The following text provides more insights into the topic of the PhD:
In biotechnology, the journey from scientific discoveries and technological development to commercial success is fraught with difficulties. At the heart of these difficulties is an inherent tension between academic and commercial demands (West, 2008). These tensions arise, amongst others, from the differences in time horizon between academic and industry research and the fact that academia encourages knowledge dissemination, whereas the commercial sector seeks ownership and tight control of intellectual property rights (Ambos et al., 2008). One of the objectives of this PhD is to understand how R&D in biotech can be effectively commercialized, by specifically focusing on one type of university-industry linkages (Wright et al., 2008), namely spin-offs.
Previous spin-off research has often taken either an individual level perspective (studying for instance researchers joining spin-off teams) or an institutional perspective (studying for instance how tech transfer officers or university policies can affect spin-off creation). This research takes a specific technology level-perspective and studies technology development and commercialization in relation with the (financial and commercial) environment. More specifically, we want to shed light on how spin-offs in green biotech/white biotech/environmental biotech and thermochemical conversion may differ in their (optimal) commercialization and financing strategies. At the level of commercialization, we will study how technology should be co-developed together with industrial parties, and what the optimal commercialization route is for each type of technology.
Whereas the optimal commercialization strategy will affect the financing strategy, this will reversely affect the commercialization strategy. Even though venture capital has been at the heart of Europe’s growth in biotechnology over the past years (Howell et al., 2003), academics have recently raised criticism on the suitability of the venture capital model for the development of a sustainable biotech industry (Pisano, 2006). More specifically, venture capitalists would have investment horizons that are too short for biotech companies, provide too little funds and are ultimately not interested in seed investments. Therefore, at the level of financing, this PhD research will provide understanding of how different types and sources of financing can be combined to provide an optimal financial resource base for the development of the spin-offs. Next to venture capital, the role and interdependency of public sources of funding, foundations, large corporates, and stock markets will be explored, just as the interplay between commercialization and financing strategies.
Profile
- University degree (preference for applicants with a background in bioengineering or similar (and affinity/interest in business and management) or applicants with an economics degree (and affinity/interest in biotechnology))
- A first class organizer with good communication skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Team player with ability to work independently
- Fluent in English
- Dedicated, rigorous, perseverant, enthusiastic
Apply
For more information you can contact:
Prof. dr. Mirjam Knockaert
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Tweekerkenstraat 2
9000 Gent
Phone: +32 9 264 34 59
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Tweekerkenstraat 2
9000 Gent
Phone: +32 9 264 34 59
Email: mirjam.knockaert@ugent.be
Please send your CV + motivation letter by e-mail or post.
Application Deadline : 16 January 2012
