A public event series on topical policy issues

Targeted at policy makers, thought leaders and leading practitioners.

LATEST TenU Hosts

TenU Hosts Global Proof-of-Concept Models: six key insights

Avoiding the ‘Valley of Death’ in research commercialisation.

Key speakers

Meet the panel from the latest TenU hosts webinar.

KU Leuven Research & Development

Paul Van Dun

Anne Dobrée

Parkwalk Advisors

Holly Reeve

HydRegen

Karin Immergluck

Stanford University

Knowledge Exchange UK

Stuart Wilkinson

Key seminar takeaways

Funding is critical to retain entrepreneurial academics and unlock their potential

The discussion made a very compelling case for why POC funding matters on an individual and practical level. Hearing the first-hand experience of Holly Reeve highlighted that for many academics seeking to make the transition from research to commercialisation, the practicalities of securing funding can make all the difference in determining whether that research succeeds in delivering real world impact.

The speed at which funding can be accessed makes a big difference

This emphasis on the need for alignment between the individual commercialisation journey and the funding available also highlighted that it is not only the availability of POC funding but also the speed at which funding can be accessed that impacts the viability of a commercialisation project. Anne Dobrée noted that this can be a challenge with some of the staged funding that is currently available in the UK, which introduces a delay to the POC process.

Research commercialisation boosts the whole economy

The discussion also touched on the broader benefits of POC funding. Panel chair, Paul van Dun, made the point that this consideration was critical in the Flemish government’s decision to fund POC, using funding from outside of the existing regional research budget. In this case, there was widespread consensus from government and industry stakeholders that research commercialisation adds value to society and the economy.

POC funding drives a culture shift in innovation ecosystems

Karin Immergluck provided valuable reflections on how the availability of POC funding in Stanford has contributed to the ‘snowball’ effect on the wider innovation ecosystem, with a considerable proportion of students and academics choosing to come to Stanford because of the entrepreneurial environment.

Funding alone is not enough: support and resources are crucial

The panel noted that funding alone isn’t sufficient to drive successful outcomes, and the support and resources available to entrepreneurs is also critical. Holly again provided personal insight into how mentoring and support for developing a wide range of skills can help to shape the commercialisation journey.

Expert input is needed for most effective allocation of funding

It was noted that different levels of funding are appropriate depending on the technology in question and so a combination of expertise is needed to ensure that POC funding is allocated to achieve maximum impact and drive a thriving innovation economy.

If you’re interested in the information featured in the section above then click on the link below to read about the seminar in full.

Find out more

upcoming TenU Hosts

TenU Hosts: Entrepreneurial Mindset

Date:

Wed 17th September

TIME:

1:00pm - 2:00pm BST

In the recently launched Industrial Strategy, the UK Government made a commitment to place entrepreneurship and innovation at the heart of the UK's economic renewal. This emphasis is echoed globally, with governments around the world placing greater focus on the potential for university innovation to support positive social and economic outcomes. However, in many institutions, a ‘publish or perish’ culture still prevails, and research commercialisation is not always prioritised.

What else can universities do to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset?

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation, where an international panel of experts will explore:
·      What can be learnt from global best practice in building an entrepreneurial mindset in universities?
·      What conditions are most likely to promote entrepreneurship in universities?
·      How do entrepreneurial universities benefit the wider economy?
TenU member Catherine Headley, CEO Manchester Innovation Factory, will chair the panel featuring:
- Paul Cheek, Executive Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management
- Kirsty Collinge, Head of Research Strategy, University of Edinburgh
- Koenraad Debackere, Professor of Economics and Management of Technology and Innovation at KU Leuven.
- Linda Koschier, Head of Entrepreneurship, UNSW Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering