From fundamental research to structured technology transfer – the VUB model Dr Hugo Loosvelt R&D Department, Technology Transfer Interface

Regulatory background and institutional background Belgium: a federal country Flemish, French communities have legal competency over subsidised education Flemish region Walloon region Brussels capital region Flemish community French community German speaking community VUB

Regulatory background and institutional background ‘ Flemish’ Universities: subsidised by Flemish community Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Leuven: ~30000 st Universiteit Gent – Ghent: ~28000 st Universiteit Antwerpen – Antwerp: ~10000st Vrije Universiteit Brussel – Brussels: ~9500 st Universiteit Hasselt – Hasselt: Each university forms an association with 1 or more colleges (Bologna harmonization of higher education landscape) 30 Colleges in Flanders: (‘hogescholen’, similar to ‘fachhochschule’)

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Leuven: ~30000 st

Universiteit Gent – Ghent: ~28000 st

Universiteit Antwerpen – Antwerp: ~10000st

Vrije Universiteit Brussel – Brussels: ~9500 st

Universiteit Hasselt – Hasselt:

Regulatory background and institutional background Regulatory background: US: Bayl-Dole Act of 1980 requires US universities to put into use (‘obligation’) the intellectual property rights (‘gift’) generated from their federally funded research no equivalent in Belgium / Flanders until 1998: IP rights belong to the inventors 1998: University decree, art 169 ter: “ De vermogensrechten op vindingen die, in het kader van hun onderzoekstaken, gedaan worden door personeelsleden van de universiteit … komen uitsluitend toe aan de universiteit …”

US: Bayl-Dole Act of 1980 requires US universities to put into use (‘obligation’) the intellectual property rights (‘gift’) generated from their federally funded research

no equivalent in Belgium / Flanders until 1998: IP rights belong to the inventors

1998: University decree, art 169 ter:

R&D in Flanders and @ VUB Technology life cycle Program driven Project driven Embryonic Potential growth Growth Mature Aging Industrial Product Generic technology Joint research Proprietary Funding, economic impact, visibility, … Risky, fundamental research strategic research, consortia Bilateral, industrial, application driven

Technology life cycle

R&D in Flanders and @ VUB Funding matrix in Flanders

Funding matrix in Flanders

R&D in Flanders and @ VUB Strategic research organisation Flanders IMEC To perform R&D, ahead of industrial needs by 3 to 10 years, in microelectronics, nanotechnology, design methods and technologies for ICT systems VIB Research institute, study of the functioning of the human body, plants and micro-organisms IBBT Research institute, ICT and broadband applications VITO Technological research, energy, environment, material research, earth observation

Strategic research organisation Flanders

IMEC

To perform R&D, ahead of industrial needs by 3 to 10 years, in microelectronics, nanotechnology, design methods and technologies for ICT systems

VIB

Research institute, study of the functioning of the human body, plants and micro-organisms

IBBT

Research institute, ICT and broadband applications

VITO

Technological research, energy, environment, material research, earth observation

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB Practical laboratory session…examine antibodies…in blood samples from camels (crazy idea…) 1991: wild west of biotechnology … introduction to Prof Hamers group: diversity of subjects, creating new talent -> excellent setting for discoveries V H V L C L C H 1 C H 3 C H 2 V HH C H 3 C H 2 Conventional Antibody Heavy and light chains Both chains required for antigen binding and stability Heavy-Chain Antibody Only heavy chains Full antigen binding capacity and highly stable What they found: antibodies devoid of light chains

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB - spotting the possibilities of the camel antibodies! - laboratory: constant shortage of cash - not yet an era where publication pressure was so high… Luckily in this order !! Visionary at a time where the dominant feeling among professors was a reluctance or even a fundamental objection against valorisation of research results * ‘Hamers1’ patent was filed (Hamers, Casterman) Immunoglobulins devoid of light chains (priority date 21/8/1992) * Publication in Nature. 1993 Jun 3;363(6428):446-8

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB Expanding patent portfolio: patent costs soon became considerable: inventors turned to the VUB Agreement on transfer of the patent to the VUB (1995) and distrubution of possible income from the patents Starting negociations without confidentiality agreement with Unilever BUT: Unexperienced university in valorisation of research results (no technology transfer cell) Unexperienced researchers No framework/ ruling regarding IPR Actions/ results: -> Licence-agreement VUB with UNILEVER (1997) on ‘Non-healthcare’ applications -> Unilever starts filing patents around nanobody technology

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB Start Vlaams Interuniversiteit instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Advantages Dangers - light weight central administration dedicated to specific R&D theme - R&D done in university lab -> recruiting new talent - best from each R&D domain are involved - bridging gap between different monodisciplinery research domains - balanced/mixed leadership between industry and university - coherence of action - high performance - rules for new entries, exits of research groups - delicate balance between internal competition and collaboration - fragmentation of IP portfolio between universities and institute

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB * Lab of Raymond Hamers becomes VIB department * Agreement VUB-VIB: -valorisation strategy is carried out in partnership -VIB takes lead -Distribution of income

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB * Licence to Ablynx: diagnostics & therapeutics * 5 mio € capital * External CEO + 4 researchers VIB/VUB * Start of several government funded research projects with VIB/ VUB department * Ablynx becomes a biopharmaceutical company that further developes the NANOBODY ® technology Creation of AblynX

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB > 160 employees Successful IPO on Euronext Brussels, nov 7 th 2007 Extensive IP portfolio: > 200 patent applications and patents in > 50 patent families worldwide Active protection of knowhow and trade secrets NANOBODY ® and NANOCLONE TM AblynX currently:

> 160 employees

Successful IPO on Euronext Brussels, nov 7 th 2007

Extensive IP portfolio: > 200 patent applications and patents in > 50 patent families worldwide

Active protection of knowhow and trade secrets

NANOBODY ® and NANOCLONE TM

Camel antibodies: case study @ VUB Learning curve has lead to: - valorization policy - regulation comprising IP management and income distribution - technology transfer cell: professionalization

Learning curve has lead to:

- valorization policy

- regulation comprising IP management and income distribution

- technology transfer cell: professionalization

R&D in Flanders and @ VUB Fundamental research: VUB management perspective No thematic steering – initiative of individuals and research groups Internal quality control based on peers and correlated with bibliometry Depth of the project reviewing process depending on the level of research: - seed level: quality of proposal; starters investment - incubation level: matching of externally acquired funds - excellence level: external peer review

Fundamental research: VUB management perspective

No thematic steering – initiative of individuals and research groups

Internal quality control based on peers and correlated with bibliometry

Depth of the project reviewing process depending on the level of research:

- seed level: quality of proposal; starters investment

- incubation level: matching of externally acquired funds

- excellence level: external peer review

R&D in Flanders and @ VUB Research @VUB: Focus on excellency -> VUB was in 2006 worldwide the fastest growing university (Times ranking) -> VUB research management praised in an international audit -> 10% increase of research funding in 2006 -> 2 years in a row the most succesfull university in obtaining IWT funding -> number of scientic publications increased in 2006 with 11% -> concentration of IOF-funding in ‘Zwaartepunten’ en ‘Groeiers’ -> strong presence in European FP * 58 projects in 5 FP (10 mio Euro) * 64 projects in 6 FP (10 NoE, 20 IP) * Co-ordinator in two top projects: Diabetes and Photonics

Research @VUB: Focus on excellency

-> VUB was in 2006 worldwide the fastest growing university

(Times ranking)

-> VUB research management praised in an international audit

-> 10% increase of research funding in 2006

-> 2 years in a row the most succesfull university in obtaining IWT funding

-> number of scientic publications increased in 2006 with 11%

-> concentration of IOF-funding in ‘Zwaartepunten’ en ‘Groeiers’

-> strong presence in European FP

* 58 projects in 5 FP (10 mio Euro)

* 64 projects in 6 FP (10 NoE, 20 IP)

* Co-ordinator in two top projects: Diabetes and Photonics

R&D in Flanders and @ VUB Excellence centers Diabetes Photonics Sociology Biotechnology Multimedia Political sciences Reproductive medicine Robotics History Cancer Electrochemistry Multilingualism Cardiology Food technology Informatics System engineering

Excellence centers

Technology transfer Every university (and SRO) has a technology/knowledge transfer office (TTO) Mission: encourage technology development transfer of intellectual property to society , mainly industry reinvest the benefits in research & development

Every university (and SRO) has a technology/knowledge transfer office (TTO)

Mission:

encourage technology development

transfer of intellectual property to society , mainly industry

reinvest the benefits in research & development

Technology transfer - university policy & regulation - support researchers in finding funding - management of contract research IP management & work out commercialisation strategies stimulation of entrepreneurship management of incubation fund research parks & incubators industrial networks Structure and tasks of TTO: multidisciplinary

- university policy & regulation

- support researchers in finding funding

- management of contract research

IP management &

work out commercialisation strategies

stimulation of entrepreneurship

management of incubation fund

research parks & incubators

industrial networks

Technology transfer Flemish government (minister economy and scientific policy) supports ‘interface’ function in universities IOF funding: allocation in function of ‘output’ * Ph D’s * publications & citations * external funding for industrial research * Participation in EU FP * Patents * Spin-off companies * Scientific staff

Flemish government (minister economy and scientific policy) supports ‘interface’ function in universities

IOF funding: allocation in function of ‘output’

* Ph D’s

* publications & citations

* external funding for industrial research

* Participation in EU FP

* Patents

* Spin-off companies

* Scientific staff

Technology transfer VUB model: ruling - IPR on R&D results belong to VUB - obligation to disclose prior to publication / VUB decides wether or not to start valorisation dossier / publication might be postponed -> disclosure form - valorisation: 2 routes primary: VUB funded (patent fund), VUB leads secundary route: IP rights back to researchers, valorisation at own cost - researchers obliged to collaborate OR primary route stopped - income from valorisation belongs to VUB - distribution netto income: 1/3 to patent fund; 2/3 to research group (researchers can apply for a personnel fee, max 1/3 of netto income)

VUB model: ruling

- IPR on R&D results belong to VUB

- obligation to disclose prior to publication / VUB decides wether or not to start valorisation dossier / publication might be postponed -> disclosure form

- valorisation: 2 routes primary: VUB funded (patent fund), VUB leads secundary route: IP rights back to researchers, valorisation at own cost

- researchers obliged to collaborate OR primary route stopped

- income from valorisation belongs to VUB

- distribution netto income: 1/3 to patent fund; 2/3 to research group (researchers can apply for a personnel fee, max 1/3 of netto income)

Technology transfer Patent portfolio > 50 patent families (application) VUB > 20 patent families (application) with IMEC (Interuniversity institute for Micro-electronics) > 10 patent families (application) with VIB (Flemish Interuniversity institute Biotechnology) Several patent families (application) with other research institutions and industry More information on technology offers: www.vub.ac.be/valorisatie or contact [email_address]

Patent portfolio

> 50 patent families (application) VUB

> 20 patent families (application) with IMEC

(Interuniversity institute for Micro-electronics)

> 10 patent families (application) with VIB

(Flemish Interuniversity institute Biotechnology)

Several patent families (application) with

other research institutions and industry

More information on technology offers: www.vub.ac.be/valorisatie

or contact [email_address]

Technology transfer Patent per VTE: VUB ranks third in Flanders

Patent per VTE: VUB ranks third in Flanders

Technology transfer Spin-offs: seed capital fund BI3 Imagination- Incubation- Innovation Aim: Provide seed capital for VUB spin-off companies Partners: Fortis Private Equity, KBC Private Equity, Ethias Leven, GIMB, VUB Value: 6 mio Euro (extendable to 12 mio Euro) Obtained in 2006 VINNOF recognition Participations: Elsyca, BruCells, Symbion, Eggcentris, ..

Spin-offs: seed capital fund BI3

Imagination- Incubation- Innovation

Technology transfer Incubators Brussels : ICAB Incubator Arsenaal Brussel Near campus Etterbeek Operational in 2008 Flanders : IICB Innovation & Incubation center Zellik Near campus Jette www.iicb.be www.vub.ac.be

Incubators

Technology transfer VUB spin-offs

VUB spin-offs

Technology transfer Spin-offs per VTE: VUB ranks first in Flanders

Spin-offs per VTE: VUB ranks first in Flanders

Technology transfer Research @VUB: partner for industry * Medium to long term research projects * Contract research * Consultancy and testing facilities * Training & industrial residents Contact the technology transfer interface [email_address]

Research @VUB: partner for industry

Technology transfer Example of industry – university collaboration Software cell: * Research needs : inventarisation of demand from industry (top down) * Research offers : inventarisation of ICT research at the VUB (bottom up) * Formulation of a strategic research project (submitted at IWOIB-Impuls program) * Future: applied R&D projects for industrial partners, based on results of the strategic research

Example of industry – university collaboration

Technology transfer Technological entrepreneurship: educational program Introduce technological entrepreneurship in the Masters Engineer <-> Business engineer Courses Business administration <-> Technology Entrepreneurship <-> Entrepreneurship for Bus.engineers Writing of a business plan Start up of a student business via ETC (Entrepreneurial Talent Corporation) Partners PMV, Yakult, Ethias, WTCM, IBM, Fundus, Bank De Groof, Solvay, Bekaert, Tyco Electronics Raychem,...

Technological entrepreneurship: educational program

Technology transfer Crosstalks: industry – university network Creating an exchange dynamics Encouraging cross-talking and stimulating innovation Through different formats And international publications Conferences, science & industry lunches, workshops... Windows by Day, Linux by Night: open source paradigma The Future of Technology The Future of our Digital Commons Early Warning Signals Grenzen van de Geneeskunst Early Warning Information Systems The Future of Medication in a Patient-Centered Health Care ......... http://crosstalks.vub.ac.be

Crosstalks: industry – university network

Creating an exchange dynamics

Encouraging cross-talking and stimulating innovation

Through different formats

And international publications

Conferences, science & industry lunches, workshops...

Windows by Day, Linux by Night: open source paradigma

The Future of Technology

The Future of our Digital Commons

Early Warning Signals

Grenzen van de Geneeskunst

Early Warning Information Systems

The Future of Medication in a Patient-Centered Health Care

.........

http://crosstalks.vub.ac.be

Technology transfer For more information contact the technology transfer interface: [email_address] Thank you for your attention!

For more information contact the technology transfer interface:

[email_address]

Thank you for your attention!