Published: 10.07.2019.

Deadline for Submission: 10.09.2019.

Project description:
The overall objective of this action is to provide hands on support in taking promising inventions in the Western Balkans to market. The project aims to facilitate the validation (prototype, demonstrator, etc.) and explore avenues for the commercialisation of technologies developed within Public Research Organisations (PROs) and SMEs in the Western Balkans. It will build upon the results of the existing EU4TECH action by providing a set of specific services that will enable local entrepreneurs and researchers to gain practical experience in technology transfer and maximise the potential of successful technology transfer deals in the region.

It should have as specific objectives:

• To foster and supporting the development of a healthy technology transfer pipeline in the region
• Provide early stage support that addresses the TRL4 3 to TRL 4 ‘gap’ (Proof of Concept and Validation) between traditional funding for innovation in public research organisations and funding provided by private enterprises
• To increase the capacity of researchers and intermediaries to identify a robust route to market and build a strong commercialisation strategy
• To contribute to the development of local business angel and venture capital investor base
• To encourage knowledge exchange and technology transfer across and beyond the region.
• To also understand what concrete measures could be put in place to facilitate the growth of technology transfer focused financial instruments such as equity investments.

Position: Key expert 1: Team leader

The Contractor’s Team Leader has overall responsibility for the running of the contract and the formal contacts with the Contracting Authority. His/her contact details will be made available to the contracting authority and he/she (or his/her temporary substitute) is required to react within 5 working days to any communication made by the Contracting authority. He/she signs-off all outputs (such as studies, reports) required under the contract and all reports on the contract implementation. The Team Leader should be present at the Steering Committee meetings. While the precise time input of the Key expert 1 is left to the discretion of tenderer as part of the technical proposal, the minimum time input expected for the involvement of Key expert 1 should be 15% of the overall time allocation.

Qualification and skills

• A Masters Degree in a scientific (mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, etc.), technical (e.g. engineering) or socio-economic discipline;

General professional experience

• Preferably 15 (but minimum 10) years of professional experience related to innovation, research or technology transfer, seed fund management, gathered in industry, consulting, venture capital fund, a public administration or a university or research centre;
• Preferably 10 (but minimum 5) years of managerial experience as team leader, in particular in coordinating multi-disciplinary and/or multicultural teams of senior professionals, ideally under contracts with international organisations;

Specific professional experience

• Preferably 15 (but minimum 10) years of specific professional experience in areas related to this contract, i.e. innovation, innovation management, technology transfer and/or early stage investment;
• Preferably 5 (but minimum 3) years of experience of managing capacity building programmes in middle income countries and/or in the geographical area covered by this contract;
• Management experience in working in one or more of the Western Balkans economies will be regarded as advantageous;
• Familiarity with the Commission procedures/requirements and proven successful project experience with the Commission will be regarded as advantageous;
• Must have excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of local Western Balkans language will be seen as advantageous.