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University reform within global changes: importance of fostering

research-innovation links

Melita KovačevićVice-Rector for Science and Technology

University of Zagreb

INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France, April 28 – May 1, 2009

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Topics:

New demands on university Obstacles and constraints for change Importance of research Case study: University of Zagreb A look into (close) future

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Why?

Facts on ERI triangle

Research

Technology Transfer

Doctoral Education

“University should be driven by societal and economical changes”

Georg Winckler, EUA President

Dubrovnik – October, 2007

New demands on university

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Knowledge economy

Economy based on the production, distribution, and use of Knowledge as the

main driver of growth, wealth creation, and

employment across all industries .

Facts on ERI triangle

New demands on university

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1. Research

2. Teaching

3. Innovation

4. Interationalization

5. Regional impact

New demands on university

University classification (and ranking)

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EHEA

ERA

New demands on university

European vs World perspective

- new HE market

- new demands

- Changing rules

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New demands on university

Globalisation

- it affects all human activities and processes- demand for more research and research practices to

address them

- need to promote a future development of a knowledge-based society, both in developed and developing

countries

an increased strategic role for universities

(WB, OECD, EU…)

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Obstacles and constraints for change

existence of long tradition of academic conservatism inadequate recognition of doctorate and its social and

economical value overproduction of doctors – overflow of researchers treating HE as cost, not investment

research and doctoral

education most affected

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Reluctance on both sides-university/industry Frequently not a partner but service relationship Not defined IP rules

• Who owns the product?• What are the conditions?• Why is it important to define the rules?

Personal vs. Institutional involvement and benefits Tradition

Opening towards Society: Constraints, Obstacles

Obstacles and constraints for change

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Importance of research

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Top 20 world universities:

1. Harvard (US)

2. Cambridge (UK)

3. Oxford (UK)

4. Massachusetts (US)

5. Yale (US)

6. Stanford (US)

7. California IT (US)

8. Berkeley (US)

9. IC London (UK)

10. Princeton (US)

11. Chicago (US)

12. Columbia (US)

13. Duke (US)

14. Beijing (China)

15. Cornell (US)

16. Australian National Univ. (Austral.)

17. London School of Econom. (UK)

18. ENS Paris (France)

19. Singapur

20. Tokyo University (Japan)

Top 50 European universities:

University of Prague

Faculties: 17

Students 45.000

Teachers 4.000

Programmes 270

University of Vienna

Faculties: 18

Students 66.000

Teachers 5.400

Programmes 135

University of Zagreb

Faculties: 33

Students 56.000

Teachers 3.500

Programmes 520

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Importance of research

extending the frontiers of knowledge transferring knowledge into new products and

services

however

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Importance of research

research ≠ knowledge ≠ innovation the need for innovation-driven economy and/or for the

transfer of knowledge into innovation does not imply innovation-driven research

research results can not be ordered or preset the time scales of research ≠ policy makers ≠ short-term

profit research is one of human activities the most under the

pressure of competitiveness and continuous quality assessment

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One way road

Industry finances doctoral education

Defines the topic of research

Owns the outcome

Research/Doctoral Education: Constraints, Obstacles

What can/should be done?

Importance of research

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Research/Doctoral Education: Constraints, Obstacles

• 3% research funding– 1% government, 2% industry

• Doctoral education as a self-generating process

• Placement of new doctors outside academia

Importance of research

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65,000 students • 2,000 PhD students, • 5,500 members of academic staff, • 8,000 total number of employees,• 30 faculties and 3 academies, • 1,220 research projects financed by MSES (basic, applied and

technology projects),• 175 international projects (mostly FP6 and FP7)• 1354 original scientific papers cited in international databases (year

2008).

In each of these indicators the University of Zagreb takes more than 80 % of the total of all universities in Croatia and more than 50 % of the whole academic community (universities plus public institutes).

Case study: University of Zagreb

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University of Zagreb Experiences

Dissertations – all scientific fields (2000-2005)

Dubrovnik; 0,000%

Osijek; 3,975%

Rijeka; 7,218%

Split; 4,132%

Zadar; 0,523%

Zagreb; 84,153%

Dubrovnik Osijek Rijeka Split Zadar Zagreb

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Technology Transfer Office:• Established within Unit for Science and Technology in

January 2008• Joined WB Science and Technology Project in May 2008

Vision• The creation of university infrastructure that will serve as

a promoter of development and commercialization of innovations and discoveries resulting from scientific research, with ambition to be a leading institution among universities in Croatia in that respect.

Case study: University of Zagreb

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TT Office

Mission

… is to promote and facilitate the transfer of technology from the University of Zagreb to the commercial sector producing thus benefits for researchers, the University and the Croatian economy.

Case study: University of Zagreb

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• June 2007. Task Group

• October 2007. BP for S&T Project (MSES, World Bank)

• January 2008. first employee Vlatka Petrović, PhD

• May 2008. S&T Project started, Prof. Srđan Novak, PhD Project Manager

Case study: University of Zagreb

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TTO financing:

• University budget

• Ministry of Science Education and Sport via WB Science and Technology Project

• EU funding

Case study: University of Zagreb

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TTO-UniZg: Aims

1. Promoting the culture of innovativeness and academic entrepreneurship among all components (Faculties) of the University of Zagreb.

2. Building the system of services for IPR protection and promotion of 'Patenting Culture' among all components (Faculties) of the University of Zagreb.

3. Taking proactive steps in helping researchers to shape future applied research projects towards optimal solutions of IP protection and commercialization.

4. Establishment of the system that will facilitate technology transfer from academic community to business sector and support the academic entrepreneurship.

5. Stimulating the commercialization of R&D among all components (Faculties) of the University of Zagreb.

6. Taking active part in defining consistent and transparent legal and organizational framework for stimulation and smooth conduction of technology transfer at the University of Zagreb.

7. Producing all necessary documents (starting from University IPR Policy) in order to achieve the goals mentioned above.

8. Networking of experts and researchers to facilitate the commercialization of scientific results.

Case study: University of Zagreb

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TTO-UniZg: Short-term tasks:

• TT-OFFICE RULE-BOOK (December 2008)• IP Policy (in process)• Procedures & Documents • Consultants Network• Financing for od 15 -20 projects entering the pipe-line, • Ending with 3 - 5 patents• Commercialization 2-3 patents• TTO starts in December 2008

Case study: University of Zagreb

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TTO RULE-BOOK – BASIC STATEMENTS

• Owner of IP is the Faculty• Free-Will Principle• Defines the Procedure of IP protection when it

goes through the TTO

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Procedure

1. Disclosure

2. Due Diligence

3. Contract

4. Technical & commercial assessment of innovation

5. Decision (We go for it! or We don’t!)

6. Legal protection of IP (drafting, fileing).

7. Commercialization (licencing or spin-off?)

8. Revenues collection and distribution

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Revenue share scheme:

• Inventors: 40%• Faculty: 40%• University: 20%

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Nurturing a new culture

patent = costpatenting = investment

investment = start of entrepreneurship

Case study: University of Zagreb

28Knowledge Economy & Technology Transfer

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Reminder – Knowledge Economy

Economy based on the production, distribution, and use of Knowledge as the main driver of growth,

wealth creation, and employment across all

industries .

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Research Office

Technology Transfer Office

Centre for Research, Development and Technology Transfer

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Three roles of a modern university in the modern knowledge economy:

- Higher education-Research and development

- Innovation and technology transfer

Facts on ERI triangle

Case study: University of Zagreb

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• Must

University must open towards society

• Dangers

Losing academic aureole

Future

Case study: University of Zagreb

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Possible conclusions (with open questions)

• Role of universities and society changes– Faster than we would like? Ready to follow?

• It is inevitable to balance all parts of the triangle– What do we need to do that– How to establish good communicational channels

between university and industry– Competitive research will boost innovation and

technology transfer

A look into (close) future

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Possible conclusions (with open questions)

Can (regional) centres of excellence be a good framework to overbridge many of

obstacles and constraints?

A look into (close) future

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“We do not have to fight tradition; we must build and develop new ways based on tradition and accumulated experience”

Aleksa Bjeliš, RectorZagreb, 2009

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Thank you