UC3M launches two new programs to create and consolidate spin-offs of its research personnel

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has launched two new business incubation and acceleration programmes, CR3A and CONSOLIDA, to promote the creation and consolidation of businesses that seek to offer products and services based on technologies and knowledge developed at the university.

This initiative, which stems from the experience in this area of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Support Service (SEI) of the UC3M Vice-Rectorate for Research and Transfer, seeks to promote the transfer of knowledge (the university's third mission) among the institution's research staff. The project also has funding from the Madrid City Council, through a grant for the promotion of innovation through incubation, acceleration or scaling programs for innovative projects 2024-2025.

From research to business

The CR3A Spin-off programme encourages scientists to explore new ways of capitalising on the results of their research and transforming their findings into business opportunities. In addition, it offers specialised support and mentoring for initiatives that reach a certain level of maturity and can be developed into an innovative company.

“The aim is to facilitate and support the transition from academic research to the creation of knowledge-based companies (known as KBCs), thus contributing to economic development and technological progress,” says Ascensión Sáenz, head of the SEI's Business Creation and Acceleration Area at UC3M.

To this end, the programme will offer a series of workshops and training activities over a period of six months, specifically designed to guide research personnel through the process of transforming their projects into business opportunities. The sessions will provide the tools and knowledge necessary for them to reach the level of maturity required to become an innovative company. Among other topics, they will address issues related to financial aspects, intellectual property, marketing, team management, obtaining investors and other regulatory and legal aspects, for example. 

Strengthening innovative companies

The CONSOLIDA programme provides support to UC3M spin-offs which are already established, as well as other start-ups linked to the Centre for Innovation in Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence (C3N-IA) of the UC3M - Leganés Tecnológico Science Park which seek to consolidate in the market and achieve sustainable growth. To this end, the Centre aims to support these companies in various ways: strengthening their organisational and operational structure, developing strategies to scale up their businesses and access new markets, and accessing new sources of funding. In addition, it seeks to expand the companies' contact and partner networks and implement collaboration between research groups and industry for the co-creation of innovative solutions, among other avenues of action. 

“This programme is aimed at companies that already have a minimum viable product (MVP) and are looking to advance in some crucial stages, such as demonstration, pilot development, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services,” explains the director of the UC3M SEI, Ana Acebrón Rodicio.

CONSOLIDA is working with experienced industry mentors who provide personalised advice in each case. On the one hand, it provides advice on the preparation of financing proposals and the search for investors, such as investment funds, business angels and venture capital firms. On the other hand, it holds practical workshops focused on topics such as advanced financial management, strategic marketing, product development and international expansion. Finally, the progress of the spin-off is continuously monitored during and after the programme, in order to ensure that the objectives set are being met and to make adjustments to the strategy if necessary.

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