5 years of TTT: stronger collaboration and national impact

In TTT, the 4 technical universities work together with TNO. How did that collaboration go?

Hans: “When I started at TNO in 2017, I quickly sought out collaboration with the technical universities. I knew that the TUs had been working on spin-off creation for some time, but if everyone were to do that for themselves, it wouldn’t work. The Netherlands is too small for that. When the TTT scheme was created, it made perfect sense to say: we’re going to do that together.”

Roy: “We had that mutual trust, and that has only grown. The scheme has intensified our collaboration, which has allowed us to get to know each other better. That also means that you call each other for advice or support, which allows you to switch quickly. In this way, we really join forces.” Hans: “I found that to be very positive. Even the points that we were somewhat apprehensive about in the beginning turned out to be a non-issue, such as the question of whether the vouchers would be distributed equally. But that was not the point, because it was about quality. Everyone was so keen on it.”

“We have mainly had many spin-offs that obtained their first financing from TTT pillar 2. That has enormously – and demonstrably – accelerated the first financing.”

What qualitative results has the collaboration in TTT led to?

Roy: “You notice that we can now valorise faster and better. Because there is a voucher pot on the table, you see that scouting is more active. You can guide researchers faster and more efficiently when you have a TTT programme. With other funding tools such as the Take-Off of NWO, it takes almost half a year from pre-registration until you receive the money. Don’t get me wrong, it is a very nice instrument. But the advantage of TTT is that we can switch very quickly. You receive your voucher in no time, so you can start validating.”

Hans: “At TNO, we have made less use of the pillar 1 vouchers, because we have our own incubation programme. We have mainly had many spin-offs that obtained their first financing from TTT pillar 2. That has enormously – and demonstrably – accelerated the first financing. Previously, there was quite a lot of time between the establishment and the first financing. That phase is simply difficult. The TTT funds have accelerated that enormously.”

“The programme is really seen as a success, as something that is widely supported and that deserves a next step.”

Are there any concrete examples of TTT’s successes?
Hans: “As I said, the spin-offs raise follow-up financing more easily and quickly. Like Carbyon, who realized a seed round after TTT and then a series A of 15 million. That is a good example of what TTT does for further financing. I am also thinking of Orange Quantum Systems, who received a pillar 1 voucher. They then did not need financing from pillar 2, because they were already generating cash flow with R&D projects for customers. After that, they did realize a seed round and will soon close a series A round. They also received the EIC Accelerator grant and are now selling their first machines. TTT therefore also offers the space to go through the process in a different way.”

Roy: “In addition to successful cases, TTT has also triggered something broader. For example, I think the Team Up Day is a great example. With this, we really show that it is possible to work together in the Netherlands along a number of broad themes. The programme is really seen as a success, as something that is widely supported and that deserves a next step. We can connect with the broad ecosystem. The investors, the regional development companies (ROMs), the incubators: this is how we have to show that we have one large valorization ecosystem in the Netherlands.”

“In fact, TTT should become a permanent arrangement.”

The TTT programmes Smart Industry and Circular Technology have now been completed. What is needed in the future for successful tech transfer?
Hans: “We must continue with TTT in any case. Successful tech transfer organizations such as KU Leuven also say that it is necessary to implement a long-term, consistent policy. You should not expect to be able to set something up in five years and then everything will happen automatically. This requires a long breath, so in fact, TTT should become a permanent arrangement.”

Roy: “In the early phase of spin-offs, a pot of money is needed to be able to do the validation. These kinds of instruments are really necessary to be able to offer those spin-offs initial financing. Investors often find it difficult to get involved in such an early phase. They are more inclined to do so when spin-offs have already received an initial financial boost.”

Hans: “Follow-up financing is crucial, we learned that from pillar 2. It is good to have a fund manager who organizes pillar 2, but of course there are multiple investors who can potentially continue to invest. You have to involve those investors in the process at an early stage. That applies to both the private and public sides. So we also have to involve the ROMs much more intensively. In this way, we make it even easier for companies to raise follow-up financing after TTT.”

Roy: “Exactly, we have to move towards the most optimal system possible for the Netherlands. Together, we have to ensure as many spin-offs as possible that are well-built, well-validated, and that can then also raise financing and grow into large companies. This is how you get maximum impact from research and society will understand why universities and knowledge institutions are important. This is where the new things are developed that can be the solution to the problems that we will have in the future. TTT plays a key role in this in the very early phase.”

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About Hans Boumans & TNO

Hans Boumans has been director of tech transfer at TNO since 2017. As an applied knowledge institution, they work closely with companies and governments for knowledge development and application. With the tech transfer incubation programme, TNO has an additional business model to bring knowledge to the market.

About Roy Kolkman & UT

Roy Kolkman is director of the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) of the University of Twente, which is part of Novel-T. The KTO ensures that research results are applied in society by transferring knowledge to existing industry or setting up spin-off companies.