Accelerace Life: Enixus Baltics and Rīga Stradiņš University Team up to Bring Great Science Closer to Market
Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) has awarded Enixus Baltics (representing Accelerace in the Baltics) a contract to bring as many as five research based technologies closer to market. Enixus will use local and international coaches, specialists, and trainers to help RSU researchers learn the entrepreneurial skills they need to bring their research to paying markets. This project will result in as many as four commercial offerings from RSU, increased awareness among RSU faculty of the possibility to commercialize research, and more international awareness of RSU as a strong partner for commercialization. RSU is a Strong Regional Research Player RSU is one of the Baltic region’s strongest teaching and research institutions and focuses on health and bioscience. One particularly strong area at RSU is in research of infectious diseases and immunology. The European Union recognized this in funding the 7th Framework program project “Baltinfect – Unlocking Infectious diseases research potential ar Riga Stradiņš University”. In addition to promoting and developing high quality research, the Baltinfect project has striven to develop the intellectual property growing from this research. In the summer of 2014, Enixus helped to create an intellectual property development strategy, and now the time has come to try and bring the best RSU research closer to market. Enixus and Accelerace to Lead RSU Research to Market Enixus and Accelerace will manage an acceleration process that will explore how best to bring RSU intellectual property to market. While most ideas will not get to market in the 5 months of the process, ultimately these ideas and their owners will have a clear plan to market. Enixus and Accelerace will provide seminars and trainings in areas of entrepreneurship such as business modeling, use of LEAN tools, and creating strong partnerships. Also, experts will share opinions about the strength of the legal protection of the intellectual property. Researchers and idea promoters will also travel to Copenhagen where they will visit the Copenhagen Biosciences Park to work with carefully selected experts and potential partners. Tom Schmit (Associate Partner – Accelerace), says that “this is a great opportunity to extend our cooperation with RSU and bring their projects closer to market. In our two years of work, we have developed a real understanding of their research and how much of it could really benefit so many.” Broad Impact for RSU and Latvia Not only RSU faculty will benefit. Many of the seminars and other events will be open to a wider Latvian science research public. Researchers from other institutions will be invited to the events. Dr. Julija Voicehovska is a professor and internal medicine specialist at RSU and has worked with Accelerace. “I worked with Accelerace two years ago in Accelerace Life. I know that not only do they have great expertise, but also understand the science we have. I learned much that I still use in evaluating my own research choices.” The capstone for the participants in the acceleration process will be presentations to local and international investors as well as other potential partners. Enixus represents Accelerace in Latvia. Accelerace, based in Denmark, is Scandinavia’s leading accelerator and among the Top 10 accelerator programs and investors in Europe. Read more about Accelerace Life here]]>