KU Leuven: Pioneering partnerships and innovation in academia

Imagine an ecosystem where academic brilliance seamlessly blends with industry innovation, all geared towards bettering society. Welcome to KU Leuven, a university that champions research, education, and societal service. What sets KU Leuven apart is its robust tech transfer office (TTO), established over 50 years ago, which creates a bridge between the academic and corporate worlds. The peculiarity and strength of the office is that all tech transfer activities, including patenting, licensing, consulting, HR and student entrepreneurship are under one roof. Spearheading this office is Paul van Dun, Managing Director at KU Leuven Research & Development, whose insights offer a deep dive into the university’s strategic vision and initiatives.

Collaborative research beyond transactions

KU Leuven’s approach to research is anything but transactional. Collaborative research projects are at the heart of the university’s existing partnerships with companies. According to Van Dun, the most fascinating projects results stem from cases in which both parties, academics and industry members, bring equal stakes to the table. This symbiotic relationship not only allows for refining the affinities among partners, but also allows researchers to gain insights into corporate workflows and breeds new research questions that further academic inquiry.

While quantitative measures of success, such as the 3,000 new annual agreements with third parties and over 1500 other types of agreements (e.g., licensing, material transfer and non-disclosure) might showcase the volume of work done, KU Leuven values qualitative KPIs more. The ultimate goal of KU Leuven’s collaborative projects is impactful results, assessed directly through feedback from professors and companies rather than mere numerical data. This feedback loop ensures continuous improvement and the continuous alignment of academic research with real-world needs.

TTO and the spectrum of engagements

The University doesn’t limit its partnerships to large-scale projects; it treats a small, two-hour consulting arrangement with the same importance as a multi-year, multi-partner collaborative engagement. Such an inclusive approach ensures that small interactions often pave the way for substantial future collaborations. Moreover, the institution deploys a wide range of external engagement activities; from ad hoc, small sized advisory and consulting roles to multi-years collaboration in research with multiple partners.

To allow for these partnerships to be catered to by KU Leuven staff, the University adopts a bottom-up governance approach. This is a distinctive feature of KU Leuven’s TTO; instead of imposing top-down directives, the TTO operates by nurturing organic relationships between researchers and industry partners. KU Leuven’s researchers are in the driver’s seat, empowered to initiate projects, while the tech transfer office acts as a facilitator, providing necessary support and resources. This is the reason why, at KU Leuven, most leads are born in the interactions between the researchers and companies directly.

A one-stop shop approach

The university’s tech transfer office, created in 1972, was among the first in the world. One notable uniqueness of KU Leuven’s TTO is its comprehensive structure. Housing 140 staff, the TTO performs functions that you might not find in other tech transfer office, including all financial aspects related to the collaborations, which truly sets it apart from other universities. The one-stop shop approach ensures that both researchers and companies have a single point of contact, making the collaboration process seamless.

Thanks to the easy access to information available to KU Leuven staff, the university has cultivated an environment where researchers reach out and engage proactively. This built-in culture didn’t form overnight; it’s a product of decades of commitment, manifesting in a robust, entrepreneurial academic environment.

The TTO is structured into specialised units, each dedicated to managing distinct types of agreements, ensuring comprehensive support for a wide range of collaborations. The first unit focuses on partnerships that involve both industry stakeholders and government entities, facilitating public-private collaborations. The second unit is responsible for overseeing European projects and multiparty agreements involving diverse industrial participants. Finally, there is a dedicated unit that manages one-on-one contractual agreements with individual companies.

Legal support is internal and included in these three units, which are also supplemented by the TTO departments for HR, accounting, spinoffs and IP. This comprehensive approach has fostered an entrepreneurial culture thanks to time-honoured earnest dedication and through and a “client-friendly” mindset, in the words of Van Dun.

Flagship projects

Among the noteworthy successes in collaborative research is the development of new banana varieties in partnership with Bioversity International. This project holds potential lifesaving significance as it addresses the threat of a fungal species that could wipe out the globally dominant Cavendish banana variety. This initiative is a perfect example of research that holds immense societal benefits. Moreover, it has led to the creation of the world’s largest banana genebank, hosted at KU Leuven.

Another striking example of an impactful research collaboration is the development of Fintepla, a drug that originated in KU Leuven’s academic hospital and took over a decade to commercialise through a partnership with a licensee. These are not isolated success. Across diverse fields, from material sciences aiding companies like Samsonite to bioresearch with Bioversity International, to sustainable chemistry, KU Leuven is setting benchmarks.

The spin-off and IP departments also boast remarkable successes. In 2023, as many as 163 new patents were granted and license income amounted to about €150 million, highlighting successful and impactful management. Considering spinoff companies from the University, the direct employment is about 8000 people. Moreover, 156 companies were formed at the institution so far, of which, 128 are still active and 7 are quoted. Kanzi, now the second most planted apple variety globally, was cultivated at the university and commercialised through a spin-off company. Another standout is Integrity, an ethical hacking and cybersecurity firm, now a market leader in Europe with clients like Coca-Cola and Intel.

Educational integration and continuous professional development

KU Leuven, through its TTO, also integrates industry collaboration into its educational framework. Students, including doctoral candidates, are often involved in research projects, gaining valuable industry exposure. The tech transfer office offers various courses to prepare students for industry interactions, covering topics from spin-offs to collaborative research and skill development.

It is worth mentioning the prime example of a strategic partnership in both research and education with IMEC, a leading independent microelectronics research center. Despite being a separate entity, there are numerous joint appointments, PhD programs, and collaborative research projects, such as the development of a flexible ultrasound patch by Pulsify and neuro-electronics projects with the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology. The historical connections between the two institutions have brought great mutual benefits, expressed by the fact that KU Leuven has a seat in the board of directors of IMEC.

Moreover, the university provides Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, ensuring that professionals can upskill in areas like negotiation, leadership, and communication.

Conclusion

KU Leuven’s TTO is not just an administrative hub but a facilitator of innovative partnerships. The office ensures that all agreements run smoothly, and that success is upheld through continuous interaction and feedback. The qualitative aspects of these partnerships, such as their duration and the ongoing satisfaction of all involved parties, matter most.

KU Leuven exemplifies how an academic institution can effectively bridge the gap between academia and industry. With a history of more than five decades, a one-stop shop approach, and an emphasis on qualitative impact, the university continues to pioneer pathways that integrate research, education, and service to society. This well-rounded approach ensures not only the effective commercialisation of research but also the cultivation of a dynamic educational and professional environment. As KU Leuven continues to grow and innovate, it stands as a stellar example of the immense possibilities unlocked through robust academic-industry partnerships.

Ready for more?

If this caught your attention, consider reading our articles Six Dimensions of Readiness: What Universities Need to Engage and Collaborate and Case Study collection: Fostering talent through education partnerships.

Prefer listening? Then tune in to our podcast series on Strategic Partnerships!

Luca Barbera (author) is a Junior Project Officer at UIIN. His work encompasses a broad spectrum of research topics, including sustainability, deep tech, engagement practices for HEIs and academics, with a particular emphasis on the valorisation of results.