|
|
|
|
|
|
The term academic entrepreneurship is used to describe economic activities of the University scientific staff, as well as graduates and students, mainly in the field of advanced technologies. Its positive effect is reflected in the dynamic increase of the number of innovative businesses created and led by people from the academic environment.
The Centre of Innovation, Technology Transfer and University Development (CITTRU) was created as a unit of the Jagiellonian University aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among the University's scientific staff and encouraging them to create businesses within the University. CITTRU provides active support to technology transfer, contacting the business environment and promoting scientific projects eligible for commercialisation.
At present CITTRU is working on the commercialisation of scientific projects, mainly in the field of biotechnology, to which it offers business support during the commercialisation of the project. In practice CITTRU will evaluate every project presented by the potential academic entrepreneur and eventually select the one running the best chances for commercial success. CITTRU prepares a business plan for the project and takes care of all formalities related to the creation and operation of the company. If needed, CITTRU will search for an investor - a partner who will co-finance the project. From the academic entrepreneurs' point of view , CITTRU should be a partner representing their interests in the business world during the initial stages of project development.
Aiming at broadening the activity range of CITTRU, work on the Technology Incubator that will function within the Jagiellonian University Campus in Pychowice, Krakow, was started. The Incubator will provide office space and all necessary economic, strategic and legal assistance during the formative stages of companies.
Besides CITTRU, academic entrepreneurship can also be supported by joint advertising of newly created businesses within the University environment. CITTRU aims at endorsement linked to the promotion of the University output, carried out on the local, national and global scale.
Commercialisation of Research and Creating Businesses at the Jagiellonian University
CITTRU also recognises the importance of educational support for academic entrepreneurship. To fulfil this aim, seminars and workshops on "Commercialisation of Research and Creating Businesses at the Jagiellonian University" were organised in October and November in co-operation with the Technological Park in Heidelberg and the University Development Centre in Uppsala.
The seminars were meant to be a kick-off point for regular meetings of scientists from UJ and technology transfer specialists from other countries.
During the first seminar dr. Klaus Plate, the director of the Technology Park in Heidelberg, presented the German experience in co-operation between business and science and pointed out the most frequently committed mistakes. The meeting with Dr. Plate was accompanied by a lively discussion between the guests and the participants of the meeting and a presentation of a number of scientific initiatives eligible for practical application.
Download the presentation of Dr. Klaus Plate (English version, Power-Point format, 1,3 MB)
For the next seminar we invited Lars Jonsson, the director of Uppsala Universities Utveckling AB - a unit whose activity range is similar to that of CITTRU. Lars Jonsson mentioned that withdrawing from the process of commercialisation of scientific products is non-ethical, as it prevents the society from taking full advantage of new and superior medical, engineering and educational means and methods. The key question that emerged during the discussion with prof. Jonsson was the problem of differences in expectations and aims of co-operation between scientists and industrial institutions.
Download the presentation of Prof. Lars Jonsson (English version, Power-Point format, 0,6 MB)
|
|
|
|
|
|
