INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
NIMSB is immersed in an a R&I ecosystem – Oeiras Life Sciences Campus – with a strong focus in innovation in the One Health space. The Campus hosts several well-reputed research centres and Certified Labs dedicated to basic and translational research in the areas of Chemistry, Animal and Plant Biology, Agro-Environmental Sciences. Additionally, a Start-Up incubating facility and a science outreach centre are envisioned for the Campus. The Ecosystem centralizes innovation support actions and programs through a common initiative termed Venture A5.
Innovation support actions / programs – venture a5
Venture A5 is a Strategic Plan consisting of promoting Innovation by developing actions in close proximity to scientific research groups and researchers, in close collaboration with third parties interested in the value creation process. The actions of the strategic plan cover three sequential phases of the value creation chain / project development:
Venture AS Taget Phases
Phase 1
Scientific Discovery
Together with scientific research groups:
- identify paths for experimentation that provide more robust and coherent proofs of concept (PoC);
- promote the protection of intellectual property (IP) – build a portfolio.
Phase 2
Definition if the Value offer and Creative Business Model
Together with teams from research groups, formed around a consistent PoC:
- provide Innovation Management skills to team members;
- generate a value offer, and a corresponding business model/s.
Phase 3
Technology Transfer / Creation and Implementation of Sin-Off / Start-Up Projects
- Support technology transfer processes and/or creation of new Spin-Offs / Start-Ups, with high potential, e.g. by providing know-how, logistics, and financial resources;
- Establishment of agreements with third parties that guarantee the sustainability of the ecosystem.
Venture A5 Innovation & Training Programs – Sequential Impact
Venture A5 comprises a set of programs aimed at promoting innovation/knowledge translation and/or training in innovation management and (bio)entrepreneurship.
The series of programs is divided into Flagship Programs, which sequentially covers the three phases of the value creation chain; and Pillar Programs, that support the ecosystem from the training and educational point of view.
Science Navigation
Flagship program 1
The Science Navigation Program is carried out in the research/laboratory environment. Research groups (leaders and researchers) are subject to face-to-face interactions, in two half-day sessions, with a multidisciplinary innovation team which challenges research leaders, and team members, to identify the most relevant translational results that could lead to positive social impacts.
As a starting point, the overall structure and goals of the Venture A5 are presented and a lecture is given on Innovation Management, with emphasis on Open Innovation.
The ultimate objective of Science Navigation is to apply the Lean Start-Up method, in a front-end setting. Research groups are challenged to create a Community of Practice, involving synergistic partners and beneficiaries of the applied research. Together with these interested parties, the problem(s) to be addressed by the research are (re)defined and experimental pivots proposed that could lead to more relevant proofs of concept (PoC).
Finally, when applicable, funding sources to support PoC and the best strategies for protecting intellectual/industrial property are jointly defined.
InnoValley PoC Fund
Flagship Program 2
The goal of InnOValley PoC is to identify and fund projects in a translational stage that have shown promising and exciting results with innovation potential and need further validation/proof of concept in any scientific field being researched at the NIMSB ecosystem.
All proposals should have a clear translational focus. InnOValley PoC aims to help projects move forward in the translational pathway to stages where the data package is robust enough to fill for Intellectual Property Protection and/or be engaged in activities with industry and/or investors. The PoC is not intended to fund the creation of spin-off companies per se.
The scheme typically supports projects inline within the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2-4.
The total budget for the yearly call is €200k. Awards are typically in the range of €40-50k for directly incurred costs only.
The InnOValley PoC is fully aligned with United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely SDG 2, 3, 9, 15, and 17, among others. Know more about the InnoValley PoC fund and how to apply at this Link.
Flight Plan / Pilots & Demonstrators
Flagship Program 3
The goal of the Flight Plan Program is to finance projects in the Value Offer Definition and Business Model Creation Stage (PHASE 2 of Venture A5). Proposals can be submitted by teams committed to developing a Value Offer around ideas based on relevant scientific results that have been subject to successful Proofs of Concept (PoC). Value offers can be included in two types of packages: i) technology transfer (TTP), with the aim of establishing a commercial/collaborative relationship with industry partners; or ii) Spin-Off, with the aim of guaranteeing Pre-Seed/Seed investment to incorporate a new company – Start-Up. The Flight Plan consists of a grant/credit, managed by Venture A5, worth €15k, for 12 months – 80% supported by the Municipality of Oeiras and 20% by the Proposing Associated Institution. The funding is available to implement a set of tailor-made activities, designed by a team of experts appointed by Venture A5.
Activities may include: i) training and education (e.g. StartUp Research, Soft Landing, participation in international fairs, VC events), ii) other relevant training for teams, iii) specific mentoring in technical aspects (e.g. prototyping and/or scale-up), business management (e.g. preparing a business plan), intellectual property protection, regulatory affairs, benchmarking, concept generation and image; and other relevant areas identified on a case-by-case basis. An additional amount of €15k to €20k may be granted exceptionally to projects where a pilot/demonstrator is considered essential to validate/strengthen a PoC.
More information about the Flight Plan Grants and how to apply coming soon.
StartUp Research
Pillar Program 1
The StartUp Research program is a truly interdisciplinary postgraduation course designed by scientists and entrepreneurs from ITQB NOVA and NIMSB, together with one of the most renowned European business management schools – NOVA SBE. Led by ITQB NOVA, and strongly supported by the municipality of Oeiras, the program aims at helping bridging the communication gap between scientists and business actors, providing researchers with social awareness for the phenomenon of open innovation, and the skills necessary to promote the translation of technologies and/or scientific results to create new and more sustainable business models. The Postgraduation course is open to all graduate researchers and science managers (> Bachelor’s degree), preferably with more than 1 year of laboratory experience. The postgraduate course lasts for 11 weeks and grants 8 ECTS, taking place once a year, between May and July (Wednesdays, 5-9pm, and Fridays 2-7pm). The aims of the StartUp Research are to provide qualifications for innovation management, to develop skills for creating new business models in the areas of Life Sciences; and to train participants in communication techniques applied to a pitch. Know more about the StartUp Research and how to apply at this Link.