Constitution des équipes entrepreneuriales lors de la création de spin-offs universitaires dans le secteur des biotechnologies : bonnes pratiques des bureaux de transfert de technologies.

Abstract

In an ecosystem where biotechnology companies in the life sciences sector are growing, academic institutions have begun to use data from academic research to bring innovative technologies to the market. For this purpose, ambitious academic researchers can start a university spin-off (SOU) project, a long and difficult process. To help them through the steps involved in setting up a SOU, technology transfer offices, or TTOs, have been set up in universities and bring together experts in charge of their support. While some TTOs perform well and enable the effective creation of several SOUs each year, others prove to be less effective. The objective of this work was therefore to highlight good practices common to several Belgian TTOs. Emphasis was placed on the profile of researchers and on the type of support offered by the TTO. The literature on the subject opposes two major trends: coaching by the TTO and the transformation of the researcher into a successful entrepreneur and the creation of a managerial team comprising the researcher and an entrepreneur. On the basis of qualitative interviews, recommendations have been formulated to improve the support provided by experts in a TTO.

An ideal scheme for the support of a researcher wishing to become an entrepreneur through the creation of a SOU was thus identified. In this scheme, the creation of a pair between the researcher and an external economic profile from the early stages of the process appears to be the best alternative to ensure the success and creation of a SOU. However, this model has to face with financial and human realities, which often delegate the creation of this pair to more mature phases of the process. TTO experts must then ensure the coaching of researchers for the early incubation phases of projects. One of the recommendations to be made to these experts is therefore to thoroughly assess the entrepreneurial potential of the researchers in order to provide them with appropriate support and, if necessary, to surround them with mentors and independent experts who can guide them on aspects not mastered by the TTO experts. The introduction of an entrepreneurial culture among young researchers and the coordination of the TTO players also seem to be a guarantee of success.