About project

Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology (named after Jan and Jędrzej Śniadecki) has launched the "Science4Business" project – Task No. 1, "Development Incubator" – in a consortium with Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.

Programme: European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027, Measure 2.5.

Implementation period: 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2028

Funding institution: Ministry of Science and Higher Education

Project description and objective:

The "Science4Business" project aims to increase the effectiveness of research organizations in their collaboration with the business sector and in the commercialization of research and development (R&D) results. The project encompasses conducting industrial research, identifying solutions with high commercial potential, and further developing them. Furthermore, it promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology from the higher education sector to the economy, thereby supporting the innovation and competitiveness of enterprises.

Task No. 1, "Development Incubator," focuses on conducting industrial research and development work on technologies with identified commercial potential, as well as fostering collaboration between the scientific community and the economic sphere through the transfer of know-how and technology and the commercialization of R&D results.

Scope of activities:

1. Mapping the potential of research organizations

The initiative involves employing innovation brokers and establishing teams tasked with the systematic mapping of research potential and existing research outcomes. Protocols for the collection, processing, and dissemination of information will be developed, and team members will receive training in commercialization, intellectual property protection, and data management.
Activities will be carried out according to an established schedule, which includes periodic reporting, working meetings, and the ongoing refinement of operational processes. The team will continuously map research results, technologies, and available expertise and equipment, while innovation brokers will be responsible for selecting identified assets based on their commercial potential, evaluating that potential, and aligning it with market needs.

2. Marketing of the technological and research offering

The project team will be responsible for preparing, developing, and updating research and technology offerings, maintaining open databases, and actively initiating and fostering collaborations with industry partners—including conducting negotiations and concluding agreements.
A key component of these activities will be the organization of two conferences focused on promoting innovation, academic entrepreneurship, and project outcomes, which will serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience. These efforts will be complemented by participation in trade fairs, invention exhibitions, and industry events, aimed at promoting the university’s offerings, building relationships, and securing new partners for collaboration.

3. Conducting industrial research and experimental development work based on research results with identified commercial potential

The project includes the establishment of Investment Boards, which will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating ongoing activities, as well as providing opinions on decisions regarding the funding of pre-implementation work.
Competition guidelines will be developed to identify projects with the greatest technological and market potential, with a particular focus on eco-innovation and the "6R" principles. Selected solutions will be supported through a grant-based framework, covering activities such as prototyping, research and consulting services, market analysis, and intellectual property protection. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the implementation potential of the selected technologies will be conducted, and legal support will be provided regarding commercialization and the protection of intellectual property rights.

4. Access to knowledge and the development of tools for teams involved in technology transfer

An analysis of the tools currently used to support intellectual property management and commercialization processes will be conducted, followed by the selection, implementation, and testing of new solutions, alongside the provision of training for users.
Project activities will be carried out using these implemented tools, and staff involved in technology transfer will receive additional, specialized training designed to enhance their competencies in commercialization and collaboration with the business environment.

Target group

The project is aimed at:

• research organizations and higher education institutions,
• technology transfer centers and special-purpose vehicles operating within these entities,
• scientists, researchers, and doctoral candidates conducting research with implementation potential,
• the broader socio-economic environment, including adopters of innovative solutions as well as institutions that support innovation and economic development.

Main results:

The main project outcomes will result from the work of brokerage and research teams, focused on advancing the technological and economic readiness levels of selected research findings with high commercialization potential. The planned project outcomes are:

• R&D projects carried out,
• R&D work commercialized,
• patent applications filed,
• spin-off or spin-out companies established for the purpose of technology transfer,
• licensing agreements, sales contracts, research service agreements, and other forms of cooperation concluded between the scientific community and the business sector,
• revenues generated from the sale or licensing of the results of R&D work developed within research organizations.

Total value of the project within the consortium: 6,199,545.00 PLN

Amount of contribution from European Funds: 6,199,545.00 PLN

Project value for Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology: 3,099,932.00 PLN

Amount of contribution from European Funds: 3,099,932.00 PLN

A partnership project, funded by the European Union under the "European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027" programme.

Total value of the partnership project: PLN 296,700,000.00. Lead Partner – Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

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