Title: 'If it can be used, it ain't science': one research department's dedicated approach to innovation

Authors: Pieter Telleman, Jorg Hubner, Mikael Orum

Addresses: MIC-Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby DK2800, Denmark. ' MIC-Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby DK2800, Denmark. ' Ventac Partners, Ved Kaeret 4, Gentofte DK2820, Denmark

Abstract: MIC – Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology is a centre of excellence at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). MIC has a strong tradition of transferring its research results to industry for productising. In the past decade, MIC has maintained an average rate of starting new companies of one each year. All these start-up companies have products on the market. MIC has also been instrumental in forming the basis for next generation technology products through collaboration with Danish industry. Commercialisation of research results requires a structured and systematic process that addresses leadership, culture, organisation, strategy, opportunity analysis, idea generation and selection and commercialisation. This paper describes our accumulative experiences of commercialisation of research results in an academic organisation. We also provide a brief look at the role of innovation in the Danish society and the role that universities play therein.

Keywords: innovation; commercialisation; microtechnology; nanotechnology; Denmark; startups; academic organisations; universities; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2008.021035

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2008 Vol.7 No.4, pp.371 - 383

Published online: 31 Oct 2008 *

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