How can TTO help in facilitating subsidy?
In most research grant applications, paragraphs about potential use of the knowledge or technology to be acquired are required. Furthermore, direct collaboration with private enterprise or other (end)-users within the project is often preferred or even mandatory. It is therefore important when compiling a grant application to contact one of the managers from the VU & VUmc TTO early on about your research program and its potential commercial value. The TTO VU & VUmc can also advise you on how best to approach potential partners and subsidy specialists. In addition, the TTO VU & VUmc has an extensive network of potential collaborators in the public and private sector with whom you could partner.
A research project does not directly result in a commercial product. The results of many promising projects ultimately do not enter the market because inadequate thought was given to the subsequent steps:
- what steps are necessary in order to end up with an actual product?
- which parties are capable of taking those steps?
- how can we ensure that the project outcomes end up in these parties’ hands, and are of use to them?
These are the elements that are expected in a paragraph about valorisation. Again, the TTO’s manager can handle all your questions on these issues.
Different grant providers have different rules about how technology transfer and knowledge exploitation should be presented in a research application. Within the EU 7th framework (FP7), for example, the “impact” is always asked about, not just on the economy or society, but also on both broad and very specific objectives within certain parts of the program.
Cooperation with other parties (local or foreign academic institutions, commercial entities, semi-governmental) is a prerequisite for many grant routes. It is often not easy even to find suitable partners, let alone to convince them to want to join in on a project application. There are several relevant questions to ask during the search process, and TTO helps you with managing these as well:
- Is the potential partner’s expertise complementary?
- What is the benefit for them (grant money, research results, long-term collaboration)?
- What is the cost to them (commitment, financial contribution, sharing of knowledge)?
