The EU-HEALTH INNOVATION MARKETPLACE, the valorization platform for (FP7 Health and H2020 SC1) research results

Project Information

UTILE

Grant agreement ID: 733266

DOI

10.3030/733266

Project closed

EC signature date 2 December 2016

Start date 1 January 2017

End date 31 December 2019

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being

Total cost

€ 1 999 623,75

EU contribution

€ 1 999 623,75

Coordinated by

PNO Life Sciences & Health B.V.
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - UTILE (The EU-HEALTH INNOVATION MARKETPLACE, the valorization platform for (FP7 Health and H2020 SC1) research results)

Reporting period: 2018-07-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

A recent evaluation of FP7 projects executed by the EC, showed that an estimated 80% of funded Health projects lacks valorisation. The “UTILE” proposal presents the EU-Health Innovation Marketplace, an online tool to better valorise the FP7 Health and Horizon2020 SC1 project results. This marketplace will actively bring together Innovation Providers (i.e. technology push) and the Innovation Developers (i.e. market pull). Moreover, in order to bring technology push and market pull successfully together, all 1200 FP7 Health and Horizon2020 SC1 projects will not only be analysed and defragmented by five high quality TTO’s (including NIH) in a LEAN process. It will also be valued by an elaborate Market & Stakeholder Advisory Committee, existing of Business Developers of 20-35 important pharmaceutical, medtech, biotech companies and Venture Capitalists. Thus here, valorisation of Health results will not be enhanced by just pushing harder, but by defragmenting and presenting these results in a way that the market will better recognize the added value. In addition to the presentation of well valued selected results on the online UTILE Marketplace, technology push and market pull will be actively brought together by a series of offline activities such as specific workshops and roundtables at international and conferences, brokerage events and technology valorisation courses and trainings. Special attention will be given to the participation of SME’s and involvement of Low Performing Countries. UTILE will deliver a self-sustainable platform of functionalities and activities will also enable the valorisation of future Horizon2020 SC1 projects as well as the many more health-related EC-funded health projects (e.g. in the Marie (Skłodowska) Curie actions). The UTILE Marketplace therefore will continue well after the current grant period.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The UTILE project is built upon the results it will get from the project-evaluation in WP2. Up until now, >1100 projects were evaluated by using the by UTILE partners developed Basic Assessment Form (BAF). In addition, all projects received a questionnaire, asking them about the status of the project and if there are any valuable assets in the project. Based on the results from the questionnaire and the BAF the most promising projects were selected for further analysis (the Deep Dive evaluation). Already a first batch of projects are going through this Deep Dive evaluation, so they can be selected for the Marketplace and/or for the first upcoming UTILE brokerage event in October.
The UTILE website provides access to tools and training for projects that would like to get assistance in the valorisation process. The first training event already took place in Sophia, inviting projects from Low Performing Countries in the east of Europe. Preparations for a second workshop in October are currently taking place.
In addition, the architecture to launch the marketplace with the evaluation data is going through final stages of developement and will be accessible through the website via a special URL.
Furthermore, the first steps towards the sustainability plan of UTILE have been executed. An analysis of similar platforms has been made to determine their strengths and weaknesses, as well as possible appropriate business models for UTILE.
Finally, dissemination materials have been created and communication activities have been performed to inform the public and create awareness among the UTILE target groups. UTILE partners have regularly visited conferences and have used their (social) networks to increase UTILE’s awareness.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The results we expect might differ slightly from the original expectation. Evaluation of the projects differs in two ways: 1) the evaluation process has a different timeline compared to the GA, because there was chosen to take another, better, approach, 2) the response rate on the questionnaires is much lower than expected. This does however not mean we are not getting any valuable data. We are now aiming to gain insight in the reasons for this lower than expected response rate. We do this by collecting input from researchers on they did or did not fill in a questionnaire whenever possible. The qualitative data gives us insight in what assets in UTILE are of interest to beneficiaries of EU projects, and if we need to change our approach and strategy. This on its turn gives valuable input to the EC on how to facilitate valorisation in (future) EC-funded projects. On a final note; the questionnaires that were submitted gave UTILE valuable information on research projects that are eager to get help from UTILE and are now being picked up by either WP2 for further evaluation or WP5 for further valorisation training.

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