Open Entrepreneurship secures permanent funding as part of the government’s new entrepreneurial strategy

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Interview with Marianne Thellersen, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at DTU and chair of the steering group for Open Entrepreneurship

In 2017, Open Entrepreneurship (OE) was established as a pilot project at four universities with support from the Danish Industry Foundation. Since then, the collaboration has contributed to over 100 research-based companies and is now active across all Danish universities and within all types of research and new technology.

We asked Marianne Thellersen, chair of OE’s steering committee, what the permanent grant will mean.

What does it mean for OE to receive a permanent grant as part of the government’s entrepreneurship strategy?

The grant means that OE can be integrated more permanently as part of the universities’ innovation activities. We won’t cover all OE’s activities, but the grant is large enough to allow universities to continue initiatives such as mentoring, knowledge sharing, etc. And then the resources can go more to the core activity – i.e. to promote knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship – as there is no need to apply for new money for OE to the same extent as before.

Is it a seal of approval for the universities’ innovation activities to be part of the entrepreneurial strategy?

Yes, definitely. With a fixed grant, it is politically recognized that universities have a role in entrepreneurship. The focus on knowledge-based startups is now an integral part of the entrepreneurship strategy. OE contributes to the area together with a number of other important initiatives such as Spin-outs Denmark, which focuses on other parts of the value chain for knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship. Everyone plays an important role, and the interaction and transitions are crucial for us to complement each other optimally.

How big of a deal is it that a fund-based project is included in the budget?

First and foremost, I think the grant is a recognition that the universities have seen a way forward together – that everyone is on board. But it is also a recognition that it is complex and resource-intensive to obtain funding and that we do not want to risk OE just being shut down, as it would mean a loss of knowledge and skills at the universities – and less collaboration and knowledge sharing across the universities’ innovation activities.

From project to permanent anchoring also means a new organization. How do you feel about passing on the baton?

I am incredibly proud of the OE project. I’m proud of the four universities that started as a pilot project and their commitment to spend resources to get the project going. I’m also proud that we’ve succeeded in getting all universities on board, so OE has become a national initiative. And then the steering committee has been a fantastic forum. A place where we have been able to openly discuss challenges and opportunities for innovation at universities in a less formal setting. It is also my impression that we have brought many talented and dedicated Business Unit Managers (BUMs) on board. Good people who are passionate about the cause. It also makes it easier to pass on the baton.

How do you maintain the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven and developed OE as a project?

OE has proven that the project has a justification and creates value for society. And in many ways, we have lived and acted like a startup during the project period. The entrepreneurial spirit has been good for getting things going, but today, we are in a place where it’s time for OE to become more established. That being said, I hope that OE maintains the curiosity, the desire to develop and the open collaboration across all the universities.

About Open Entrepreneurship:

The OE collaboration consists of units at each university, a central unit facilitating joint working meetings and knowledge sharing across the universities, and a national corps of entrepreneurs that all business unit managers can draw on when working with potential startups.

Find out more at www.open-entrepreneurship.dk.