Entrepreneurial Universities: spinoffs and technology transfer

This workshop has ended. You can watch the recording, access the presentations and discover the key learnings in this follow-up article.

On 14 March 2024, the Policy Learning Platform is hosting a webinar on the topic of entrepreneurial universities: spinoffs and technology transfer.

Universities have multifaceted responsibilities that go beyond their traditional roles of developing human capital (education – the first mission) and producing new knowledge (research – the second mission). They are increasingly encouraged to embrace a ‘third mission,’ which involves actively engaging in regional development and contributing to society.

This third mission requires universities to adopt a more entrepreneurial approach and explore innovative services and initiatives aimed at fostering regional growth and community development (OECD).

The importance of university-industry collaboration for regional development has led universities to rethink their purposes. Universities are increasingly participating in regional development and creating public value. This is done through diverse initiatives such as:

• Establishing innovation and technology transfer offices 
• Providing consulting services
• Promoting an innovation culture to empower staff and students
• Responding to regional missions
• Supporting the formation of start-up incubators and spinoffs

What you can expect 

During this webinar, we will explore how public policies can contribute to spinoffs and the commercialisation of research results. This will be done through good practices on entrepreneurial universities and explore the latest policy findings from policymakers and experts.

Entrepreneurial universities - latest trends

• By Sébastien Hug from the Head Innovation Office at the University of Bern, Switzerland.
• By Arno Meerman, CEO of the University Industry Innovation Network, the Netherlands.

Latest insights from Interreg Europe good practices

• By Triinu Lööve on the University of Tartu spin-off program, Estonia (IMPROVE).

Initiatives from the Interreg Europe project VIADUCT

• By Cristina Ruiz and Camille Bertrand from the University of Zaragoza, Spain.

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