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University of Tartu (UT) spin-off program
Published on 26 July 2021
Estonia
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The University of Tartu offers its scientists and students a developing program for knowledge-based enterprises up to the total value of 10 000 €. The program is designed for UT researchers, employees and students, who have a knowledge-based and/or escalating idea. Program is outlined in 6 months phases with maximum duration of 3 years.
Program offers training, business and science mentoring and coaching services, IP analyse and due diligence, team building, networking and opportunities for financing, including promotional events and activities.
UT spin-off program teams:
• 2020 15 new participants
• 2021 9+ new participants
The program strengthens deep tech ecosystem and contributes to the value chain of creating university spin-offs with the main stakeholders being incubation centres and venture capitalists (funds).
In order to strengthen the flow from basic research to market Proof of Concept (PoC) funding was first created in 2019 and within three years UT has provided the funding of 900 K for 31 projects in the University of Tartu.
About half of the researchers who apply for the spin-off program have received the PoC funding. This proves that the PoC together with the UT spin-off program is a successful approach for commercialization of science based ideas and technology.
UT was the first university in Estonia who established the holding company UniTartu Ventures OÜ in order to take shares against IP created in the UT.
Contact: [email protected]
Program offers training, business and science mentoring and coaching services, IP analyse and due diligence, team building, networking and opportunities for financing, including promotional events and activities.
UT spin-off program teams:
• 2020 15 new participants
• 2021 9+ new participants
The program strengthens deep tech ecosystem and contributes to the value chain of creating university spin-offs with the main stakeholders being incubation centres and venture capitalists (funds).
In order to strengthen the flow from basic research to market Proof of Concept (PoC) funding was first created in 2019 and within three years UT has provided the funding of 900 K for 31 projects in the University of Tartu.
About half of the researchers who apply for the spin-off program have received the PoC funding. This proves that the PoC together with the UT spin-off program is a successful approach for commercialization of science based ideas and technology.
UT was the first university in Estonia who established the holding company UniTartu Ventures OÜ in order to take shares against IP created in the UT.
Contact: [email protected]
Resources needed
Program realization cost is ca 150 000 € per year with 2 full time personnel (FTPs) and in addition inhouse IP, tech transfer and legal experts and internal and external scientific and business mentors.
Evidence of success
• UT has 57 spin-offs (ca 3 per year)
• Spin-offs have in total 500 employees
• Annual turnover in total exceeds 50 million euros
• Spin-offs actively engaged in research and development and IP usage
• Collaboration with ecosystem partners and alumni
• Holding company UniTartu Ventures OÜ established in 2020
• Spin-offs have in total 500 employees
• Annual turnover in total exceeds 50 million euros
• Spin-offs actively engaged in research and development and IP usage
• Collaboration with ecosystem partners and alumni
• Holding company UniTartu Ventures OÜ established in 2020
Potential for learning or transfer
Within extremely optimised financial resources UT has created a flow of university spin-offs throughout the years.
The dynamic and flexible process has proved to be successful in creating sustainable spin-offs.
The best way for new business creation based on research starts with Proof of Concept, funding the validation of technology, following the UT spin-off (pre-incubation) program, which prepares the team for business incubators which in turn are concentrating on investor and market readiness. Thus, UT creates seamless value chain for all the ecosystem beneficiaries.
UT has implemented their good practice in two national public tenders in 2020 (“Development of start-up ecosystem in Estonia and development programs for start-ups in 2020”) and 2021 (“Services for the creation and development of science based start-ups and knowledge based ecosystem of entrepreneurship in Estonia”).
The dynamic and flexible process has proved to be successful in creating sustainable spin-offs.
The best way for new business creation based on research starts with Proof of Concept, funding the validation of technology, following the UT spin-off (pre-incubation) program, which prepares the team for business incubators which in turn are concentrating on investor and market readiness. Thus, UT creates seamless value chain for all the ecosystem beneficiaries.
UT has implemented their good practice in two national public tenders in 2020 (“Development of start-up ecosystem in Estonia and development programs for start-ups in 2020”) and 2021 (“Services for the creation and development of science based start-ups and knowledge based ecosystem of entrepreneurship in Estonia”).
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
University of Tartu (UT)
Estonia
Eesti
Contact
Project manager