Belgian TTOs and their spin-offs: a match made in heaven? A quantitative survey

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NautaDutilh’s Multi-disciplinary R&D Team presents:

Belgian TTOs and their Spin-offs: A Match Made in Heaven?


Presentation of the report & lessons learned

Introduction

- Conversations within our multi-disciplinary group about the specific role and functioning of TTOs and their relationship with spin-offs.

- Commitment of the 6th GUS (Global University Summit): “to continue to promote contract research, knowledge transfer and technology commercialisation, thus creating jobs and new businesses that promote sustainable development and ecoconomic growth”.

- We wanted to clarify the situation in Belgium. Together with other questions, this led to our survey and subsequent report, with the objective of providing a brief overview in terms of figures and stats.



Methodology

- Telephone and face-to-face interviews with nine TTOs + one interview by e-mail.*

- Interviews conducted between 15 July and 25 August 2013,

- A conscious decision was made not to distinguish between the regions.

- Two additional interviews with other relevant players in the field provided us with extra information.**

* The university TTOs we interviewed: KUL, UA, UCL, UG, UHasselt, ULB, ULg, UMons, UNamur and VUB.** The two additional interviews were conducted with Qbic and VIB.



Striking Results (1)

- Some 35 new spin-offs are expected to be created in the next twelve months.

In total, there are at least 100 pipeline projects that could evolve into spin-offs in the next five years.

- 8/10 TTOs said they would launch an ICT spin-off in the next twelve months. ICT is by far the most popular sector.

The ‘popularity’ of IT is confirmed in the five-year trend. The most striking difference: the number of possible spin-offs in

(renewable) energy & clean tech.





- The number of licensed projects over a 12-month period can be compared to the number of spin-offs over the same period. But the responses were very divided.

- Top factors which determine whether a project will be licensed out or evolve into a spin-off:

1. Scope of potential applications and researchers’ personal preference

2. Identification of an industrial partner




- Top factors which determine the success of a spin-off:1. Market potential and the quality of the management team

2. Support from investors




- What types of external support are essential for a spin-off? 1. Financial support

2. Management support




- What type of investor do you consider adds the most value? 1. University / seed funds

2. Venture capitalists




- 60% expect one to five transactions in the next year; 30% believe five to ten transactions will take place. One respondent will have a very busy year with more than ten transactions coming their way.

- What type oftransaction do youexpect in the next 12 months?



Conclusion

- There is generally a positive attitude within university TTOs towards the creation of spin-offs, but there is still a long road ahead to increase the number of success stories.

- An increase in the number of spin-offs will not necessarily lead to an increase in the return for universities.

- The leading position of the ICT sector is striking. After all, spin-offs in the biotech and medical devices sectors tend to receive more press coverage. This could have something to do with the fact that most ICT spin-offs don’t make it to the IPO stage, a stage which of course attracts media attention.



Conclusion

- Qualitative management is key - in negotiations with investors & shareholders, business development, relationships with stakeholders, and keeping the business and employees on the right track. It’s difficult to find the right qualities + financial resources are limited. Hence the importance of expert external support.

- Most respondents expect substantial financing activity in the coming year.

- It remains a very risky business environment. Luckily, it also promises to remain a very active environment in the coming years, and we will certainly see a few new rising stars.


Contact Details

Elke Janssens

PartnerT: +32 2 566 8150F: +32 2 566 8151E: [email protected]

Florence Verhoestraete

PartnerT: +32 2 566 84 52F: +32 479 52 01 30E: [email protected]

Christel Brion

Senior AssociateT: +32 2 566 8440F: +32 2 566 8441E: [email protected]

Geneviève Borremans

AssociateT: +32 2 566 8328F: +32 2 566 8329E: [email protected]

Business

Belgian TTOs and their spin-offs: a match made in heaven? A quantitative survey