NIKOS - the Dutch Institute for Knowledge-intensive Entrepreneurship

Background

According to the law in the Netherlands each university has three different tasks: education, research and service to the community. This last aspect includes knowledge and technology transfer. The process of knowledge and technology transfer should bridge the gap between fundamental research (the core activity of a university and research institutes), applied research (the research that is tailor-made for industry) and society. In practice, the transfer of knowledge obtained by research is easier to the larger companies that can afford to invest in new knowledge and technology and, in most cases, have a research-laboratory of their own, than it is to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). For this reason SMEs are the focus of Business Development Support at Nikos.

Aims and targets

Nikos’ research looks at micro interaction patterns in networks of entrepreneurs and other actors, which lead to innovation and consequently change in economic structure on micro, meso and macro level. Special interests in this field are:

• Development of (starting) knowledge intensive enterprises (role of: entrepreneur, networks, cooperation, technology)
• Strategic, management and entrepreneurial processes in context of technological innovation (role of networks, alliances, market orientation, R & D, technology development) and international environments
• University-industry-interaction in context of academic entrepreneurship (commercialisation of knowledge, technology development, networks and co-operation) and international environments

Strategy and actions

At the University of Twente (UT) there has been an active support for business development from the early 80s; for graduates entering the entrepreneurial path, start-up companies using UT-knowledge, and innovative, -small and large- regionally, nationally and internationally operating companies. Since its origin in 2001, Nikos organizes knowledge development and dissemination of knowledge-intensive- entrepreneurship. The business development department aims its support activities directly at entrepreneurial processes in the university (both students & researchers) and in the region (private people or SMEs), resulting in new startup firms.

Monitoring and evaluation

Funding/Cost effectiveness

For example, in respect of Venture Lab Twente a €2.4m grant has been awarded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland within the EU-funded ‘GO Gebundelde Innovatiekracht’ programme. The Twente region and Innovation Platform Twente are also expected to contribute to Venture Lab Twente to bring subsidies to €3.5 million. The subsidies mean that costs for participants can be kept as low as possible.

Sustainability/Transferability

Outcomes/impacts

Achievements

One example is Venture Lab Twente, a new breeding ground for knowledge-intensive companies, recently awarded a €2.4 million subsidy. The joint initiative by the University of Twente and Saxion University of Applied Sciences offers ambitious, high-tech starters an overall package comprising training and coaching, an extensive network and facilities. The subsidy has been awarded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the EU-funded ‘GO Gebundelde innovatiekracht’ programme.
Over the next few years, Venture Lab Twente aims to help 350 entrepreneurs to set up or rapidly expand their companies. The target is 210 healthy businesses by the end of the programme, 30 of which have the potential to expand further to over 100 employees. The entrepreneurs are given training and coaching in personal and team skills and also special training on technology entrepreneurship. The programme also introduces them to relevant networks of sponsors, academic researchers and fellow entrepreneurs. Venture Lab Twente also provides premises. "Our highly-intensive, integrated approach seeks to increase the chance of success and accelerate growth, so that we can make a substantial and sustainable contribution to the economy,” programme manager Rob van Lambalgen elaborates.

Success factors

A highly-intensive, integrated approach seeks to increase the chance of success and accelerate growth, so the initiative can make a substantial and sustainable contribution to the economy.

Also, Nikos is a member of the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA). The NBIA is the world's leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. NIKOS also acts in partnership with central and regional government.

Unintended impacts

Strengths and weaknesses