REPORT ON STUDY VISIT TO GOTHENBURG Experience of Swedish organisations in facilitating innovations, entrepreneurship and creative thinking January, 2012 Introduction During January 16 - 18, 2012 partnership of SIB Net project consisting of 14 members (representing all project partners) was visiting 8 organisations in Sweden, Gothenburg: science parks, higher education institution, business incubator, national support organisation, seed capital fund and pre--incubator. The main goal of this study visit was to benchmark experience of Swedish organisations in developing pre-incubation and incubation services and facilitating creativity among students of higher education institutions and population in general. The expected result of the trip – implications for development of effective model of pre-incubators of Ventspils High Technology Park (VHTP) and Tartu Science Park (TSP), as well as for improving Creativity & match-making methodology developed within SIB Net project. During the study trip the following organisations were visited: January 17, 2012 (Gothenburg) Chalmers Industriteknik (science park) Sahlgrenska Science Park Lindholmen Science Park Innovationsbron (national support organisation) January 18, 2012 (Gothenburg) Chalmers Innovation Business Incubator Chalmers Innovation Seed Fund Chalmers University of Technology Encubator AB Further on a brief summary of the content presented by each visited organisation is provided and the main implications (where applicable) described. 2 The visited organisations and main implications Chalmers Industriteknik (science park) Chalmers Industriteknik (further – CIT) is a foundation, founded by Chalmers University of Technology in 1984. It is employing 80 employees, having annual revenues of 9 MEUR. One of the founders is also Chalmers University of Technology. CIT is located next the campus of the university. CIT is not a traditional science park rendering business development services of infrastructure but focuses rather on the soft services side of science park concept. The main task of CIT is to ensure R&D collaborations. It uses Chalmers University of Technology resources (advanced research infrastructure, 156 professors, 1627 researchers, students and worldwide networks) to bring value to industry, help the companies in problem solving and development of products and services. CIT goal is to utilise resources Chalmers University of Technology for benefit of society and industry, based on close collaboration. The mission of CIT is: 1. Research and development for industrial companies on commercial terms 2. Find industrial projects for Chalmers University of Technology 3. Project managers for projects carried out at Chalmers University of Technology The main services are: o External R&D services to companies; o Technology scouting; o Insourcing; o Technology audits and due diligence; o Attraction of public funding; o Organisation of seminars, workshops and conferences. The estimated value CIT has brought to industry is around 100 MEUR, e.g., more than 10 MEUR per year of new market value brought due to development of new products, more than 10 MEUR of liability avoided due to eliminating malfunctioning in products and services. CIT can be regarded as a translator between companies and research capacity of Chalmers University of Technology. Industry has a need for development and problem solutions, but they have hard times in negotiating and communicating with researchers. Likewise researchers are keen to spend more time in their laboratories than going out to industry and sell, as well as to think in business terms. CIT understands both sides and works to bring them together and achieve the desirable results. There are at least two reasons why CIT can speak in language of both sides, 3 firstly, around 50% of CIT’s employees are with PhD degrees meantime having background in industry, secondly, Chalmers University of Technology as a founder has good reputation within industry (CEOs of companies basically graduates of the industry) and encourages policy for researchers to get involved in serving the industry. CIT has several subunits according to fields of expertise, e.g., applied mechanics, urban water systems, energy management, recycling development, industrial energy etc. Initially CIT was founded to serve big corporations but since the corporations have increased internal R&D capacity, now focus is also on other size companies. Currently CIT has around 1700 customers all over the world (51 country, including Japan, Spain etc.), but the majority of clients are companies from Gothenburg region. Among many, there are such remarkable clients of CIT as ABB, Ericsson Mobile Communications, IBM, IKEA, Petrolo do Brasil, Volvo Cars. Often clients need CIT just once every 8-10 years. However, around 90% of the projects are the local ones – in 1,5 hour drive, still not reaching 90% of revenue. CIT implements active sales policy, regarding it as failure if the client calls them first. Around 20 of project management staff of CIT is actively involved in sales. Chalmers University of Technology has very good brands and therefore 99% of calls meet the hit. Around CIT works basically with technology-pull – development of ideas born within industry, rarely with technology-pull – ideas born within research sector, because they are less sustainable. Likewise not always technology based research results are able to grow in large size companies but rather in purpose built small size companies through business incubation. Involvement of researchers if the university are of different scale: some researchers are involved on small load, PhD students often for even up to year. Small projects are realized by researchers during their spare time, while large projects are realized through department of university by reassigning the researcher to this project or on leave. Implications Even in R&D sector active sales is of high importance to generate the necessary volume of projects and income. In Estonia and Latvia this would also include good knowledge of EU funding devoted to development of new products which would be as additional selling advantage to industry. To speak language of both researchers and industry the organisation could consider employing specialists with PhD degrees meantime having industrial background. However, the business thinking should prevail. For CIT model to work in Latvia and Estonia there should be the both components to be brought together - the critical mass of industrial clients (for this utilization of international industrial clients could be considered) and universities with good 4 reputation, up-date R&D capacity and commitment to collaborate with industry. There is no straight-forward answer if the both components exist in Latvia and Estonia. If not then most probably the universities themselves have to take actives sales position in the R&D market. Another implication to public support grant providers and universities is that it is more resource effective to work with technology pull than technology push. There is higher probability of sustainability of R&D results. Sahlgrenska Science Park Sahlgrenska Science Park (SSP) is on the three science parks (together with Lindholmens Science Park and Johanneberg Science Park) of Gothenburg having also physical infrastructure. SSP is owned by Sahlgrenska Biomedicinska Innovations Centrum and has been operating since 2005. Meantime SSP is working for benefit of the following assigners (financiers): regional government (Region Vastra Gotaland), Business region Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg. Representative of these organisations also on the board of SSP. SSP works in life science sector thus facilitating further development of the region’s main economic sector – health care, accounting for around 90% of the region’s business turnover. SSP helps to develop new business ideas in life sciences by providing pre-incubation and incubation services, and offers real estate of SSP science park division for established life science companies. SSP’s start-up building is of 3000 sq.m. and Biotech center of 9000 sq.m. Sahlgrenska Science Park building, January 17, 2012, Gothenburg. 5 SSP works with several fields of life sciences, e.g., pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biomedicine, services/IT, medical technology and functional food. SSP is located in campus of Gothenburg University and Sahlgrenska University hospital and bears well know trademark of the hospital – Sahlgrenska. The specifics of SSP operation is that it is working with business ideas with very long development time until the market, e.g. 5-10 years for services/IT, around 15 years for medical services field and up to 20 years for pharmaceuticals field, which in turn is related to large investment. Therefore the support is related to such funding measures as Proof of Concept, seed and other related funding. In the development phase venture capital investors are not interested in the ideas. There may different financing forms: soft loans, equity placement (taking 10%, afterwards diluted to 1%), convertible loans. SSP often provides early stage financing to raise confidence for the next round financiers. The main value that SSP bring to authors of business ideas is support in evaluation market potential of the idea, readiness of the business idea for development as a company not only research project, as well as entrepreneurial capacity of the nascent entrepreneur. Thereafter, during incubation phase SSP helps with alliance to industry and with business development logics. The staff of SSP have several years of experience in business, start-up support and health sector. SSP does not provide subsidies for rental of premises, however, provide access to basic laboratory infrastructure (650 sq.m.). The picture below depicts the authors of idea with which SSP works and what are development funding options. In fact, due to long time span and high investment (millions) related to development of majority of the life science ideas very often SSP prepares the new start-ups as purchase deals (trade sale) for the large market players. Academy Hospitals Industry Other innovators Idea feed Sahlgrenska Science Park has the possibilty (within its network) to financing projects and companies in the span EUR 10.000 – 300.000 Thereafter other ways to finance are available Industrial cooperation Continued funding Trade sale Source: Presentations of Sahlgrenska Science Park, January 17, Gothenburg. 6 In the picture below the evaluation of business ideas used by SSP is given. Source: Presentations of Sahlgrenska Science Park, January 17, Gothenburg. According to SSP usually authors of business ideas have very little understanding of the market demand for the product, having too narrow or too local understanding of the demand, and they have not had market validation with relevant industry experts. Therefore the ideal client is the entrepreneur who wants to find solution for a problem/ need. According to experience authors of ideas, especially researchers are usually diluted, leaving them from couple to 40% of ownership) because they usually are not good in business. Often researchers are keen on making publications, but SSP has policy that if they want to commercialize the idea there is no room for publications due to confidentiality issues. During 2005-2011 (1st half) SSP has evaluated around 280 ideas, 60 were further developed, 20 were accepted in business incubator, out of which 17 received investment from SSP, 5 became alumni and 5 agreements are terminated. The total value of incubation companies is around 21 MEUR. In science park of SSP there are around 50 companies. Often companies starting operation in science park, understand that they still need support in development and enter the incubator. Majority of start-ups in SSP are from companies and private innovators, some are from academia. Ideas from hospitals usually go back to hospitals as improvements. SSP is careful to start work with business ideas in the right time, being sure that as much possible research is done in university and hospital because it is time and resource consuming and it may take several years for readiness to develop business. Often SSP facilitates merging of entrepreneurs with similar ideas thus ensuring synergy effects and excluding unhealthy competition and waste of resources. Implications Life science projects have long development time span related to large investment and therefore the support in this field should be really focused and concentrated in one or couple places of Latvia and Estonia, e.g. Tartu Biotechnology Park. 7 Likewise this sector is in need for custom made early stage funding as proof of concept and seed funding. Therefore development of such business start-ups should be well justified on governmental level and from industry side in Estonia and Latvia. Since development of life science is so resource consuming the staff of such science parks and/ or incubators should have experience in the industry and close network with the main industrial players for market validations and trade sales. This would reduce waste of time and resources. Development of such support structures should be based on close cooperation with Latvian and Estonian, and international industrial players. Due to scarcity of financial resources probably, parks and incubators of Latvia and Estonia should focus on some specific life science sub-sectors. 8 Lindholmen Science Park Lindholmen Science Park (LSP) is a large scale infrastructure project located in strategic place of Gothenburg city and thus bringing together in one place companies and students. Development of LSP was started in 2000. The main developer is municipality of the city, doing it along with strategic partners as Ericsson, Volvo Group and Volvo Cars. Currently there are over 300 companies in LSP and over 9000 employees, including 2000 employees of Ericsson. The LSP office building is interlinked with IT University and Creative Industries Academy, amounting for 9000 students. Other real estate development project (additional office building, simulation centre, hotel etc.) are on the way. Lindholmen Science Park’s interior, January 17, 2012, Gothenburg. LSP is focusing on three areas: Mobile Internet Intelligent vehicles and transport systems Modern media and design LSP has Open Arena Lindholmen were people and entrepeneurs can come and meet and do their business. Open Arena is a concept and working method for projects at Lindholmen Science Park where emphasis is placed on collaboration (among business, university and public sectors). 9 There are eight large projects which run within Open Arena of LSP, e.g., National Arena for societal security gathering researchers and developers in this field. To sum up, LSP is a high quality real estate with the necessary networks and collaboration components (private, educational, research and public sector) to create a critical mass for generation of new business and research projects and vitalize the specific city area. Implications If budget allows then development of multi-functional areas or centers combining the collaboration components (support organizations, education and research institutions, companies and public sector) could potentially bring positive synergy effects due to geographical proximity. Similar models on much smaller scale are applicable to Tartu Science Park and Ventspils High Technology Park. Innovationsbron Innovationsbron (IB) is a national government support organisation (not for profit company) allocating development capital to knowledge-intensive business concepts with great market potential and supporting business development, including incubator operation. Main emphasis of IB operations is commercialisation. IB covers the financial capital gap in the country by funding start-ups in very early stage of development, in the stage were there are no private sector alternatives. IB acts commercialy byt not for profit. As depicted in the map below IB operates in 7 cities of Sweden where large universities ar located. Luleå Umeå Uppsala Göteborg Stockholm Linköping Lund 10 Source: Presentations of Innovationsbron, January 17, Gothenburg. In picture below the financial capital gap with excessive risk for the private (phases – seed and start-up) capital is depicted where in turn IB steps in with support instruments. Verif. Research ImR Seed Equity Early exp. Start-up Expansion Source: Presentations of Innovationsbron, January 17, Gothenburg. The 3 intervention instruments depicted above include the following: 1. Verification for growth o To answer: Is this a sound business idea? o The funding devoted for pre-cinbuation phase to answer all the relevant question of building the business model o < 10-20 thousand EUR in form of grants 2. Royalty loan/grant (ImR) o To answer: Could we become ”investable”? o Projects and newly started companies in business incubators o Market oriented with the running time of 6 months o The business idea should be verified for growth (instrument No. 1). Work carried out together with business coach o 25 thousand EURin form of grants, conditional on a royalty agreement with right of conversion 3. Equity o To reach private investors 11 o Investment proposal prepared with the help of Invesment Manager o Investment in ideas with clear customer value/need for product, scalable business, committed entrepreneurial team, clear competitive advantage. Investees should aim for at least 3 MEUR of revenue in 3 years o ~265 thousand EUR, financing allocated in tranches. Investment can be even up tu 1 MEUR but should be allocated on the national level while on the local level decision is made quickly and money allocated within days o Ownership share taken by IB 11-25% o Shareholders agreement concluded o Investment manager takes active part in the company’s development through work on company board o IB makes exit from company at the first reasonable opportunity not waiting for the maximum profit sales moment In Gothenburg there are 5 investment managers: 1 in life sciences and the rest in IT and undefined industries. On average there is 1 investment manager per 10 companies. To exit companies IB basically works with business angels not venture capital funds. Currently, IB is co-owner in around 70 companies and around 50% of the equity is invested in industry spin-offs. There is around 70-80% success rate for equity investees. Success stories: Oxion, carbon fiber weaving technology. Used as material in sports cars and hockey sticks. Annual turnover: 2 MEUR. Idea oridiganet in Encubator. Company developing vehicle communication systems to control truck fuel consumption using GPS technologies. Annual turnover 16 MEUR. Took over their competitors abroad. Experience with business ideas in pharmaceuticals – it takes 550 thousand EUR to get drugs to the product phase and therefore are exceptionally high risk projects. Apart from support directly start-ups, IB support operations of 55 business incubators of Sweden, including 25 incubators receiving larger support – around 105 thousand EUR per year each. In total IB invests in start-ups and business incubators around 16 MEUR per year. Implications Verification grants (in different form) are currently available to pre-incubatees of Tartu Science Park (TSP) while pre-incubator of VHTP and other business incubators in Latvia are still lacking this support measure. Royality grants (in different form) are currently partly available in Estonia and Latvia through business incubation programs as grants for part-financing development costs of the companies but still in very limited amount. Moreover, TSP and VHTP do not 12 have well established policy regarding coaching of incubation start-ups which could be implemented as a measure for speeding up and improving operations of start-ups. Currently no financial instrument offers equity placement in Estonia and Latvia on a daily bases during the start-phase until the business is ready for seed capital or venture investment. This needs to small extent is covered by business angel investments and small grants that can be attracted in busines plan competitions etc. The gaps covered by IB in Sweden could be covered by introducing new financial instruments as risk capital business incubators (offering pre-incubation support and pre-seed/ proof of concept support) or integrating them in the existing incubation system. Chalmers Innovation Business incubator Among the 6 business incubators in Gothenburg region, Chalmers Innovation is the only one exceptionally focusing on global technology based growth start-ups. Business incubator is a part of Chalmers Innovation organisation which consist also of Stena Center (real estate where incubator is operating) and Seed fund investing in start-ups operating in incubator. Chalmers Innovation was founded in 1997 by Chalmers University of Technology after donation from around 5,5 MEUR from wealthy entrepreneur was received. The business incubator is operating since 1999 in Stena Center (4500 sq.m.) and Lindholmen Science Park (800 sq.m.). Business incubator works with company possessing the following features: o Idea based on technology but not focus to allow flexibility. Currently most potential ICT and new materials sector. o Growth potential, addressing problem of global scale with market value at least 100 MEUR o International growth ambitions. First international market, not Sweden’s market o Unique in technology and/or business model The main support incubator provides: Business development (coaching -> the right things, weekly and strategically). Business coaches of CI involved in all companies were seed capital invested. Financing: seed fund up to 55 thousand EUR, follow-up investment 0,5- 1 MEUR. This support is combined with the funding from Innovationsbron and regional parliament Network by expertise, incl. at least 10 business angels. Alymni sharing experience with incubation companies. Personal development & training: sales workshops, Presentation skills, Management & board meetings, Leadership Forum 13 Roadmap, templates and tools Chalmers Innovation take ownership in the incubation companies, 5% as sweat equity and 20-30% for the 1st round of seed capital investment. Likewise the incubator earns from real estate rental, and is supported by regional parliament and Business Region Gothenburg. Currently there are around 25 companies working in the incubator. Each year around 170 ideas evaluated, 8 companies accepted in the incubator. During evaluation persons also evaluated, background information collected. The approach in evaluation – in 1,5-2 hours can figure out technology potential in monetary value for customer. Business plan does not matter at the beginning, but clear business model, defining CUSTOMER -> CUSTOMER VALUE. When business model is being defined incubator force the entrepreneur to go out and talk with customers. After business model is defined, team and board of the business is requited and business plan developed. Researchers rarely are good entrepreneurs. Companies should leave the incubator when are ready to survive. Companies tend to stay, while incubator are pushing them out as soon as possible. IT companies spend 23 years in the incubator. Post-incubation services ensured by Chalmers Innovation Seed fund which still hold shares in the companies and position on board. So far private investments made in the business incubator’s and alymni companies is 139 MEUR, mostly venture capital investment. Over 11 years of operation business incubator has reached the following results: o + 42 MEUR in total revenue o +400 employees o +100 companies started o 15 MEUR public financing o 105 MEUR private investments In 3 years after starting the operations the incubator gave leverage 9 SEK earned per 1 SEK of tax payers’ money spent. Implications Model of CI Business Incubator is well structured to serve high growth companies, including fast decision process in evaluating companies and supporting (financially, otherwise). This is ensured due to highly skilled and experienced staff and coaches, availability of funding. This would imply that development of support to high growth companies in Latvia and Estonia should have committed, professional and quick-toact staff not cumbersomed with formalities and other issues. 14 Chalmers Innovation Seed Fund Chalmers Innovation Seed fund was launched at the end of 2008 as a limited company. CI Seed fund was launched with 50% funding of European Investment Fund and 50% funding from private partners, basically pension fund of Sweden AP6. In the 1st closing the fund size was around 12 MEUR, while in the 2nd closing in 2009 the fund size was increased by 18 MEUR, still European Investment Fund committing 50% and private funding represented by several other private investors. Relevant for receiving support was strength of CI business incubator’s team, as well as potential of the companies. The fund’s life is 10 years with option to add 3 years, while investment period per company is 3 years with option to add 1+1 year. Management of the fund ensured by Chalmers Innovation. Investment sizes: pre-seed (pre-incubation) phase – 15-55 thousand EUR, seed phase (incubation) – 100–550 thousand EUR, post-seed phase – from 550 thousands up to 3,2 MEUR. In the pre-incubation phase decision on investment is made by Seed Fund management without decision of investment committee and in this stage co-investors are usually public funding. In incubation phase co-investors are usually venture capital funds investing 1-2 more capital compared with Seed Fund investment. Incubation phase in fact is the riskiest phase because the business model is adjusted to capture the global market value. Usually incubation period is the period of burning money, while commercialisation and expansion phase is the break-even period. CI Seed Fund keeps 15% ownership in more mature companies, 35% in early stage development. Authors of business ideas have around 5-15% ownership (if individuals without entrepreneurial skills) or 30% if they possess also entrepreneurial skills which later on are diluted to smaller share. Currently, out of 21 companies where investment is placed, 6 companies are in preincubation phase, 6 companies in incubation phase and 9 companies in commercialisation and expansion phase. Implications Alliance between Seed Fund and incubator is a perfect combination for helping the incubator sourcing and developing start-ups according to seed and venture capital needs. Business incubators in Latvia and Estonia and investors may often speak in 15 different language. Therefore platform (events, other) for investors to cooperate with incubators is necessary. Chalmers University of Technology and Encubator AB Chalmers University of Technology (CUT) was founded in 1829, became private university in 1994 owned by Chalmers Foundation. CUT has around 12 000 full-time students, 2500 employees and it offers education and research in engineering and architecture. In order to bridge the gap between researchers and market in 1997 the School of Entrepreneurship (as unit of CUT) was founded with aim to build partnerships between researchers and entrepreneurs to increase commercialisation. Emphasis was put on approach “Hands-on work!”. As a result CUT started to focus on utilisation of its two core activities – education and research. The action-based education was shaped in 2 years international Master’s Programme ”Entrepreneurship & Business Design” where during the second year of the education the students engage in real innovation projects: o Intellectual Property Entrepreneurship. IP track focuses on assessment and strategies for early innovation projects – mainly in collaboration with Chalmers’ Innovation Office. o Bioscience Entrepreneurship. Focus on venture creation in collaboration with Encubator AB. o Technology Entrepreneurship. Focus on venture creation in collaboration with Encubator AB. The programs include hands-on pedagogy hands-on pedagogy using both simulated scenarios, as well as real projects, and team-based entrepreneurship where skills and personalities complement each other. One of the success factors for successful venture creation in Encubator AB are high quality projects and committed idea providers. Altough Encubator is legally separate unit, it is entirely interlinked with School of Entrepreneurship. Encubator is Chalmers’ venture creation incubator realising ideas together with Chalmers School of Entrepnreneurship and was initiated in 2001. As depicted in picture below the model of encubation combines education and incubation components to result in start-ups and entrepreneurs. 16 Source: Presentation of Encubator AB in Gothenburg, January 18, 2012. In order to ensure hands-on realistic and qualitative start-up development large emphasis is put on attracting high quality ideas which are provided by industry/ business, universities and research institutes and private inventors. Each year 150 ideas are evaluated and the best 10-12 ideas are selected and run as innovation projects by the students for one year in our incubator. Around 50% of ideas are from CUT & Gothenburg University and the rest from industry, few from inventors. Ideas will global growth potential choosed. The ideas are chosen by students at the end of the first study year and developed during the second study year. Usually the ownership of the start-up is divided as follows: 40% to author of idea, 20% to Encubator, 10% to students and 30% to the additional necessary competence to be attracted. During 13 years of encubation 47 companies have been created with more than 80% survival rate, as well as 300 entrepreneurs educated. There have been 2 students from Tartu and 1 student from Latvia. The studies are free of charge for students from EU, while it costs 14 000 EUR to other students. During the first study year students are studying theory, simulated business cases and development of business plan, as well as having meeting with layers and investors, as well as choosing the business idea and forming business teams (2-3 students). Usually the chairman of the board of the start-ups is recruited from outside while coaches are provided by Encubator. The second study year is master thesis = venture creation which is combined with training and seminars. The master thesis in fact is business plan of the start-up. The business plans are presented to external panel of around 150 persons similarly to Dragons TV show. 17 Venture creation is not the ultimate goal of the program, but education of entrepreneurs, but the program is structured in a way that usually students end up in development of start-up. The main approach is “do it yourself until you succeed”. According to experience the start-up business idea may fail even several times per team, but it is a learning process. Encubator has separate from School of Entrepreneurship funding. Encubator grants to teams pre-seed capital of around 20 thousand EUR. The biggest challenge for the teams is to attract second round investment during the second study year. After graduation of Encubator many start-ups end up in Sahlgrenska Science Park or Chalmers Innovation Business Incubator. Implications The best way of learning to be entrepreneur obviously is to do that alike in acquiring other skills. According to Encubator model the expertise support, achievable results and environment are such as to teach students to think and be entrepreneurial and in 80% cases also to become entrepreneurs. Encubator model suggest that educational institutions of Latvia and Estonia which are really committed to prepare entrepreneurs should remodel the current study programs to hands-on programs in alliance with privately owned business incubator thus combining the education and venture creation. Otherwise, educational institutions may actually teach students to be entrepreneurial by hands-on problem solving projects of industry and internship, but not necessarily to be entrepreneurs. 18