ITMO University functions and develops as an economic entity focused on financial sustainability, economic effectiveness, and Key Performance Indicators for its departments and faculty.

 

Entrepreneurial University 2020

 

Innovation activity at ITMO University as part of the "5-100" Program is aimed at positioning the University as a driver for forming a knowledge-based economy.

 

The main focus is on transferring the results of research into the economy and assisting in developing innovative products, including through relationships with development institutions, such as Rusnano and Skolkovo fund, and with the world leaders in high tech industries and R&D. As an entrepreneurial university, ITMO also pays great attention to developing mutually beneficial relationships with representatives of large Russian and foreign high-tech corporations, including forming joint "base departments." 

 

The innovation ecosystem of ITMO supports transferring the results of intellectual activity into the actual economy through the transfer and commercialization mechanisms used by the service units that are part of a comprehensive system of support for R&D at ITMO.

 

The level of the technology transfer development is characterized by a portfolio of licensing agreements, where the University acts as a licensor. The demand for R&D is ensured on the one hand by the network of partnerships with industrial companies, institutes of development, technological platforms, clusters and other organizations of innovation. On the other, it is ensured through consistent technological audits of the research departments.

 

One of the key characteristics of the innovation ecosystem at TIMO is a high level of entrepreneurial culture and a favorable environment for helping students and faculty reach their entrepreneurial potential. The success is represented in the number of small innovative enterprises and startup companies (over 70 by 2020), as well as a high percentage of students and faculty involved in entrepreneurial activities (25% by 2020).

 

Entrepreneurship graduate programs prepare management personnel for high-tech business and knowledge-based economy. 

 

A favorable environment for business that promotes the generation and implementation of new projects of different directions, is provided in the first place, through a wide availability of material resources, innovation infrastructure, including fablab (FabricationLaboratory), a start-up accelerator and venture capital funds, business incubators, technology parks, centers of excellence (further - CCU) for university teams.

 

At the same time, the service divisions of the innovative infrastructure provide a maximum availability of information and consulting and educational services in all areas of commercialization and technology transfer (with a mandatory involvement of the business community as mentors and experts in the format «Entrepreneur-in-Residence»).

 

Adding a required class in entrepreneurship and using problem-oriented learning and project-based learning in the education process ensures a steady stream of business projects generated by the students, including in the framework of Master's theses and the subsequent development of small businesses.

 

Smooth internal business processes of the innovation ecosystem and innovation services to outside companies will help form an international innovation hub in the priority areas at ITMO by 2020. Innovation and business activities provide a considerable contribution to strengthening the ITMO reputation as an entrepreneurial university among the world's leading research and education centers.

 

Entrepreneurial ITMO University today

 

Small innovative enterprises and startups of ITMO

 

Entrepreneurship Education and Trainings

 

Support system of innovation, entrepreneurship and project activities

 

ITMO University is actively introducing new technologies of service support for students and faculty on innovative projects. Service support is provided through a comprehensive support system, reorganized in 2013 with consideration of the new goals for raising the University's competitiveness.

 

Innovation infrastructure:

 

A joint Russian-American-Israeli startup accelerator "iDealMachine" offers a unique method of service support of students, faculty and third parties. Its fund is $6 million. In 2013, four startups went through its program of startup acceleration. The solution is replicated by ITMO and partners as part of the "Eureka" program in various regions of Russia.

 

A distinctive feature of the organization of the service units of ITMO's innovation infrastructure is their focus on maximizing accessibility for students and faculty to information and consulting and educational services in all areas of commercialization and technology transfer with the mandatory involvement of the business community as mentors and experts. Students and faculty get strong support for the implementation of their own projects from mentors and experts in the course of systematically organized events, such as a start-up lab SUMIT, a series of lectures and trainings at the business incubator QD and activities of ITMO's Technopark.

Systematic projects of innovations development at ITMO University

 

 

Network Partnerships in Innovations