1NTNU

What expectations do the faculty have towards NTNU’s new role as

owner of intellectual property rights?Egil S. Eide

NTNU - Department of Telecommunications

• The University’s role

• Motivation

• Education

• Practical support for startup companies

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Background

?

UniversityResearch

Product development

Business development

Positive cash flowIdea!

StartupCompany

Investment

Hard workResearcher

Team

Investors

History Commitment & Contribution

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Main principle: University ownership requires the University to invest money and commitment into commercialization (including taking risk).

Important:

• Take care of the entrepreneur’s interests and motivation!

• Avoid bureaucracy! (Keep number of staff at

Technology Transfer Office to a minimum!)

The University’s role

Administrators or co-entrepreneurs?

Money-makers or educators?

4NTNU

The University’s role

Basic needs for a new business startup?

• Money• IPR protection• Network• People with commitment and

willingness to take personal risk

The new company needs seed capital more than a lot of consultants.

University administrators are not necessarily the right persons to provide commitment and personal risk during a

business startup phase.

Administrators or co-entrepreneurs?

Money-makers or educators?

5NTNU

The University’s role

• Supporting partners

• Dedicated funding for business startups (seed capital)

• Do not let the “experts” do all the jobs for the entrepreneur

• Motivate the entrepreneurs to work themselves through the different phases of a business startup

• Allow the entrepreneurs to choose strategic partners independently of existing university strategic partnerships

• External industry network is more important than internal

network

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MotivationIncentives:

• Give economical credit to research groups/departments who create spin-offs [budget model]

• Motivate faculty and students to become entrepreneurs

• Allow part time positions for faculties during business startup

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Education

• Teach students about IPR/patenting and

commercialization

• Provide classes for new entrepreneurs [Venture Cup]

• Develop Gründerskolen into MBA program [University of

Oslo]Education and mentoring should be given freely and independently from the University’s investment/licencing activity.

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University contributions for startup companies

Practical contributions (1st year):

• Free office on campus the first year

• Laboratory access + low-cost instrument lease

• Mail delivery service + internet access + telephone

• Continue supporting research in the same research area

• Encourage student projects in collaboration with the startup company

• Allow use of the University’s purchasing department