Tuesday, July 08, 2008
In order to stimulate valorisation, NGI has established four initiatives, which form a coherent package. One such initiative is the NGI Venture Challenge: potential entrepreneurs at the NGI Genomics Centres are challenged to come up with ideas for a start-up company.
Secondly, the NGI Pre-Seed Grant is set to commence this autumn.
The grant offers young start-ups from Genomics Centres and related programmes the opportunity to translate their idea into a concrete business plan. This involves the financing of applied research that demonstrates the business potential of fundamental research.
Thirdly, the BioGeneration Ventures Fund - in which NGI currently participates - is dedicated to assisting start-ups and early stage companies, by means of both financial assistance and expertise.
A fourth component is the €1 million NGI Valorisation Award,
which will be a competition between the Genomics Centres (during Genomics Momentum 2008, November 11th) responsible for the best valorisation achievement.
Expectations are high, Laane explains. ‘In the coming years,
we expect to see the start of 20 new genomics companies.’
He stresses the importance of thinking ahead: ‘Next autumn,
all Genomics Centres will be required to draw up an implementation plan, setting out their targets for the future: what are their ambitions for 2012 and how will they move on from there? They must also specify how they expect to realise and finance their future activities,
and explain which steps they have taken to realise their goals.
These plans will create awareness and help secure the future.’