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Each year ASTP produces a 2-day meeting which focuses on a pivotal topic for individuals and teams working in knowledge transfer. The 2024 edition will examine the business of spin-offs.

Everyone loves a good spin-off story. Founders, KTOs, university authorities, and investors, are all excited by the possibility of a successful spin-off; but the road to success is pitted with challenges and unexpected difficulties. This second ASTP thematic event will examine all aspects of spin-offs and equip you with the foresight to avoid the pitfalls and the skills to build a successful spin-off.

Expect to learn from the triumphs, failures and near-misses of Europe's most experienced knowledge transfer professionals as they engage you in an open discussion about the elements essential for success such as: nurturing a spin-off ecosystem, building the team, and how to make the business investable. The meeting will require your active engagement to enhance the exchange of experience; take part in panel discussions and enrich co-operative learning alongside other KT practitioners, spin-off founders, and specialists from the spin-off ecosystem.

The event is also intended to generate a useful checklist of the essential elements every KT professional should consider while working on creating academic ventures. 

If you are ready to boost your knowledge, update your practices, develop your career, and grow your network, join your peers in Leiden, the Netherlands for 2-days of robust spin-offs learning.

Learning Objectives

  • How to build and nurture a spin-off ecosystem 
  • How to build the best team
  • How make to a spin-out and investable entity

Course Topics

  • Avoiding legal pitfalls when establishing a spin-out
  • Building a business case
  • Creating academic ventures
  • Programme
  • Speakers
  • Venue
  • Sponsorship

Programme

  • Thu 24 October 2024

    • 09:00 - 09:15    Welcome

    • 09:15 - 10:15    What could possibly go wrong?

      Spin-offs are a powerful tool that can bring academic technology to the market. This is especially true when the development is at an early stage, or the target market is in its infancy. Enthusiasm is the key and thankfully it is often plentiful: founders, KT officers, authorities, and investors, all love spin-offs.

      So, what could possibly go wrong?  Three spectacular (near) failure stories can teach us a great deal about how, why, and when things can quickly go in the wrong direction.

      Speakers: Jeff Skinner, Hidde-Jan Lemstra, Rob Mayfield

      Session moderator: Giuseppe Visimberga

    • 10:15 - 10:45    Break

      Take this opportunity to start networking with fellow participants and speakers. 

    • 10:45 - 12:15    Nurture and boost spin-off support ecosystems

      This session explores how to transition from 'silo thinking' to collaborative initiatives. We all need processes that can drive academic entrepreneurship, establish clear standards for spin-off support, and engage alumni networks to be mentors, advisors, and investors.

      Participants will gain actionable insights on how to foster a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem and learn how to prepare spin-offs for incubation and acceleration.

      Speaker: Magda Krakowiak,  Diego de BiasioNicolette Stehouwer-den Hollander

      Session moderator:  Markus Pietzka

    • 12:15 - 13:30    Lunch

      Enjoy a buffet lunch in the conference venue and take the opportunity to connect with your peers and the experts.

    • 13:30 - 15:00    Making a spin-off investible

      In this panel discussion, a venture capitalist, a representative of a corporate VC (optionally an experienced entrepreneur) and an employee of a KTO will explore how entrepreneurial teams can attract the attention of investors to their projects or start-ups. The factors that investors consider to be essential for an investment decision will be outlined. Dos and don'ts will be highlighted. Audience will have the chance to influence the discussion by asking questions during the session.

      Speakers: Florian Kirschenhofer,  Martin Raditsch, Philip Grother

      Moderator: Martin Raditsch

    • 15:00 - 15:30    Break

    • 15:30 - 17:00    Building the team

      Join this 90-minute workshop designed specifically for tech and knowledge transfer professionals. Led by Inge Volman and a panel of distinguished speakers, this session will delve into the complexities and challenges of assembling the team for a future academic spin-off.

      The workshop will explore the dynamics of creating a team often composed of researchers, professors, and occasionally other staff members such as advisors, students, and mentors. A significant challenge in these scenarios is the lack of business skills or acumen among academics, which is crucial for running a company.

      This session is designed for participants who already have some experience in managing academic spin-offs. The goal is to equip you with a comprehensive checklist that maps out all the issues that need to be addressed when building a team for a spin-off.

      By the end of this workshop, participants will have gained valuable insights into overcoming the hurdles to forming a team and be better prepared to navigate the exciting journey of academic spin-offs. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best in the field and enhance your team-building strategies.

      Speakers: Inge VolmanSimon HepworthSilvia Goddijn

      Moderator: Inge Volman

    • 19:00 - 22:00    Dinner

      Everyone is invited to come together for a night in Leiden to enjoy good food, good company and a good time.

  • Fri 25 October 2024

    • 09:00 - 10:15    Building up a business case

      Spin-offs need money. The best source for that money depends on the nature of the underlying technology, founder ambition, market opportunity and the extent to which you need grab that market before anyone else does. Bootstrap at one extreme, full-on VC at the other. In this session I want to use a case to explore the ‘venture-finance fit’, in particular how you should treat the investor as ‘customer’ at each step – and what to do if your favourite source of funding is out of reach.

      Moderator:
       Jeff Skinner 

    • 10:15 - 10:45    Break

      Refuel and reset for the next session.

    • 10:45 - 12:00    IP link: strong but not too tight

      Following a presentation of the NAAC's White paper on spin-off creation, specifically on good practices on IP licensing, the panel will discuss the strengths and threats to the quality of the relationship between labs and startups.

      Are spin-offs a tool for the IP holder to develop their research activities, or are they fully independent start-ups?

      Speakers: Pascale RibonChristian Stein, Michael Karle

      Session moderator: Laura Spinardi, ASTP VP NAAC

    • 12:00 - 13:15    Making it happen while avoiding legal pitfalls

      Bringing a spin-off from its creation, through incorporation and on to a successful business is a road laden with legal pitfalls. This workshop, which is relevant to founders and business managers as well as KT professionals, will explore how to achieve success within the boundaries of the existing legal frameworks.

      Speaker: Malcolm Bain

    • 13:15 - 13:30    Wrap up and closing

    • 13:30 - 14:30    Lunch

      Time to chew over what you've been learning and a delicious lunch. 

Speakers

Venue

Venue - Fletcher Wellness-Hotel Leiden

Bargelaan 180, Leiden 2333 CW, Netherlands

Room rate
€130.50 per night in Comfort Room for single use inclusive of breakfast. City tax is not included.

We have blocked a number of rooms on option until the 5th September 2024. After this date rooms are subject to availability.

For reservations, please email to banquetsales@wellnesshotelleiden.nl with reference code 113-GFC4448 in the subject line.
Please be aware that the reference code does not work online. It can only be used by sending an email to the address mentioned above.

Sponsorship

Connect directly with Europe's knowledge transfer community

Join the big thinkers and shape shifters of Europe's largest knowledge transfer community at this one-off thematic event, Making the Team Work: Focus on spin-offs.

This is a great way to showcase your business to the community by placing your company heart and centre of the social events. 

Download the Sponsorship Brochure here or contact Noeleen O'Hara if you would like to discuss a bespoke package.

Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Are you an ASTP Member?

  • Join ASTP

  • Register for Thematic Event 2024

  • Social Programme

  • Catering Options

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