Riding the momentum: meet the programmes

DeepTech – Nico Nijenhuis

What does your programme entail?
Nico: “DeepTech builds upon TTT Smart Industry. In doing so, we take all the best aspects of Smart Industry and deepen the focus on DeepTech to align with the National Technology Strategy. Think, therefore, of technology fields such as quantum, photonics, semiconductors, imaging technologies, and (opto-)mechatronics. These technologies are often complex, making the academic phase lengthy and costly. And when the technologies enter the spin-off phase, they still require significant funding for an extended period. TTT DeepTech alleviates that financial pressure so that researchers dare to leap to found a spin-off.”

Why is it important that this programme exists?
Nico: “I see the importance of the programme in a broader political context. In a changing world, it is crucial that we, as the Netherlands and Europe, can stand on our own two feet. To achieve this, we must pursue technological independence. In other words, we must take a key position in certain technology fields. Naturally, this means that you must support and stimulate valorisation already in the early scientific phase. That is where TTT comes into play. Over the past six years, we have been able to firmly establish that support, making increasingly large funding rounds for DeepTech innovations commonplace. Moreover, it has now become commonplace for knowledge institutions to know each other better and for us to exchange knowledge. Look, for example, at the establishment of KEEN-NL. That is a real gain for the valorisation ecosystem – thanks to TTT.”

Which success story has stuck with you?
Nico: “There are quite a few of them by now. But Orange Quantum Systems always stands out to me. This TNO spin-off started with the idea that they could qualify quantum computers better and faster. They then used the TTT vouchers in a very clever way to find the gap in the market. By now, they are an established player, and their latest funding round already amounted to €12 million. I think that is truly amazing. Across the board, I hear from spin-offs that they doubt whether they could have started at all without TTT. That makes me very proud.”

Where do you hope the programme will be in five years?
Nico: “In any case, I hope that we match and surpass the results of Smart Industry. And that collaborations become a matter of course. I am referring to the collaborations within DeepTech, such as Quantum Delta, Photon Delta, and Future Network Services. But I am also very pleased with the open consortium and the connection with universities of applied sciences. There is enormous potential for scientific spin-offs to collaborate more intensively with universities of applied sciences, because there is a lot of entrepreneurial talent there. That combination can ensure that we can make huge leaps in the coming five years.”

DeepTech XL is a fund partner.

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GreenTech – Maurits Burgering & Dennis Schoonman

What does your programme entail?
Maurits: In TTT Circular Technology, we already took a bit of the liberty to look beyond just circular propositions. Sustainability remains central. In TTT GreenTech, we have formalised and defined this better and more strictly. We have five application areas, namely circularity, energy, water, biobased, and agro-food, with a focus on improving the climate, ecology, or biodiversity. As long as it is green.”

Why is it important that this programme exists?
Dennis: “It is super relevant. More and more people are becoming aware that we are doing the planet a disservice with the current linear economy. The reality is that we have to change that. So, all help is desperately needed, even in the early scientific phase. Without a scouting phase, you will never get anywhere.”

Maurits: “We are, so to speak, the lighter that lights the fire for the spin-offs. Maybe they won’t immediately grow into a big bonfire, but they will in ten years.” “And then we are going to need it desperately. Because what is more important than the well-being of our planet?”

Which success story stuck with you?
Maurits: “We looked at nearly a hundred cases, and there is a great story behind every single one. For instance, UT spin-off ReCarbn developed incredibly fast and was acquired by the strong company Skytree. I have rarely seen that happen so quickly. But WUR spin-off Time Traveling Milkman also stays with me. They have just completed another substantial funding round, but they are also involved in a number of large collaborative projects. Now they have broken through a kind of barrier, which makes me convinced that things will turn out well for this company.”

Where do you hope the programme will be in five years?
Dennis: “I am just joining as impact manager at TTT GreenTech, but looking at the past five years, I hope that trend continues. It would be good if the government realised that this should become a structural programme. From the universities and universities of applied sciences, I hope that entrepreneurship will also be encouraged more in the curriculum, and that we pool our knowledge and expertise through a decentralised approach. In a broader sense, this is also beneficial for Europe’s strategic independence. After all, without our spin-offs, we cannot tackle major societal challenges.”

SHIFT Invest is a fund partner. Julie van den Brink and Bart Budde: “SHIFT Invest, managed by NBI Investors BV, possesses extensive expertise in scaling up innovative green technologies. We have already demonstrated this in the fund management of TTT Circulaire Technologie. The TTT GreenTech fund is an attractive investment partner for spin-offs because it is able to secure follow-on investments through SHIFT Invest and its network when the company develops well. In this way, SHIFT Invest acts as a partner in all phases of growth.”

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AI – Peter Westerhuijs

What does your programme entail?
Peter: “We are building on the same structure as the previous TTT-AI programme. The scope is different now, especially in terms of content. Of course, it is still AI, but five years ago, the world of AI looked very different from what it does now. We have aligned our programme more with the spectacular rise of ChatGPT, generative AI, and various applications. In addition to growth in usage, we expect primarily new applications in the coming period – particularly from the scientific community. It is, therefore, especially nice that the new programme is an open consortium; we are going to need all Dutch research and knowledge institutions.”

Why is it important that this programme exists?
Peter: “Academic startups are extremely important, especially for the AI ​​theme. These types of startups have enormous economic and societal value. It is therefore important that we continue to drive that startup route. Dutch academic startups are incredibly strong and have a lot of potential. The TTT vouchers—for which we select the best proposals—are also increasingly acting as a seal of quality for private investors. As a result, startups receive follow-on investments more easily, allowing them to grow much faster. That is important, not only for the further development of AI, but also for other sectors in which AI will play a role.”

Which success story has stuck with you?
Peter: “I immediately think of VU spin-off Beyond Weather, a startup originating from a different domain than we usually see. They focus on medium-term weather forecasts. Think of periods of six months. That is interesting because they improve their models using a wide variety of factors and data. In view of climate change, that is, of course, very topical. So I think it is great to see that these types of startups are also securing investments and managing to grow.”

Where do you hope the programme will be in five years?
Peter: “That we have laid a solid foundation for AI, which we can continue to build upon in the coming years. That is why we are also looking into whether we can align with European initiatives and programmes, so that, for example, you can issue larger vouchers. Collaboration at the national level is the strength of the programme. We have found each other and have consequently become a serious discussion partner for investors. After all, to scale up, you quickly need European investors. In this way, we strengthen Dutch startups, which in turn contribute to Europe’s position.”

LUMO Labs is a fund partner. Thomas Hannes: “Artificial intelligence is a strategic priority to boost Europe’s competitiveness. The real challenge and opportunity lies in converting strong academic research into successful companies. As the fund manager of the new TTT-AI programme, LUMO Labs offers capital and guidance to ambitious spin-offs in building and scaling up their enterprises. By collaborating with knowledge institutions and RVO, we can bring entrepreneurship and research together at an early stage and bring innovation to market faster. This is crucial for Europe’s innovation ecosystem and for the emerging generation of technology companies to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

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MedTech – Esther Rodijk

What does your programme entail?
Esther: “We focus on all MedTech innovations from universities and UMCs. We are already seeing many innovations emerge from collaborations with technical universities and medical institutions, but actually bringing them to market proves to be a huge challenge. When it comes to MedTech, you have to make strategic decisions at a very early stage that will have an impact later on. For example, you have to consider the application to enable targeted clinical studies. Then you also need to know what that market looks like and which laws and regulations apply in your market. With TTT, we bridge those bottlenecks. Our programme is still in its first phase, but we will soon be allowed to continue with an open programme.”

Why is it important that this programme exists?
Esther: “There is not a single other support programme for MedTech in this early phase. You also cannot categorise it under the other programmes or themes because it is such a specific world. Yet MedTech is a crucial topic for the Netherlands when you look at the affordability and staffing of healthcare. MedTech can be the answer to those challenges, but only with a catalyst for early-stage startups – like TTT.”

Which success story has stuck with you?
Esther: “I have two. The first is TU Delft spin-off Ziggy, which beautifully demonstrates that impact doesn’t always have to be economic, but can also lie in the social aspect. They have developed a method that allows you to walk alongside a wheelchair while pushing it, instead of behind it. That is a huge improvement on a social and emotional level. With the small TTT voucher, they were able to take enormous steps. The second example is TU/e ​​spin-off VivArt-X, which has developed a breast reconstruction method for breast cancer patients. They stacked the vouchers very nicely and made the right choices in that early phase to attract follow-on funding.”

Where do you hope the programme will be in five years?
Esther: “I hope that several innovations from the beginning of TTT MedTech can reach the market in five years and that we can see their impact. And I also hope that the visibility of our programmes ensures that even more investors come forward to contribute to the success of TTT innovations. That way, we can truly build the future.”

Thuja Capital is the fund partner of the new MedTech programme. Lisanne Blauw: “At Thuja, we see an urgent need within the Dutch life sciences ecosystem for an investment fund that can support MedTech companies at an early stage. As manager of the TTT Magnolia MedTech Fund, we want to stimulate groundbreaking innovations from the moment they emerge from knowledge institutions, and guide them in their transformation of healthcare and in realising a lasting impact on patients. In collaboration with the knowledge partners, we are convinced that the Magnolia Fund is ideally positioned to do so.”