On Wednesday, September 30, the “I Day to Promote the Creation of Spin-Off UJI” organized by Espaitec, Scientific and Technological Park of the Universitat Jaume I, with the financial support of the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI). The day was inaugurated by the vice-rector of Research and Transfer of the UJI, Jesus Lancis, who stood out “the capacity of knowledge and research results to create products of innovative value that can be launched on the market, as well as the economic and social impact that companies that are born from this knowledge have in our territory”.
In the first of the interventions, the director of the Office of Cooperation in Research and Technological Development of the UJI (OCIT), Ismael Rodrigo, presented the quick guide for the “Creation of a Spin-Off” designed by Espaitec, a guide that includes the steps that must be followed to create a technology-based company. Ismael Rodrigo highlighted that “Spin-Offs are the ideal tool to transfer knowledge and research results that can be exploited, and in the process of their creation, researchers/entrepreneurs will have the explicit support of the university in all phases.” , and even after his birth thanks to Espaitec's mentoring programs”.
Next the director of Espaitec, Juan Antonio Bertolin, shared some of the programs that the park develops, such as Technological Pairing, Technological Map of the province of Castellón or UJI Empren On Social, with which Espaitec promotes competitiveness through innovation, connects companies generating synergies and mentors, giving value to new business initiatives. He also highlighted that Espaitec offers financial advice to companies, identifying interesting calls to develop their business ideas.
During your speech, MªJosé Tomás, from the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), explained the main aid/subsidies of the CDTI in the field of technological innovation with both economic, social and environmental impact; encompassing aid for both companies and R&D&i projects.
Successful Spin-Off Companies
Three successful Spin-Offs, linked to research centers, participated in the virtual conference: Expander Tech (Jaume I University), bioinitiate (Higher Council for Scientific Research) and Iquarobotics (University of Girona). José Pascual Martí (Expander Tech) highlighted the need for a fluid and solid relationship between the Spin-Off and the university, since the role of the university community in the success of this type of company is very relevant. For its part, José María Lagaron (Bioinicia) indicated that Spin-Offs are a business opportunity for large companies that cannot dedicate time to innovation and technology because they allow research to be connected to the business fabric. Joseta Roca (Iquarobotics), noted that Spin-Off are an ideal business formula so that doctors and doctoral students who have achieved great scientific and technological advances during years of research can access qualified and quality work. and they do not have to leave our country to continue their professional career. An idea that was also highlighted by David Cabedo, deputy vice-rector for Research and Transfer at the UJI, at the closing of the day that took place after the holding of a networking round table.
To end the virtual day, a round table was held with all the participants where, among other things, the the need to have a multidisciplinary team with different skills and talents to be able to perform different functions within the company, highlighting the importance of different forms of public/private financing. It was also highlighted that Spin-Off companies are an ideal business formula so that research personnel who have achieved great scientific and technological advances during years of research can access qualified and quality work, without leaving our country to continue. his professional career.
