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3.6.1.4 Incentives for regionally-based researchThere are no specific reward schemes for regionally-based research other than the usualincentives to engage in contract research, which often includes commissions from regionallybased governmental organizations and corporations. UvA and VU reward regionally-basedresearch through their basic funding mechanisms, provided this research meets the criteria set outby their strategic research agenda’s. Concerning this role, it should be noted that UvA explicitlyacknowledges regional engagement and its role as a university in the city as part of its missionstatement and has done so for over twenty years.HvA and INHolland stimulate their lectors and other researchers to apply for subsidies availablethrough the RAAK-programme. These subsidies are specifically intended for regional knowledgeexchange between knowledge institutions, on the one hand, and SMEs and public institutions onthe other hand. For the Foundation Innovation Alliance the RAAK-programmes are successfulwhen a project leads to an application of knowledge in the SME sector. INHolland furthermorethinks that its redirection of research away from separate departments towards discipline-orientedresearch might have contributed to a stronger regional engagement.3.7 Interfaces facilitating knowledge exploitation and exchange3.7.1 The role of the university TTOsThe commercialization of the research base of the research universities UvA and VU is beingpromoted by their TTOs. These two offices are linked through IAMstarter, an organization whichreceives support from the Technopartner programme of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Theintermediary role for IAMStarter emerged as a condition for receiving an SKE-grant from theMinistry, which did not want to subsidize competing programs in the same region and demandeda form of collaboration. IAMStarter also represents the local business community in the form ofan advisory board. The participants in this board are listed in Annex F.Both the VU-TTO the Knowledge Transfer Office of UvA (Bureau Kennistransfer or BKT) seetheir mission in a broad social and economic context. Generally spoken they aim to open upaccess to scientific knowledge and technology for social purposes. This includes the applicationof knowledge in commercial and social developments. With regard to the role of the TTOstowards VUmc and AMC patient well being is an explicit aim. Inward the role of the TTOs is tostimulate a professional and commercial access to scientific knowledge developed at theuniversities. Also the TTOs actively scout for promising projects and supply services for theapplication of subsidies or the filing of intellectual property rights (patents). Depending on thenature of the case, the TTOs also actively support the formation of spin-off companies as avehicle for valorization. The external role is to build coalitions for the application andcommercial exploitation of knowledge. This aids a final goal, which is the promotion ofemployment and economic growth in the region and beyond.VU-TTO was established with a budget of EUR 5,1 million for a four year period (2006-2010).EUR 2,5 million of this budget was financed by the SKE subsidy from the Ministry of EconomicAffairs. The remaining EUR 2,6 million was matched by both VU and VUmc. VU-TTO offersthree types of incentives to stimulate the transfer and valorization of knowledge:• A fund for the filing of patents: budget EUR 1 million.• A preseed fund of EUR 1,7 million for investment and preseed loans.• An ‘inventors’ regulation for filing and exploiting intellectual property rights: thescientists involved are allowed a share of 1/3 of the proceeds from licenses and other75