Innovation Europe > News > Innovation EU Vol1-1 > Gothenburg Innovation

By working together, the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology are strengthening their innovation systems. The GoINN (Gothenburg Innovation) project will aid individual researchers in the innovation process and stimulate more efficient resource use, and therefore ultimately result in more and better innovations ending up benefiting society.

Making research findings useful requires cooperation among researchers, research sponsors and users. West Sweden has a long tradition of cooperation among communities, academics and the business sector, and the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology serve as important growth catalysts. The aim of GoINN is to strengthen the regional cooperation even further in order to stimulate the development of innovations that may be beneficial both locally and globally.

The project is carried out together with Innovationsbron Väst and Region Västra Götaland (the county government). Other actors involved in the project are: GU Holding, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Research and Innovation Services at the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers Industrial Technology, Chalmers Innovation, Encubator AB and CIP Professional Services AB.

Background

In 2007, the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology were granted funding from VINNOVA for GoINN, one of five projects in VINNOVA’s programme for improved cooperation between universities and businesses, the key actors programme. Programme Manager Susanne Andersson says that the reason VINNOVA sponsors the programme is that universities are crucial for sustained growth in a knowledge- based society. However, historically Swedish universities have had difficulties funding cooperative efforts. The financial means to establish structures and recruit competent personnel to help researchers put their findings into practice and make them commercially viable have also been lacking.

“The purpose of the programme is to enable a number of universities to build the resources and structures necessary to work professionally with utilisation and commercialisation of research findings and with cooperation between businesses and other actors, and to foster an entrepreneurial culture. A long-term goal is for universities to assume a more active role in the progress of Swedish businesses and of society in general” says Andersson.

What is GoINN?

GoINN offers competence in, for example, business advice, patent and licence matters, project development and funding opportunities. University researchers are offered unbiased consultation in the early stages of the innovation process. Useful ideas are identified and forwarded to actors who may assist the researcher further. This enables us to catch more potentially useful research findings. Senior Innovation Advisors within the fields of biomedicine, applied IT and environment and energy have been recruited to the project. Their task is to stimulate and catch ideas in the research environments and to develop sector-specific networks.

Claes Brismar, GoINN project manager, describes GoINN as an effective innovation system where researchers can get help commercialising and utilising their ideas. The potential is large since the cooperation involves Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg as well as the county government. The project is built around the cooperation of a number of actors that together create something stronger than what any individual actor could possibly attain alone.

“Our vision is to place GoINN at the European forefront in terms of support of innovations that may benefit society. Chalmers and the University of Gothenburg’s ability to assume responsibility for utilisation and cooperation will become world class over the eight-year development process. The key actors programme will enable us to create internationally strong research and innovation areas. Utilisation will become an obvious and integrated part of the universities’ work, which is crucial for our ability to attract research, researchers and students” says Brismar.

University of Gothenburg and
Chalmers University of Technology
Tel: +46(0) 708 198203
E-mail: claesbrismar@gu.se
Website: www.goinn.se