowpriorityofresearchcollaborationwithbusiness,orcreationoftheirowncompany,islackofthe influenceofsuchactivitiesonthecareerdevelopmentoftheacademicsinallourcountries.The professional progression of the universityacademics is based solely on their publicationrecordsbacked–upbythesciencecitationindex,thenumberandvalueoftheresearchgrantsheldand their teaching activities, including the PhDstudents.Businessrelatedactivitiesdonotfigurein the professional evaluation of the universityresearchers. If universities want to stimulateknowledge transfer they have to change thissystem.

There are also other important points that arerelatedtothecreationofspinoutbusinessfromthe university based research, for example the

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personalitiesoftheresearchersarealsoofgreatimportance,veryoftenmostinnovativeacademicshavenobusiness skills and in a researchgroupthere is just one person who can communicatewithindustrialpartnersorsellanideathatwouldbeusefulintheindustrialsector.

The points raised by the Path Finder GroupmembersatourStudyTourdiscussionsstressedthe need of a supportive policy at universitiesandKTprofessionalsthatcanadviseabout:

• IPandpatents

• Provideseedcapital

• Giveaccesstoventurecapital

• Adviseoncommercialisation,

Conclusions

ThemainpointsraisedbytheBusinessparticipantsof BBaS related to good practice in KnowledgeTransferactivitieswereasfollows:

• Themarketpull-TheKTshouldbeinitiatedbyindustry.Themarketpullshoulddeterminewhatisneededwhentheresearchisconcerned.The industry has practically no interestin academics presenting them with theirresearch outcomes, because usually it takesalotoftimeandefforttotailorthosetotheneedsof thecommercialmarket. (Thispointwas be disputed by the academics, becausetheybelievethatthereisastrongneedforaninnovativeresearchthatdoesnotrespondtotheimmediateneedsofcommerce).

• The Intellectual Property Rights from acollaborative research should belong toindustrialpartner,sinceonlytheindustrycanutilizethem.(Theresponseoftheuniversityis that the IPRshouldbeboughtfromthembyindustry).

• The Regional KT Contact Points – each EUregion should have a clearly defined and

widelypublicizedKTContactPointwherethesmallbusinessescangetadviceandsupportinfindinga researchexpert to facilitate thedevelopmentandinnovationfortheircompany.Such contact points could be located at aregionaluniversity,butitshouldnotbefocusedononeuniversity, buthave awidenetworkofexperts,preferablyacrosstheregionalandnational boundaries. Therefore suchKT CPsneedtobefundedfromregionalornationalfunds.TheEuropeanCommission’sattemptatcreating the InnovationRelayCenterswasaverygoodidea,butitcannotworkasaparttimefundedoperation.TheKTprofessionalsin these centers need to be solely focusedon facilitating such activities. Also fundingfor themshouldbe long-termtoallowforaproperdevelopmentofmethodologysuitablefor the regional circumstances. InAndalusiathe Regional government created an IT KTContactPoint.This isaverygoodinitiative,butITisapassivetool,theinnovationandKTneedsfacilitatorswhocanengageactivelyincreatingthecontactsbetweentheresearchersandsmallbusinesses.

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ThemainpointsconcerningthegoodpracticeinKTbasedon thediscussionswithourAcademicPathFinderGroupsmembersareasfollows:

• Changeintheuniversitycareerevaluation–theuniversity staffevaluationsystemsmustreflect the value of the university-industryresearchcollaboration

• TheRegionalKTContactPoint– toprovidea contact with industry including smallbusiness,notonlyintheRegion,butalsoonthe national and international (mostly EU)level.ThisactivityneedstobecarriedoutbyKTprofessionalswhoaimatpersonalcontactandknowledgeofparticularstrengthsofthescientists working in their region and haveextensivenetworkswithotherKTprofessionalsacrossEurope.

• Lackoftime–Theteachingandadministrativecommitments of the academics are oftencreatingaseriousbarriertotheircollaborationwith industry.Thispointcanbeonlysolvedbytheuniversities.

And finally, when speaking about KnowledgeTransfer,wemustnotforgetthatthebestresultscould be achieved by transfer of people. Theresearchers from universities could learn a lotaboutbusinessneedsiftheycouldworkforatimein industry, and vice versa. There are attemptstoachievethisinsomeoftheEUcountries.Forexample,intheUKtheResearchCouncilsandtheRegionalDevelopmentAgenciesoffercompetitivefundingforsuchschemes.However,thesuccessoftheseprogrammesisnotobviousyet.Usually,thescientistswhowanttoworkatuniversitiesdonotwant towork under the pressure of thecommercial developments, and the successfulbusinessman are not often good at teaching atuniversities, and the university salaries are notreachingtheindustriallevels.

The Bridging Business and Science is not an easy and straightforward activity, however, it is needed and it should continue to be supported by the national, regional and EU funds.

Thank you GROW

This report was prepared and edited by the BBaSCommittee:

• SophieStos

• AntonioPerez

• JarekDzialek

• PeterVerdasdoonk

• MariaGraziaZucchini