Technology transfer in science parks – experience of SPoW

1. Technology transfer in science parks – experience of SPoW the network of Science Parks in Wallonia Maxime Woitrin Economic & Commercial Counsellor, Belgian Embassy Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AWEX) 14 April 2010, European Economic Congress 2010, Katowice www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

2. SPoW – network of Walloon STPs • Network of 6 science parks • Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park • Liège Science Park • Crealys- Gembloux • Aéropole- Charleroi • Initialis- Mons • Qualitis– Enghien • Managed by local development agencies and universities/research centers www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

3. SPoW • Missions: • Promote STPs as a tool for R&D and technology transfer • Contribute to the development of innovation • networks of expertise in partnerships • Advantage of this network: • pooling of technology resources • efficiency: flexible organisation www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

4. Walloon STP ≠ “classic” industry park High-tech SME and large companies 3 criteria to be a Walloon STP: Concentration of high-tech players TT & Networking boosting dynamics Specific high-tech facilities innovation Knowledge Education & Training + STRUCTURAL and OPERATIONAL LINK WITH AN ASSOCIATED RESEARCH INSTITUTION University Research centre SPoW Quality Charter www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

5. Company profile selection : Concentration of high tech players (Quality Charter) • R&D centers • Technologically new companies • Non R&D units of innovative companies • Non-innovative technological businesses • Usefulness to R&D activities • Examples of high-tech companies present in SPoW min 80 % max 20 % www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

6. Specific infrastructures • On a science park, high technology companies will find the infrastructures adapted to their specific needs (SPoW Quality Charter) • Incubators for start-ups and spin-offs • Equipped business centres • Technological platforms • Use of scientific equipment from the Universities • Multi-services building: restaurants, banks, post offices, meeting rooms, etc. www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

7. Experience in Technology Transfer (TT) – services of SPoW • encouraging exchanges between industrial and R&D actors • facilitating TT and industrial research contracts; • advising companies on technological innovation (IP, etc.) • stimulating creation of high-tech companies; • disseminating technological information. • 2/3 of the companies in STPs have cooperation with University – concrete examples : • use of university labs • creation of prototypes • technology transfer (e.g. patent licenses) www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

8. International cooperation of SPoW • IASP = international association of STPs • 349 members in 71 countries representing 200,000 companies • Workshop “Recognition of STPs in Europe” • Brussels, 17 – 19 November 2010 • Part of EU Belgian Presidency official calendar • => Contact: Lisa LOMBARDI • Tel: +32 10 47 91 34, Lisa.Lombardi@uclouvain.be www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be

9. Thankyou • for your attention • Maxime Woitrin • Radca Ekonomiczny i Handlowy • Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AWEX) • Stratos Office Centre • Ul. Skorupki 5 • 00-546 Varsovie • Tel: +48 22 583 70 11 • fax: +48 22 583 70 19 • awex@varsovie-wallonia.com • www.investinwallonia.be www.spow.be www.wallonia-international.be