Mastering Academic Spin-Outs

This masterclass provides practical strategies and insights into effectively supporting and developing academic spin-offs at your university. Led by a seasoned academic entrepreneur who has founded multiple spin-outs and advised the European Commission and UNESCO, the session combines experience and evidence from the largest international study on university-business cooperation. Learn from real-world cases, explore best practices, and gain actionable tips to foster a thriving entrepreneurial academic culture.

This session is for:

• Directors of entrepreneurship centres, incubators, and innovation hubs
• Knowledge transfer and commercialisation professionals
• University leaders supporting research impact and innovation
• Academic entrepreneurs and researchers interested in spin-off creation
• Entrepreneurship educators, mentors, and ecosystem builders

After the session, participants will learn:

1. Key Success Factors – Understand the characteristics, motivations, and contextual factors that influence academic spin-off success.
2. Strategic Support & Development – Learn how to identify, support, and nurture spin-off opportunities within your institution.
3. Building a Sustainable Ecosystem – Explore strategies to foster collaboration, entrepreneurial culture, and long-term spin-off growth.

A/Prof. Dr. Todd Davey, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the IMT-BS, Associate Partner at UIIN

Todd has consulted to the European, Australian, and Vietnamese Governments, and to multiple universities. Todd is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the IMT Business School in Paris and a visiting researcher at Imperial College (UK), Technical University of Vienna (AUT) and the University of Adelaide (AUST) in the topics of entrepreneurship and innovation.

UIIN Masterclasses are live, interactive workshops designed to provide in-depth learning on key topics related to university-industry collaboration. Led by experts, these sessions combine guided discussions, hands-on exercises, and peer learning to help participants develop practical strategies and skills.