Matchmaking between universities and companies: Knowledge and commercialization - is the main purpose of the University Technology Network.
The technology transfer offices of Aarhus University, Aalborg University and University of Southern Denmark are the main engine behind University Technology Network.
DIALOGUE TRIUMPHED AT MATCHMAKING EVENT
A striking chemistry was predominant for the entire day, at this second matchmaking event held by University Technology Network on the 27th of April at University of Southern Denmark.
All common talk about lack of mutual understanding between researchers and business people fell silent, and the dialogue was from the start until the end of the event lively, of mutual interest and qualified.
“There wasn’t a moments silence in the lounge, whereas there all day long was a constant buzz from every matchmaking room. Several times I saw company representatives walking away smiling from meetings with researchers, which several companies lauded for having brought good research presentations with a high degree of substance”, says Rasmus Fischer on behalf of University Technology Network.
It is worth to notice, that all who have evaluated the matchmaking event have declared that they wish to participate in coming events.
“The feedback we have received has been extraordinarily positive. Not only do both company representatives and the researchers wish to attend coming events, but they are really looking forward to meet, once again potential partners who are just as dedicated to that specific scientific field as themselves”, adds Rasmus Fischer.
See pictures from the 2nd University Technology Network matchmaking event
MATCHMAKING BRINGS DOWN BARRIERS
The university researchers all together brought 25 technology presentations to the matchmaking event, and several of the researchers had prior to the event attended preparation meetings in order to present their inventions at a proper level, meaning giving a thorough presentation not revealing neither too much nor too little.
These preparation meetings turned to be a success, as no non-disclosure agreements were needed during the day, as both researchers and company representatives both understood and accepted the underlying conditions for having dialogue.
That both parties were given a chance to talk to a fellow with equal technical insight was clearly very enjoyable and inspiring:
”We had booked four meetings with researchers, and all of the meetings were of such high quality and relevance for us, that we are now about to initiate collaboration on two of the projects. Concurrently we all day had the opportunity to network with other investors and researchers working in the field of life science - and we returned with several quality contacts, which can turn out to be very valuable. The concept has without a doubt proven its strength by facilitating pivotal meetings between segmented companies and university researches”, states Nicolaj Højer Nielsen, Partner in BIOSTRAT.
Several researchers have subsequently expressed their excitement about meeting company representatives and investors who have an actual interest in their research and in collaborating with them.
“It is a great satisfaction for me as host that especially the researchers have been very accommodating to situations, which for many of them are quit new. The dialogues with the companies were surprisingly visionary for several of the researchers who experienced to see a mutual potential in commercializing their research”, it is said approvingly by Rasmus Fischer.
UPCOMING MATCHMAKING EVENT
After the success from the two previous matchmaking events, University Technology Network can be happy that they have already received several advance commitments of participation for the third matchmaking event this fall.
The coming theme will be clean and green tech and ICT.
CONTACT University Technology Network
The matchmaking events are closed meetings for members of University Technology Network, who are invited by the network managers.
Anyone should however feel free to contact University Technology Network about information and/or potential membership.
Please contact:
Rasmus Køhler Fischer
University of Southern Denmark
+45 65 50 10 84 | rkf@sdu.dk
