The University of La Laguna has launched the program TEKNE (Tenerife Knowledge Entrepreneurship), an initiative designed to foster the creation and consolidation of knowledge-based companies within the university setting. The project, managed through its General Foundation, aims to transform the results of academic research into innovative solutions that add value to society and strengthen the business fabric of the Canary Islands.
The TEKNE program will offer personalized training to develop entrepreneurial skills, mentoring with experts in areas such as marketing and technological development, advice on legal and strategic aspects, and support in promoting selected projects at investment forums and innovation events. The initiative focuses on transferring research results generated in the university environment to the market, fostering the creation of Knowledge-Based Companies (KBCs) or consolidating existing companies based in the Canary Islands that are grounded in technological and scientific innovation.
The project is aimed at the university community, including teaching and research staff, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, alumni, and administrative staff. Participation from external individuals is also permitted, provided they are part of teams led by university members.
Selection process
The call for applications will be open until October 17, 2024. Interested parties should register through the website of TEKNE, where they will be asked for detailed information about their project, including a description of the problem they are addressing, the proposed solution, the analysis of the target market, and a development plan.
The selection committee, composed of international experts and university research staff, will evaluate applications based on criteria such as the suitability of the value proposition, the level of technological innovation, technical and commercial viability, and the capabilities of the promoting team. Up to 15 projects will be selected to participate in the support program. Of these, six will receive more intensive support for their business acceleration.
An official presentation of this initiative will be held in the coming weeks. An information session will also be held to answer any questions about the program. Further information can be requested by emailing: ebc@fg.ull.es or by filling this web form.
Tenerife Knowledge Entrepreneurship is part of the Canary Islands Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) and has the support of the Ministry of Economy, Knowledge and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society.
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