Tech Transfer Course
Tech Transfer Course
21-25 August 2023
General context
Do you want to know how scientific inventions are turned into real life medicines, products and agricultural innovations? Are you interested in how patents serve to protect your invention? Or do you simply want to get a taste of the life science industry surrounding your lab? Join VIB’s Innovation & Business team in our annual Technology transfer course!
After all, VIB has an entrepreneurial side. We seek to transfer the results of our scientific research to economical and societal added value. To this end, the members of VIB’s Innovation & Business team draft, file and prosecute patents, develop IP strategies, establish research collaborations with companies, outlicense intellectual property & knowhow, and create spin-off companies. These activities resulted in more than 250 active patent families, 1500 partnerships with industry, more than 130 million euro industrial income over the last 5 years, and a total of 29 spin-off companies. The portfolio of VIB Discovery Sciences - part of the VIB Business & Innovation team - includes programs on small molecules, biologicals, crop industry as well as microbiology programs.
This technology transfer course will give you a flavour of:
- How to find out if patents exist around your new findings and how to protect your invention?
- What steps are necessary to commercialize your work?
- What does it take to set up a spin-off company?
- Different ways of turning your research into value for society.
Supported by speakers from companies and investment firms, VIB’s Innovation & Business Team will go into detail on real life valorisation approaches. We will discuss the basics of Intellectual Property Rights, including a hands-on patent search on your favourite topic. We will go through term sheets and contracts that shape the framework of industrial collaborations and investments. We will have a lively case study to highlight the potentially complex relationships between scientist, valorisation manager, and company representative. On top of that, you will be introduced to the various stages of setting up a start-up company.
We warmly invite participants to submit a short abstract on a potential business idea prior to the start of the course, so we can select a number of topics for the Newco pitching exercise which will be held in small teams. We will invite you to submit your abstract in the course of June, after you received more information on the requirements for your abstract via email.
We set up this course to introduce VIB scientists to the technology transfer process and the life sciences ecosystem surrounding us. The course is also open to external participants, but please note that all examples and case studies will focus on Life Science topics.
- Participation is free for VIB participants.
- Registration fee for Academics from Universities and Centers of Excellence is € 225 (21% VAT incl.).
- Registration fee for participants of EU-LIFE partner institutes is € 225 (21% VAT incl.).
- Registration fee for industry is € 750 (21% VAT incl.).
- Note that upon no-show without valid justification you will be blacklisted for the VIB training program for 1 year. Click here for more information.
It was an extremely useful training. I learnt a lot about the different topics, and the trainers were really excellent. There was a good balance between theory and exercise, and enough time for each session so we could really interact with the speakers to ask questions and engage in discussions. Due to the alternation of talks/exercises and also due to the fact that the day did not start very early nor end very late, it was easy to keep your attention to the course and learn as much as possible.
Participant edition 2022
In general, very balanced course that discusses all the requirements for building a spin-off company. I particularly liked the structure of the course as well as the fact that all sessions were scheduled within the same week.
Participant edition 2022
Program
Innovation & Business at VIB - Intellectual Property part 1
Welcome - Innovation & Business: VIBs Tech transfer lane to success in Biotech!
Introduction to intellectual property rights
Pitching exercise: introduction
Patentability requirements
Writing a patent application
Claim drafting exercise (based on Oosthuyse et al.)
Reception (optional)
Dinner (optional)
Intellectual Property part 2
Discovery & RISK! – Journey through the valley of death
Filing and prosecution of a patent
Pitching exercise: discuss
Guest Lecture: Isabel Vercauteren, CEO at Apheo.Bio
Patent search: intro and example
Pitching Excercise: Patentability and IP/competition-landscape analysis
Business Development
Public Private partnerships
Contracting: MTAs & CDAs
MTA negotiation workshop
Guest lecture: Jean-Paul Mannie, Vice President Business Development at Argenx
R&D Collaborations & Licensing
Licensing exercise: Term sheets and negotiations
New Ventures part 1
Key ingredients for building a successful business
Building a business and fundraising - pitching your plan
Company valuation
Pitching exercise: preparation pitch
New Ventures part 2
Pitching your Newco (+feedback)
Guest lecture VC: Thomas Harth, Principal at Ysios Capital
Pitching Award and closing
Practical info
21 August 2023 - 25 August 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
21 August 2023 - 25 August 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
21 August 2023 - 25 August 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
21 August 2023 - 25 August 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.
21 August 2023 - 25 August 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Room L5