Chapter 4 The Roles of Scientists in the Start-up of Academic Spin-off Companies in the Life Sciences in the Netherlands

Abstract

Academic knowledge can be put to use in a commercial environment in several ways. One such mechanism to transfer knowledge to the market place is the start of a new, separate company, termed an academic spin-off company, with the aim to commercially develop and exploit the knowledge generated in the university (Fontes, 2003). In 1999, the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs published a paper stating that the number of high-tech start-ups in the Netherlands lags behind compared to other EU countries and the United States. Subsequently, initiatives were started to stimulate commercial exploitation of knowledge generated within universities. A specific initiative by the Dutch government in the area of the Life Sciences was the so-called Biopartner programme. This was started in 2000 with the objective to enhance the business climate for start-ups in the Life Sciences and to realize 75 start-ups within 5 years (Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, 1999). Actions were directed toward increasing awareness, stimulating starters, establishing facilities like a seed fund and academic incubators, and promoting the commercialization of academic knowledge within universities. A few years later, the Technopartner program and the Valorization Grant were implemented with similar instruments aiming at scientists in universities (Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, 2003).

Citation

Jousma, H. and Scholten, V. (2009), "Chapter 4 The Roles of Scientists in the Start-up of Academic Spin-off Companies in the Life Sciences in the Netherlands", Oakey, R., Groen, A., Cook, G. and van Der Sijde, P. (Ed.) New Technology-Based Firms in the New Millennium (New Technology Based Firms in the New Millennium, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 39-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1876-0228(2009)0000007006