Failures and successes of workshops, trainings, grants and

clusters in Central-Eastern Europe

Zsombor Lacza, CEOSemmelweis Innovations

Fostering entrepreneurship activities in the life sciences sector

Lessons from Hungary

๏ There are only 7 working TTOs in Hungary - despite the innovation act which mandates a TTO at every university

๏ The minimum size of a TTO is 8 FTE trained personnel and about 150 m HUF yearly budget

๏ Entrepreneurial activities are still repressed by the academics

expected* 2006** 2008

n of disclosures 300 13 120

radical innovation 2 0 0

patent 100 2 13

outlicensing 4 0 2

spin-off formation 30 1 0

*100 research groups, 3 FTE researcher each, www.record-network.net** after 2 years in operation, before the formation of Semmelweis Innovations

Lessons from MIT

๏ entrepreneurship is the key element in new economic value creation (not money, education, industry, etc.)

๏ entrepreneurship can be increased dramatrically at a university, but it needs several interconnecting actions

๏ more than 1000 MIT alumni founded a company, only 30 of them did it through classical tech transfer (2000).

What is the goal?

1. Create an innovative niche

environment

2. Build a community

3. Nurture projects

Incubators anyone?

1. 50% Govt. grant - grant returned, no incubator

2. 40% EU grant - granted, office space built

3. 80% Govt. grant for virtual incubation - withdrawn

4. 70% EU grant for building - withdrawn

5. 70% EU grant for building - withdrawn

6. ? Govt grant - pending

Innovative Environment

1. training studio

2. internet-cafe

3. shared meeting rooms

4. labs for rent

Administration

1. online project management system

2. standardized lab notebooks

3. voucher-based consultancy

Building a community

1. PhD level: IP, management courses

2. Researcher level: faculty visits

3. Project managers = future CEOs

4. SIBE - practical learning๏ researcher + manager + mentor๏6 steps of business planning: model, IP, market, finance, design, presentation

๏personalized business development

program overview

What do the students get?

1. Minimized contact times - suitable for distance learning or for those who have a day job๏3 weeks of your time in Budapest๏2 hours on-line per week๏6 + 6 half days in distance learning

2.Hard skills: business models and planning, IP and marketing strategies, corporate design, team building with a Biotech focus

3. Soft skills: self-assessment, team roles, negotiation skills, problem-solving, time-management

www.semmelweisinnovations.com

What works best?

1.The structure of intensive contact weeks plus working from home

2.Mentoring: business consultants are best

3.Coaching: to relieve stress and solve conflicts

4.Stepwise introduction into real case studies

5.Providing innovative tools to work with

6.Biotech (=life sciences) focus

7.Structured handouts and limited space

8.Trainers trained to meet school requirements

What works least?

1.Off-topic inventions

2.Any changes in the Trimaran part (course+rotation+voucher)

3.Trainers with great knowledge but boring personality

4.Trainers who cannot adapt to school rules

5.Full handouts

6.Tools without excessive practice and repetitions

7.Unreal or canned cases (=case studies)

Results of training

47% of them has got a higher income than what (s)he expected 50% of them could not have reached the desired income-level without

the program

Results of projects

1. Hyperbaric O2 therapy - expansion capital

2. Zebrafish toxicity - service company startup

3. New X-Ray and CT modality - tech startup

4. Drug repositioning - tech startup

5. Hand cleaning - medtech startup

depression: small money takes you farther, high

motivation and risk tolerance from

people

greatest risk: sluggish and sometimes

incompetent administration kills the

opportunities.

www.semmelweisinnovations.comwww.semmelweisinnovations.com