How to succesfully obtain a
Valorisation Grant
October 11th, 2012
Stefan Jongerius
Wouter Segeth
Mission STW
Enabling knowledge transfer between technology
driven sciences and its potential users
1. By financing excellent applied scientific research
2. By uniting scientists and potential users in research
Img src: www.technologie.at
Est. 1981
Current relations
• 500 projectleaders
• 750 researchers
• 600 companies in user committees
• 2500 actual user relations
• 50 fte STW office employees
Universities involved
Erasmus
1%
Institutes VU
Radboud UvA 3%
3%
3%
5%
RUG
5%
TUD
26%
UL
6%
WUR
7%
UU
7%
UT
16%
TU/e
18%
Participation knowledge-institutions in STW-programs (OTP, Perspectief & Vernieuwingsimpuls) based on running projects in 2009
Topsectors
Creative industry
1%
Logistics
1%
HTSM
45%
Percentage relevance topsectors based on STW projects
Life sciences &
health
27%
Water
4%
Agrofood
3%
Energie
7%
Horticulture,
seed materials
4%
Chemistry
9%
STW network
Bubblechart STW network; size indicates number of proposals; relative distance indicates collaboration
STW budgets
€ 74,7M
Co-finance & transfer fees
9,5M
Partnership &
Valorisation Grant
EL&I
23,0M
Perspectief
NWO other
10,5M
Vernieuwingsimpuls
NWO, OCW
basic funding
31,7M
Open Technology Program
income
expenses
Yr. 2011
STW Instruments
Perspectief
•
•
•
Vernieuwingsimpuls (NWO)
•
•
Individual research grants
Size ≤ 1,5 M€ per proposal
Technology driven networks
≥ 3 universities
Size: 2 - 7,5 M€ per programme
10,5M€
23M€
31,7M€
Open Technology Programme
•
•
•
Technology driven research projects
Size: ≤ 750 k€ per project
In-cash and/or in-kind contributions
from users
5,5M€
4M€
Valorisation Instruments
Partnerships
•
•
•
Demand-driven programmes
50% in-cash contributions from
industry
Size: ≤ 3 M€ per partnership
•
•
•
Valorisation Grant
Demonstrator
Stimulation commercialisation
of research results
Financing valorisation
Fundamental
Research
Applied
Research
OTP
Transition
Market entry
Market
expansion
Funding intensity
Valorisation
Grant
Government
Banks
Demonstrator
Funding gap
Venture
Capital
Perspectief
Partnership
Industry
Industry
Angel Investors
STW valorisation
Result
Public
Sales
Private
Active user
Knowledge transfer
Research
OTP
Perspectief
Industry & SME
Promising result
Demonstrator
Industry & SME
HBO RAAK
Active entrepreneur
Valorisation Grant
Start-Up & SME
Valorisation Grant
Phase 1:
Feasability study
Phase 2:
Valorisation
Phase 3:
Commercialization
• Grant up to 25.000€
• Grant up to 200.000€
• Business running
• To prove the technological
• Transition from public
• Private funding
and commercial feasibility
research to private
business
STW Valorisation Grant
Started in 2004.
This program closely resembles the American Small
Business Innovation Research program (SBIR).
The main objectives of the Valorisation Grant are:
To transfer university knowledge into business
• to existing SME companies
• to new companies
To strengthen the innovation power of SME
• high-tech innovations
Valorisation Grant
Public
Phase 1: Feasibility study
• to show technical feasibility
• to show economical / commercial feasibility
• maximum: 25.000 euro
Phase 2: Valorisation phase
• proof of concept
• to raise venture capital
• to serve first customers
• maximum: 200.000 euro
Phase 3: Commercial phase
• fully commercial operating company
• privately funded, no public funding
Private
Valorisation Grant
Who can apply?
Only university employees can apply
However…
The applicant can use the grant to start-up
a company or to cooperate with an
existing SME
The advantage
Stimulates university employees to start
business activities
Universities becomes much more involved
in innovative SME activities
Facts Valorisation Grant
• Yearly budget: 3-4 million euro
• 2 calls a year
• Open call, no themes.
• One big competition. Every applicant
gets interviewed by a experienced
panel of entrepreneurs, private
bankers and scientists
• STW is willing to transfer or license IP
to company for market price
Facts Valorisation Grant
VG 2004-2010
Phase-1
Submitted
148
Life Sciences
127
High-tech systems
80
ICT
31
Chemistry
Total 386
Granted
60
59
31
16
166
Phase-2
Submitted
45
37
26
14
122
Granted
16
20
15
4
55
Impact Valorisation Grant
VG performance indicator
Companies Phase 2
start-up
SME
52 (96%)
2 (4%)
Follow-up
appplication phase 1 ► phase 1
phase 1 ► phase 2
phase 2 ► phase 3
43%
45%
50-75%
Valorisation Grant start-ups
Findings so far
• The motivation at the university to develop your
own business is high.
• The entrepreneurial skills at the universities
can be improved.
• The incubator facilities at the universities make
Valorisation Grant projects more successful
• Low-entrance private seed capital makes the
continuation into phase 3 relatively easy.
How to write a VG phase 1 application
Content
1. Contact details
2. Business idea
2.1 The problem
2.2 The proposed solution
2.3 Innovative aspects
2.4 Commercial aspects
2.5 The IP position
3. Project plan
3.1 The aim of the project
3.2 Description of work
3.3 Milestones, time schedule
and cost indications
3.4 The project team
4. Budget plan
Evaluation criteria:
• Technological innovation (1x)
• Market potential (1x)
• Project plan (1x)
• The team (1x)
How to write a VG phase 2 application
Content
1. Contact details
2. Business development plan
2.1 The business idea
2.2 The product development plan
2.3 Market and competition
2.4 Business organisation
2.5 IP position and strategy
3. Project plan
Evaluation criteria:
3.1 The aim of the project
• Technological innovation (1x)
3.2 Description of work
• Market potential (1x)
3.3 Milestones and time schedule
• Project plan (2x)
and cost indications
• The team (2x)
3.4 The project team
4. Budget plan