Gate2Start is a name of another Framework Programme project focused on the ICT sector and technology transfer. It is a part of the broader Europe Innova initiative addressing the exploitation of research-based innovation and bringing entrepreneurship and market expertise at the start of applied research.
Several coaching and networking events were run in several countries over last two years and there have been also developed some outputs the CITT and NowEurope community can benefit from.
One example is a study based on a survey among technology transfer officers at universities, spin-offs and venture capital funds. Another example is a set of tools for business minded researchers who want to start commercializing their research results. You can use them free and share your feedback here at nowEurope.
FIRST Innovation Park is a member of the Gate2Start consortium and we would bring your input to the right people. The final evaluation including the recommendations for policy makers should be available in late September.
Working on Gate2Start taught us a lot. Our experience from talking to the Czech ICT researchers shows their interest in practical advice on setting up spin-offs, in presenting their research exploitation plans to business angels or potential partners and in networking across geographical borders. Their awareness of the FP7 rules and procedures differs a lot depending on their age and what technology or application they are working with.
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More and more, researchers are asked to not just carry out high quality research but also to deliver an active contribution to the effective economic exploitation of their research results. This effort to interact pro-actively with economic actors on the further valorisation trajectory of their research exceeds the classical mechanisms to distribute academic research results (publications, congress contributions, participation to networks of academic peers…). These requirements put pressure on researchers to define their research topic as accurately as possible by including from the onset the market assessment and business opportunity investigation.
Gate2Start aims at assisting these researchers by providing them with insights in this value adding process and by putting at their disposal tools to assess the opportunity independently.
Therefore the Gate2Start Self Assessment Tool was used during awareness seminars in Belgium as a help to assess the business potential of research ideas or projects.