EU project takes renewable energy research to the market
While the term 'technology transfer' is used increasingly in the European public and private research and development (R&D) sectors, its practice is somewhat less widespread, with all too few EU and nationally funded research projects finding their way to the market. ProRETT, an EU-funded project, is aiming to change all that, at least in the area of renewable energies, with a newly developed methodology for quicker and broader exploitation of scientific research results in the form of licensing or spin-off creation. A dozen promising research results in the field have already been selected for commercialisation. On first inspection, the European renewable energy industry would appear to suffer less than other sectors from an innovation deficit. Between 1990 and 2004 the sector saw its annual turnover increase tenfold from €1.5 billion to €15 billion. This is largely due to the successes of the sector's technology-focused small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), most of which were inexistent 20 years ago. Yet, experts believe that there is still room for improvement as commercialisation needs to follow the rapid speed of scientific developments. Initiated by the European group of renewable energy research centres, EUREC Agency, and funded as a Specific Support Action under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the 'Promotion of renewable energy technology transfer' (ProRETT) project brings together what it deems as the stakeholders and skills required for successful technology transfer: researchers, technology transfer professionals, finance and industry. It offers a range of technology transfer services, including individual coaching for market and risk analysis, business plan and model development, and brokerage to interested investors. Entrepreneurial training for selected research teams aimed at spin-off creation is also part of the package. But what sets ProRETT ahead of other technology transfer offices? EUREC Agency's Secretary General Katharina Krell explains: 'Most research centres already have technology transfer offices. What ProRETT can provide in addition is the European dimension which many transfer agents lack, as well as a complete range of services that cannot be offered by all individual transfer centres. Moreover, the ProRETT team has a very successful track record of licensing and spin-off creation.' Also unique is ProRETT's sector-specific approach: all project partners are specialising in the clean energy sector, even the venture capital funds. To be eligible for support, three conditions must be met: the research must have benefited from public funding, the proposal must be related to the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and the commercialisation must happen in Europe. Of the 27 research results selected in the first round, coming from a broad range of renewable energy technologies and supporting tools, a total of 12 proposals have been selected for potential commercialisation.