Kreo tn2 Karlsruhe, Rhône Alpes, Emilia-Romagna and Oxfordshire Thematic Network for the Support of Innovative Companies
Technology transfer structures, service centres and networks
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- 5.2.3Incubating facilities
- 5.2.4Industry-research platforms and joint research structures
5.2.2Technology transfer structures, service centres and networksTechnology transfer centres as well as sectoral and cross-sectoral service centres, often organised in networks, greatly contribute to promoting innovation, technology transfer and research results exploitation in all KREO regions. They are all characterised by a strong participation by the research and education organisations, being in most cases the initiators of the centres or their members. As far as technology transfer structures are concerned, the situation varies in each region even if local universities and research centres are normally involved. In particular, in the German and Italian situation, a very similar experience can be found, where all the universities of the region are members of a specific body (TLB in Baden- Württemberg and ASTER in Emilia-Romagna, including the public research centres in addition to the universities), dedicated to making the results of scientific research available to industry. In the German experience the well known Steinbeis Transfer Centres can be found, based at higher education institutions and specifically devoted to supporting technology transfer initiatives. Also in Emilia-Romagna there is a large number of other technology transfer facilities, participated in most cases by local authorities, local business associations, chambers of commerce and industry. The Grenoble-Lyon experience is characterised by the fact that most public research centres and universities set up special unites to favour the technology transfer and the exploitation of research outputs: already during the 80s and beginning of the 90s the research bodies of the area started special services and initiatives in this direction, including the promotion of research spin offs stimulated also by the 1999 law on innovation. Therefore, these facilities must be considered in connection with and complementary to incubators and in fact collaborations for business start up promotion exist. As for Oxfordshire, the University of Oxford represents an outstanding example of contribution to the development of the local business community and the improvement of innovation capacities of existing and new firms, thanks to its specialised technology transfer service. In addition to that, a number of other facilities exist in the area, including service centres and networking organisations, some of which addressing particular interest groups of the area. Sectoral service centres exist also in the other partner regions, with networking characteristics as well, ranging from a sort of virtual incubator in the internet and new media fields in Karlsruhe, to the agency for the digital and IT sector or the one on medical and biotechnology field in Grenoble and Lyon, to the several TT and service centres of Emilia-Romagna operating in the fields of ceramics, ICT, food processing and others.
Steinbeis Transfer Centres - STC (125 researchers) are based at higher education institutions, such as Fachhochschulen – Universities for Applied Sciences or universities - and carry out technology transfer projects with industrial partners.
In August 1998 Technologie Lizenz-Büro (TLB) was transferred into the legal form of a “GmbH“ (Limited or Incorporated Company). The partners are all nine universities of Baden-Württemberg, the universities of applied sciences of Constance und Offenburg, effectively acting for the other universities of applied sciences, the “Fraunhofer Gesellschaft für Angewandte Forschung e. V.”, as well as the “Mittelständische Beteiligungs-gesellschaft Baden-Württemberg GmbH”. TLB GmbH is a service organisation that serves all universities and higher education colleges as well as medical research institutes in Baden-Württemberg. The objective in the end is to make the results of scientific research available to industry so as to create the maximum economic benefit. The CyberForum e.V., Karlsruhe was founded in 1997 as non-profit association and provides a virtual founders' centre for companies active in the fields of Internet and new media. Until today, it has accompanied more than 100 founding projects which yielded more than 500 highly-qualified jobs and 25 additional training places. The CyberForum has 380 members, among which 240 regional companies. Rhone-Alpes
Most public research centres set up special units to favour the exploitation of research outputs. In Lyon, the Association Lyon Technology gathers the main structures working in this particular field: INSAVALOR (INSA engineer school), EZUS (Lyon1-University), ATLAS (CPE engineer school). INSAVALOR is one of the first subsidiary for valorisation created by the university in order to support R&D. Created in 1988, this firm has for mission transfer and valorisation of research activities carried out in the 27 laboratories of the engineer school INSA of Lyon. It is a bridge between research and economy, since it helps the enterprises willing to involve themselves in co-operative research by contributing towards (1) identifying the research teams, the equipment and collaboration methods that correspond to their needs, (2) implementing collaboration with laboratories by suggesting legal framework and operational support, (3) making relationships between laboratories and enterprises become durable thanks to the realisation of frame-agreements and welcoming of firms in the Centre of Enterprise and Innovation. EZUS is the subsidiary of the University Lyon 1 for valorisation and technology transfer in medicine, pharmacology, chemistry. It benefits from the university Lyon 1 resources: 31 million euros of which 14 million euros of contracts, and 2,500 researchers in multi-topical competencies. Its ambitions are to make research, technology and innovation progress by favouring technological transfer. Then, its 14 projects managers are suggesting collaboration axes with enterprises, laboratories in pharmacology and research centres. It represents more than 23.8 million euros of activities. ATLAS is the subsidiary for valorisation of the CPE Lyon engineer school (Chemistry-Physics-Electronics). In Grenoble, INPG Entreprise SA based in the INPG building, UJF Industrie, and Advanced Technology Section of the CEA of Grenoble, with a ten-year old experience in technology transfer. INPG Entreprise SA belongs to the National Polytechnics Institute of Grenoble, created in 1991, and is in charge of knowledge transfer from laboratories to industry. To achieve this goal, it relies on the scientific resources of INPG and the diverse scientific bodies of the Grenoble area. With 5 permanent employees, it offers (1) surveys, expertise and consulting to enterprises of all sectors. Each year, 100 missions are completed for an amount of 6 million euros. (2) It delivers services to laboratories (outsourcing to INPG Entreprise Sa), (3) takes part in European projects as a partner, (4) helps to create new firms, (5) takes shares in firms, (6) creates and develops industrial subsidiaries in order to transfer their activities to company fixers as soon as possible. UJF Industrie is the service of valorisation of the University Joseph Fourier of Grenoble. The service was created in 1983 and its mission was extended to valorisation and technology transfer in 1987. It manages the portfolio of patents and licences of the UJF, and accompanies its laboratories in the field of economic development, in the view of taking part of the elaboration of a European space for research by favouring the creation of centres and networks of excellence. For 10 years, about 30 patents have been registered, more than 70 licences have been granted and 6 start-ups created. 12 projects are being studied by the incubator GRAIN. The revenue in 2000 was equal to 17 million euros (after sharing out). CEA-Valorisation S.A. has as objectives: (1) to support industrial activity and job creation from innovative technologies developed by the CEA and (2) to increase the Return on Investment of the technology transfers of the CEA, in high-potential fields, excluding electro-nuclear and defence. Then, its missions are to take shares – temporarily - in the capital of innovative firms which have emerged from CEA's technologies, and also to develop the patents and know-how of the CEA's laboratories through the worldwide marketing of licenses. It should be noted that, in addition to their initial purpose of technology transfer, these organisations offer support to researchers willing to develop the results of their research by starting a company, thanks to the 1999 law on innovation. These organisations are also complementary to the incubators and work with them to transfer research results into projects carried by the incubators.
In early 2000, the Regional Council, the regional delegations for the Ministries of Research and Industry and the Rhone-Alpes network of cities have set two regional thematic agencies, in order to reinforce a co-ordination approach in the two identified key fields: - The Agence Rhône-Alpes du Numérique, in Grenoble, has been set for the digital and IT sector. - The Agence Rhône Alpes ARTEB, in Lyon, is specialised in the medical and biotechnologies fields. Their mission is to identify and promote the assets of the Rhone-Alpes Region laboratories and companies in the IT and biotechnological fields, to ensure a technological and economic survey for regional SMEs and favour partnerships between laboratories and regional SMEs. As interface agencies, they should facilitate co-ordination of funding for the key technological sectors offering high development potential, by anticipating the market and identifying needs. The means are technological and economic surveys, co-operative workshops between research organisms and companies on regional excellence specific themes. They represent, as well as possible, a solution to the isolated situation of SMEs: by common promotional actions, reinforcement of national, European and international networks, diffusion and dissemination of relevant information, setting up of databases and dedicated portals, they facilitate the networking, marketing, co-operation and knowledge needs from the firms. The Minatec pole will complete this picture and will offer more than 10,000 sqm of premises and clean rooms for start-ups in early stage, joint laboratories and R&D teams from firms involved in micro and nano technologies transfer.
ASTER – ASTER was established in Bologna in 1985 as Agency for the Technological Development of the Emilia-Romagna region, in order to promote the competitiveness of the regional productive system by means of technology transfer and innovation. Since 2001 it has changed its role and mission and has turned from an agency into the consortium “Aster - Science Technology and Enterprise”, involving the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government, the four public Universities located in the region, the two national research centres (ENEA and CNR) with branches in the regional territory and all the regional entrepreneurial associations. ASTER main focus remains however very closed to the original one, adding to technology transfer and innovation specific actions in favour of the promotion of industrial research and the exploitation of research results. With an annual turnover of about 4 million Euro and a permanent staff of 40 employees, the consortium's objective is to promote industrial research, technology transfer and the innovation of the productive make-up of Emilia-Romagna. This means enhancing, also at the international level, the results obtained by the research system in Emilia-Romagna and guaranteeing the transfer of these results to the productive system, thus encouraging innovation and competitiveness. DEMOCENTER – Democenter is a research centre born in Modena in 1990, working in the field of industrial automation and advanced technologies to support design and manufacturing processes, especially in small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Democenter shareholders are public entities, such as PROMO and ERVET and the main entrepreneurial associations acting in the Emilia-Romagna region. Democenter counts 18 permanent staff and several external permanent consultants. Democenter established a tight collaboration with the Universities of the region, in particular the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the University of Bologna, as well as with public and private research centres. Democenter mission is to provide innovative services to manufacturing enterprises, especially SMEs. The idea on which it was born is that SMEs need innovation from a technical, administrative, training and research point of view, with regard to both products and processes, and paying particular attention to the market. The initiatives Democenter undertakes can be grouped into four areas: Demonstration: Up-to-date computer-based systems for project, automation, planning, and production management are installed at DemocenterCTM for continuous or temporary demonstration. The objective is to offer significant examples of Integrated Productive Plants (IPID). Training: Democenter operates in the area of training organising courses developed on the basis of a need analysis of enterprises located in the Emilia-Romagna region (with particular focus on ICT). Innovation: A permanent activity for monitoring SME needs in automation, information and communication technologies, mechanics and innovative technologies, is carried out through interviews and statistical investigations. The focus is mainly on the following enterprise sectors: design, manufacturing organisation and automation. Technology providers solutions are examined in order to evaluate their suitability to satisfy the detected needs, and pre-competitive results are spread to the possible users. Research and application are carried out in the frame of international or local co-operation programmes, aimed at aggregating skills and experiences of enterprises, universities or other public or private bodies. Services, mainly represented by laboratories: Democenter is accredited by the MIUR (Ministry of the Instruction of the University and the Research) as engineering laboratory. The activity and the offer of Democenter CTM in term of Laboratories concern the Powders Laboratory, the Laboratory of Material Characterisation, the Fluid Power Laboratory, the Laboratory for Computer science of Production, the Laboratory of Rapid Prototyping and of Time Compression Techniques, beside the Laboratory of Domotics. CERMET– It offers to companies services for “Quality Certification”, training, test and research in specific laboratory. Ferrara Innovazione Consortium – It offers services (software solutions, technical advice on security matter, etc.) mainly to companies operating in the following sectors: of ICT, Company Organisation, Marketing. Ferrara Ricerche Consortium – It is a no-profit organisation with the aim of promoting research project in the following fields: health, environment, bio-technology, technology innovation, training. SIPE Consortium – It is a Consortium with the aim of managing a technology centre in an area (area ex-SIPE) of 10.000 sq. mts. near Modena. The Consortium intends incubate new firms, promote research projects, provide training to new hi-technology companies. CRIT Centre for Research and Innovation Technology – The aim of CRIT is to act as a technological interface between the regional industrial activities and Centers of Research throughout the world, supporting the enterprise from the initial stages of identifying the need for innovation through to the concrete implementation of the technology. The main areas of intervention are aligned with the region's industrial activities, covering mechanics, electronics and materials sectors. ICIE Co-operative Institute for Innovation – Established in 1972 to address the technological challenge and the changing market, it promotes, co-ordinates, performs research, experimentation, technology transfer, training and organisation consultancy. CELAB Laboratory – It is a new laboratory of CESMA (see below). Its main activities are related to: management of CELAB text centre (certified at national and international level for texts and controls on security matter), assistance on global certification of products, research for product innovation, research for a better efficiency of the automatic machines with respect to the new environment policies.
Agenzia Polo Ceramico (Agency for the Ceramic Pole) – It offers services to SMEs of the ceramic sector, and namely: collaboration in research projects, analysis on ceramic materials, products certification. CESMA – Service Centre for the mechanics in agriculture – It offers services since 1983 to companies of the mechanical sector producing machines for agriculture CRATOS – Telematic Applications – It is a research unit of the University of Piacenza. It is involved in research activities related to the application of ICT, integrated services on broad-band and multimedia services to the industrial and commercial enterprises. CSR – Study and Research Consortium – It is a training centre operating in the wooden sector. GEMINI – Created in 1990, it operates in the sector of the “Quality of Software” providing technical advice on project management and software engineering. LABORATORIO D’IMPRESA – It offers to the companies the opportunity to access to some laboratories for test activities on materials. R&S ENGINEERING – It offers services and technical advice on security of wooden products; moreover it provides services on business management and training. It allows the access to three Laboratories: machines tools, powder, woodworking. SSICA - Experimental Station for the Food Preserving Industry (SSICA) is a higher education Institute under the supervision of the Italian Ministry for Production Activities, created in Parma in 1992 to promote the technical progress of the Italian food preserving industry. The activity of SSICA entirely covers the system of transformation of a fresh foodstuff into a preserved food: from the raw material to the finished product. SSICA provides to the regional companies services, such as: technological auditing, laboratory analysis and tests, study for the improvement and the development of processes, training, etc. Oxfordshire The University of Oxford is deeply committed to contributing to the local community in creating new spin-out companies and to providing better services to industry, having taken the creation of innovative firms very seriously. The University of Oxford has had huge success with spin-out companies over the last 12 years; the current market value of these spin outs is over 1,500,000,000 Euro. It has recently restructured the commercialisation office and provided it with sufficient funds to create a minimum of six new companies per year. Several organisations within Oxford University have developed specific competence to support start-up, growing and mature ventures, for example: Isis Innovation is the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford, commercialising the research generated by University researchers and owned by the University. Isis Innovation Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Oxford, it was established in 1988 and in 1997 started a major expansion phase. It has recently been re-organised and currently has 12 staff who are pledged to spin-out six new companies per year. Their patenting budget alone is 2.16 Million Euros per year. The University has renewed Isis’s five-year financing plan and Isis has successfully obtained 4.5 Million Euros from the UK Government’s University Challenge fund. Isis has plans to boost the size of the enterprise unit by funding the creation of an internal consulting company, mentoring network, and to build links with other innovation related organisations. There are also a number of publicly funded (or part publicly-funded) agencies that deliver support for entrepreneurs and established businesses in Oxfordshire. These include: Oxford Innovation works in a variety of ways to assist the commercial exploitation and development of innovative science and technology. The company has particular strengths in knowledge-based business sectors such as the biological medical sciences, materials, advanced engineering, software, IT, electronics and communications. Oxford Innovation provides a range of business incubation services to help entrepreneurs develop their innovative start-up companies. Moreover, a range of products and services are available through Oxford Innovation, offering companies the choice of selecting the service that best suits individual requirements. Oxford Science Enterprise Centre, based at the Said Business School and funded by The New Government and University, it has been established in 2000 and aims to encourage entrepreneurship by giving University members the vision and skills to deal with the reality of business. North Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub provides business-led networks, and encourages the growth of new and established firms by providing better access to technology, investment, flexible workspace, mentoring and mutual support. The Southern Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub is a resource for those entrepreneurs wishing to start their own businesses or for those already in the early stages of business seeking opportunities for growth. The services offered by the hub are available to all entrepreneurs and businesses located in Southern Oxfordshire. Business Link Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire began life in 2001, Business Link is a Government funded service, which is managed by the Small Business Service (SBS) and offers a range of services designed to meet local business needs The Thames Business Advice Centre and Norbis have merged to become ‘Oxfordshire Business Enterprise Ltd.’. Their aim is to offer:
Since 1906 the Oxford & District Chamber of Commerce has dedicated itself to providing effective representation and business support to its members. There are wide ranges of networking organisations whose activities are targeted at the needs of particular interest groups within Oxfordshire. Examples of key technology business related networks operating to favour the development of technology clusters are: OxMediaNetwork: networking and support group for media businesses and professionals in Oxfordshire. Regular formal and informal networking events, training opportunities, recruitment and business support, access to funding and a friendly place to meet and discuss the media industry. OxIT: promotes Oxfordshire as the first choice for IT by encouraging an environment where software and I.T. companies can develop. Marketing, public relations and networking opportunities. Oxford BioScience Network, managed by Oxford Brookes University. Portal to promote information exchange across the Oxford Biotechnical Cluster. The Oxfordshire Motorsport Industry Forum is a South East network of high tech entrepreneurs who meet to discuss technology and business issues within the Motorsport sector. The Oxfordshire Business Forum provides simple effective networking for Oxfordshire businesses including the provision of web design to help promote new and existing businesses within the region The Innovation Networking Club provides networking opportunities throughout North Oxfordshire with meetings held at four Innovation Centres located at Upper Heyford, Begbroke, Banbury and Bicester. The Networking Club provides businesses with the opportunity to network with like minded companies in a relaxed and friendly environment. Informal breakfast meetings are held monthly with other networking events held throughout the year. Oxfordshire BiotechNet runs a mentoring network for bio-businesses, researchers, and other professionals in the county. The network is principally aimed at helping the bioscience entrepreneur gain access to professional advice. The benefits for those providing the services include the development of a relationship with a future client. The University also organises a networking and Intellectual Property access club, The Oxford Innovation Society, whose members include some of UK largest companies. Universities in the area have responded to requests for increased training to supply growing industrial clusters with personnel. Oxford Brookes University has initiated full-time degree courses in Biotechnology and Automotive Engineering for Motor Sport. Both courses offer a management module designed to give background in enterprise spin-out management.
Karlsruhe and Oxford incubators appear as the one with the longest experience most of them being created starting from the beginning of the 90s, with two incubators in Karlsruhe founded in 1984 and 1986. Moreover, in both regions a large number of incubators can be found, most of which cross-sectoral (with some exceptions), but in general hosting high-tech start up companies. One characteristic of the Karlsruhe experience seems to be the low presence of research bodies as promoter of the incubating facilities, being started generally by local authorities, chambers of commerce, development organisations. Oxfordshire, on the contrary, shows a deep involvement of local universities and research centres in the form of promoters and hosts of the incubating premises. The role played by universities and research centres appears clearly in the experience of the French region, where incubators have been created more recently (most of them in the late 90s), but thanks to the initiative (as members and/or hosting organisations) of the research systems members. As for the Emilia-Romagna region, incubators are relatively new experiences. In fact, with the exception of one case, all incubators have been created between the end of the 90s and the years 2000-2001. At present, only Bologna University is formally engaged in incubating activities having set up its own incubator at the beginning of 2001. However, all universities and research centres located in the regions are hosting research spin-offs at their premises, providing office spaces and the access to laboratories. In addition, all of them are involved in or directly promoting the start up of more structured incubating activities, with on-going programmes at different stage of development. Karlsruhe Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe: the incubator centre Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe has been founded in 1984 as one of the very first German incubators. It has an outstanding success rate of 96%. Over 100 business founders left the Technologiefabrik and settled in the region. Handwerkerhof Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe: it is a founders’ centre for young master craftsmen and craftsman’s establishments. It was founded in 1993, offers a seminar room and rents out office and production space. In cooperation with the Economic Development Department Karlsruhe and the Chamber of Commerce, it offers consulting and support services for these young craftsmen. This unique project offers young craftsmen an exchange platform to meet other craftsmen of all kinds. Gründerzentrum Durlach, Karlsruhe is the founder’s centre Durlach. It was founded in 1995 and rents out office space, provides a shared copy room. In cooperation with the Economic Development Department of the city of Karlsruhe and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, it offers consulting and support services. Gründerzentrum "Durlacher Allee", Karlsruhe: is a founder’s centre that was started in 1986 and rents out low-priced office and production space for a limited time. It favours founders of the multimedia sector. Privates Existenzgründerzentrum und Büro-Service Widmann, Karlsruhe is a private founder’s centre founded in 1995. It offers a variety of services for founders such as:
Zentrum für Innovation und Produktion GmbH (ZIP), Rastatt is a transfer and founder’s centre for innovative companies. It supports people with future-oriented and innovative business ideas in the risky starting phase. The centre was founded in 1996. It comprises 2800m² of office, laboratory and production rooms as well as conference and meeting rooms with cafeterias and kitchens on every floor. It provides for a modern information and communications infrastructure and for a representative foyer and a reception. Parking space for employees and customers is available. Innovations und Gewerbezentrum (BIG), Bruchsal: the innovation and trade centre Bruchsal was founded in 1991. It rents out office and production space and offers services in marketing, consulting and secretary work. Companies can use phone, fax, copy machine, seminar rooms, reception, foyer and the advertising tower. BIG organizes events on various management topics. In collaboration with the Steinbeis Transferzentrum Bruchsal, BIG offers consulting and support services. Innotec Pforzheim – Zentrum für Software, Technik und Design: Innotec – centre for software, technology and design was founded in 1998 when the city of Pforzheim rented an industrial property with 5.500m² to realize a special office space program that would respond to the specific requirements of early-stage companies. As part of the municipal and regional economic development, Innotec aims at supporting and promoting innovative technology- and service oriented start-ups and early-stage companies. Innotec offers attractive office and production space and various consulting and other services with the support of its partner institutions. The main focus lies in the “software centre”, which is sponsored by the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Hence, most of the resident companies have their core competency in the information and communication technology sector. Additional incubating facilities are:
Rhone-Alpes Ante-creation incubators (French model) CREALYS It is an incubator located in Lyon. Its founder members are the University Claude Bernard Lyon I, University Lyon II, University Lyon III, University Jean Monnet (St Etienne), the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Lyon, the INSA of Lyon, the Ecole Centrale of Lyon and the Ecole de Management of Lyon. CREALYS handles 120 new start-up projects per year, mainly in the digital & IT and biotechnologies. Results after 3 years: 32 firms created/150 jobs (source French Research Ministry report of assessment) GRenoble-Alpes INcubation (GRAIN) GRAIN is located in Grenoble. Its founder members are the Institut National Polytechnique of Grenoble, the Université Scientifique et Médicale Joseph Fourier, the CNRS, the CEA of Grenoble (Advanced Technology Section), and the University of Social Sciences. Results after 3 years: 23 firms created/more than 100 jobs (source French Research Ministry report of assessment) The two incubators have a co-operation agreement enabling them to co-ordinate their activities across the Rhone-Alpes region.
In Grenoble:
Moreover, Grenoble hosts one of the 4 regional centres of the INRIA (Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatisme): a regional delegation of the INRIA national seed-fund and incubator enables the support and the spin-off of new companies close to the INRIA research centre.
Emilia-Romagna ALMACUBE (Bologna): is the incubator that the University of Bologna has founded jointly with Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna and Fondazione Alma Mater in order to promote and sustain entrepreneurship in the local University system. AlmaCube supplies young start-ups with spaces and logistic services as well as relational capital even if it does not participate financially in the hosted start-ups, but actively promote and facilitate funding contacts and processes with professional investors. AlmaCube can host up to sixteen new technologies based start-ups, in twelve offices of 20 sqmt and four of 40 sqmt. At the moment, AlmaCube incubates 14 start-ups most of which have been created after the StartCup business competition (cf. below). AlmaCube hosts the initial phases of the start-up process, the presence in the incubator being initially limited to one year, with a possible extension for another year under the discretional judgement of the Incubator Steering Committee. INCUBATORE MULTIMEDIALE (Lugo, Ravenna) Incubatore Multimediale is the incubator of the Lugo Municipality aimed at promoting and sustaining entrepreneurship especially in the fields of software production, ICT, Multimedia. Incubatore Multimediale supports new start-ups providing spaces and logistic services as well as tutoring on matters related to the creation of a new business. At the moment13 Incubatore Multimediale incubates seven start-ups. SIPRO – Provincial Agency for the development of the Ferrara area The county network of incubators, managed by SIPRO, consists of 4 business-incubators, located in different areas of the Province of Ferrara. The access to the incubators has been regulated by a public notice of competition, addressed to all the new companies with maximum 2 ½ years of life, managed by young entrepreneurs. All the areas are objective 2: this means that, choosing those locations, the enterprises have the possibility to ask for different types of public grants. SIPRO offers to the enterprises advice about the financial contribution. The special contracts signed by SIPRO and the settled companies involve special facilities provided by SIPRO itself, such as: - the possibility to use for free meeting rooms and equipped training rooms located in the Meeting Centre; - the possibility to be assisted on: business planning, training needs analysis and training services, advice on marketing and promotional activities, communication of know how about business administration and finance, human resources management and development, environmental and quality certifications. At the moment the incubator network hosts 22 companies: 10 in Copparo, 7 in Ferrara, 1 in Ro Ferrarese, 4 in Ostellato. The average age of the entrepreneurs is 35 and the sectors of activity of the settled SMEs are innovative, gathering together companies offering services such as: innovation technology, web design, 3D graphics, communication and advertisement, environmental services. There are 2 enterprises working in research sectors: nano-technologies and alternative heating sources. Finally 1 company is the result of an academic spin-off in the field of geological investigations. SOPRIP – Agency for the local development of the Parma and Piacenza areas SOPRIP is a local development agency that started its activities in 1981; it is operating it the areas of Parma and Piacenza. Its main objective is the promotion of the economic development of the two areas and the dissemination of the culture of innovation among the SMEs. SOPRIP offers many services to companies, among which: new areas with facilities and offices for companies, services for start-ups, information on existing funding, logistic services. Currently the results obtained are: 18 new areas with assets and facilities (776.509 sq. mts.), 5 new buildings with equipments and facilities, 4 incubators. RICCÒ DI FORNOVO (Parma): it is an incubator operated by SOPRIP which offers the following incubating facilities: 1,500 sq. mts. of roofed surface, settling proposals: 20 sq. mts. furnished offices, and 50 to 90 sq. mts. Laboratories. Premises are subdivided in 150 sq. mts. modules where diverse equipment and productions can be arranged in. The types of activity represented in the incubator are: agro-industry, environment, information technology, services. INTERIM (Modena): it is an incubator that offers 400 sq. Mts. of surface. Services available are: premises to be furnished for companies settling (15 modules of 12 sq. mts. each), common furnished premises (meeting room, etc) and other common services. This incubator was started in 1996 and 11 companies have been started-up, out of which 7 in the first year, 3 in the second year and 1 in the third year. Main fields the incubated companies work on are: design and electronic assistance for the motor industry; technical assistance to intellectual property rights related themes; information technology consulting. MAMBO – (Municipality of Bologna) – Focused on ICT, the incubator offers several services to the incubated companies, namely: training (business administration, marketing strategies, patents, etc.), financing and units at rates below the market price. Results: 2001 -> Loan disbursements: more than 200.000 Euro -> Investments: more than 445.000 Euro 2002 -> Loan disbursements: more than 1.000.000 Euro -> Investments: more than 2.000.000 Euro
In two years more than 130 proposals have been evaluated and 31 new business ideas have been selected. WORKSTATION (Rimini): with its surface of 190 sq. Mts., in the period from November 1997 until September 1999 (22 months) 9 companies have passed through the incubator. Three of them have already moved out while the other 6 are still in. Amongst the sectors represented in the incubator the mechanical engineering one is particularly worth to be mentioned. Monthly cost of staying in the incubator ranges between 390 Euros and 500 Euros. In addition to the above-mentioned incubators that are mainly financed with public funds, various private incubators and accelerators operate in Emilia-Romagna. In particular two private incubators were born in Bologna in 2000: INTERVALUENET and LeonardoWeb (cf. section on venture capital for further information). Additional private incubators working on a national basis are also quite active in the region: E@archimede (Accenture Group) has for instance an office in Bologna and other incubators - as Speed Egg – invest in and incubate enterprises originated in the region.
The Colin Sanders Innovation Centre is located on the site of North Oxfordshire College. The Centre provides premises for Software, IT, knowledge-based and creative businesses, and includes a state of the art TV studio. Culham Innovation Centre is situated on UKAEA’s Culham Science Centre which is the key European Centre for research into fusion power as a commercial energy source. The Centre offers a range of offices for start-up and early stage companies. The site also offers a unique technical support package with access to consultancy and engineering expertise from UKAEA Fusion. Harwell Innovation Centre is on the site of the Harwell International Business Centre which is owned by UKAEA. 50 companies are currently based in the Centre, and further offices are available for start-up and early stage ventures. The Oxford Centre for Innovation is situated close to Oxford Rail Station and is within easy walking distance of the centre of Oxford. In addition to accommodation high growth businesses, the centre houses the head offices of both Oxford Innovation Ltd and The Oxford Trust. Oxfordshire BiotechNet provides business accommodation and support for start-up and early stage bioscience companies. Through provision of mixed laboratory, workshop and office space the centre can house both diagnostic/instrumentation and software companies in addition to traditional wet biotechnology and chemical companies. The Magdalen Centre offers prestigious, serviced accommodation for science and technology companies Occupiers benefit from a corporate style reception area with restaurant, broadband facilities, back-up telephone switchboard service and security. Bloxham Mill is a serviced office centre south west of Banbury supplying the latest technology and support for small to medium sized businesses A diversity of support is also available from private sector organisations that combine business incubation, investment readiness and mentoring, reflecting the growing sophistication of needs of new and young ventures in the Oxfordshire area. Examples of such organisations include: Business Boffins Ltd is an Oxford-based business and management consultancy that offers a range of bespoke business and management services in all areas of starting, running and growing a business. Set4success specialises in helping entrepreneurs and founders of small businesses to get more of the right business from the right customers. 5.2.4Industry-research platforms and joint research structuresThe term “industry-research platform” refers to public-private groupings of universities, research units (laboratories, research centres, etc.), industries (of all sizes) and institutional public actors sharing the common objective of structuring, enhancing and developing joint research activities with a sufficient critical mass that enables to operate at a large scale for the improvement of applied research and the exploitation of research results, thus creating also the best conditions for the starting up of NTBFs and innovative enterprises. The concept of platform integrates the one of technological clusters, in fact all platforms have a sectoral focus. Some experiences corresponding to this concept have been identified within the KREO regions, particularly in Rhone-Alpes, where an outstanding activity is currently developing and a specific attention, based on the KREO partners common interests, has been devoted to a deep investigation on these new practices. This investigation has been carried out by the French partner and a specific report has been produced on this (see Deliverable 3.1), but a set of information have been summarised in this section too, within the Rhone-Alpes section. Observing the experiences of the various regions on this field, it can be noted that as for Karlsruhe two relevant initiatives have been considered, that started respectively in 1999 and 2001 and have a specific focus on nanotechnologies. Emilia-Romagna region is also experiencing similar initiatives, on two main thematic areas (electronics and ICT and advanced mechanics), with characteristics which are very similar to the German ones, but in their starting phase. Finally, in Oxford Diagnox project was launched in 2001 and it aimed at setting up a full service platform for the diagnostic sector. The most interesting experience, however, is the one of the Rhone-Alpes area, with 5 main platforms, covering various sectors (among others: bio-technologies, genomics, bio-informatics, proteomics and nanogenomics, micro & nanotechnologies, etc.) and showing the involvement of a large spectrum of public and private actors sharing common objectives and working mechanisms. Karlsruhe NanoMat is a Supra-regional Network for Nanotechnology Materials, gathering three research centres of the Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren, eleven universities with natural and engineering science departments, one Max Planck Institute, an Institute of the Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, three Fraunhofer Institutes, an Institute of the Polish Academy of Science and four major companies, which all together coordinate their research programmes. The theme of the research is “Synthesis and investigation of nanostructured metals and ceramics, and investigation of the materials and applications which result from their nanoscale nature.” Close cooperation within the NanoMat network enables the abilities of the partners to be interlinked so that projects can be carried out in continuous and interdisciplinary way from the preliminary research stage through to the transfer to economically viable products. The partners of this network have a high scientific and technical capability. This is documented by the numerous prizes and scientific awards, such as a Nobel Prize, six Leibniz Awards and more than 60 other renowned scientific distinctions awarded by academic and scientific associations. In addition, the partners in NanoMat have registered more than 200 patents and 10 licenses and have over 60 current cooperation agreements with industry in the field of nanotechnology.
The CFN - Center for Functional Nanostructures is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), the State of Baden-Württemberg and the Universität Karlsruhe (TH) at the Universität Karlsruhe (TH) since July 1st 2001. 25 groups from the Universität Karlsruhe (TH) and 10 groups from the Forschungszentrums Karlsruhe GmbH are participating, leading to a total of about 200 scientists involved. The CFN comprises four research areas: (A) Nano-Photonics, (B) Nano-Electronics, (C) Molecular Nanostructures und (D) Nanostructured Materials. The projects within these four areas are co-operations between the faculties of Physics, Chemistry, and Electrical Engineering & Information Technology. Rhone-Alpes Recently, "platforms" gathering key players (namely: industrials, academics, research and institutional representatives) of a regional technological cluster appeared, with the objective of structuring, reinforcing, and developing their fields in a European-scale spirit. In a second step, the objective of these platforms consists in offering the best conditions for the creation of innovative firms. Genopole Rhone Alpes, is one of the four French genopoles with regional innovative technological platforms and programs for advanced research. It represents 1,200 researchers in 58 laboratories involved in genomics, bio-informatics, transcriptomics, structural biology, proteomics and nanogenomics. The important result of 12 newly created companies since 2000 must be highlighted. Nanobio has been driven by the impulse of the CEA Grenoble, in partnership with Joseph Fourier-Grenoble- & Claude Bernard -Lyon- Universities, INSERM, bioMerieux & Apibio. It focuses on Rhone-Alpes pluridisciplinary fields of excellence: micro & nanotechnologies (biochips), structural and molecular chemistry (proteomics). More than 30 projects from basic research to industrial transfer, and the leadership of a European excellence network called Nano2life are the most relevant results since its creation. Minatec Ideas' Laboratory was founded by Leti-CEA, STMicroelectronics & France Telecom R&D, a prospective and multidisciplinary testing and evaluation centre, based on use, to imagine the future of smart devices and services. Mains results relates to 10 running projects. Inera is an association between the following partners: EDF, CEA, INP G, Air Liquide, Savoie University, Schneider Electric, Human Sciences Pierre Mendès France University. Its objectives are linked to the Kyoto protocol: - to facilitate exchanges between research and, industry, with an economical and users approach, - to develop new industrial solutions: fuel cells, photonics, etc.
Minatec is an integrated project, with a strong public support: initial and continuous training, technological research in connection with fundamental research, industrial partnerships and creation of start-ups, common device for seminars and meetings, location of European & professional networks. This is a centre of excellence in micro & nano-technologies, networking at local, regional, national, European, international level, with multidisciplinary teams: micro & nano-technologies (physics, applied mathematics, chemistry, software engineering), biotechnology (bio chips), new technologies of energy, social and human sciences for uses and market acceptability
The Advanced Research Center on Electronic Systems for Information and Communication Technologies "Ercole De Castro" (ARCES) was founded at the University of Bologna on May 23, 2001, following the approval and the funding of the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) of a project to set up a centre of excellence in the information technology area. The proposal pursues research work in the area of electronic systems for information technology applications, with special emphasis on the following fields: 1) CMOS sensors and signal-processing architectures; 2) Computer vision and image-processing architectures; 3) Wireless telecommunication systems; 4) Satellite systems for air navigation control and mobile mapping. The activities of the research Centre are distributed over five labs, three of which located in Bologna and two in the Romagna area. A first laboratory hosts the activities in the field of computer vision, wireless TLC systems and non-linear dynamic systems. A second one, set up jointly by the University of Bologna and ST Microelectronics, supports activities on reconfigurable computing, three-dimensional integration and CMOS sensors. STM covers the costs of 16 researchers working at the lab, as well as those related with silicon microcircuit fabrication. The activity on the biochip is carried out in collaboration with Silicon Biosystem, a newly generated spin-off. A third lab, hosted by the Department of Electronics, Computer and System Science, is devoted to the design and characterization of RF transceivers and to the signal processing work related with medical diagnosis. The labs located in Romagna, at the School of Aerospace Engineering in Forlì, comprise the Avionics lab, which carries out specific activity on air navigation control, and the distributed-sensor lab, which has been fully supported by the "Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì". ARCES represents a very important experience of joint research structures among University and companies. The two main big companies currently involved are ST Microelectronics and Ducati Sistemi. Hi-Mech District In December 2003 the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) signed a Preliminary Agreement for the creation of a hi-tech district working on the mechanical sector in the Emilia-Romagna area. The “district” will stimulate the regional economic system to deploy research and innovation as a major source for competitive advantage by means of a novel structuring of the interaction between research and industry. Moreover, it is intended to vitalize the research system as to enhance the upgrading velocity of the regional productive system. Two are the main actions foreseen in order to reach these two main objectives:
Spread throughout the regional territory and conceived as an interdisciplinary network of excellence, the district foresees the creation of eight network laboratories, called net-labs, working on projects covering eight mechanic areas, namely:
Each net-lab, that will be a Consortium of University Departments, Research Centre Units and enterprises, has the following overall tasks:
Furthermore each net-lab will be “business-oriented” and will have specific programmes for:
The initiative foresees the employment of 675 people (applied researchers and professors belonging to 34 institutes, departments, spin-offs, Technology Transfer Centres) out of which 220 will be new jobs. Currently over 130 enterprises have actively expressed interest in the project. The financial support scheme foresees the integration of funds relating to the national Law 297/99 (Research Intervention Fund) as for the Italian Ministry, and Measure 4, action A) of the Regional Programme for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer (PRRIITT), as for the Emilia-Romagna Region. Additionally, funds from Local Bodies and Private Sector will be provided. T3LAB It is a new thematic laboratory promoted by the University of Bologna and Assindustria Bologna (the entrepreneurial association which represents small, medium and large-scale businesses in Bologna and its province), aimed at facilitating the technology transfer between universities and industries and focused on ICT and Telecommunications areas. The laboratory, that is a consortium of industries and Bologna University’s Departments, is intended to:
Oxfordshire Diagnox Diagnox is a full service platform for the diagnostic sector. It offers services to the diagnostics industry to support all stages of technology transfer, from proof of principle through to market, helping to successfully commercialise diagnostics research from the medical, veterinary, environmental and food industries. In particular, Diagnox aims at a better exploitation of intellectual property, promotes collaboration amongst sector players, improves the management and availability of advice, and it offers services to meet the needs of researchers, new and established businesses and professionals with an interest in the diagnostics sector. More precisely these services include technology audits, intellectual property identification, protection and intelligence, assistance in sourcing proof-of-concept and development funding, assistance in sourcing start-up finance, establishment of company, support with finding staff and facilities, introductions to partners, organising meetings, training courses, partnering and networking events, specialist consultancy, provision of specialist reports. Yüklə 0,63 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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