Creating impact

We have specialised business developers for every research field- from engineering, maths and life sciences to arts, humanities and social sciences. They will support you in assessing the opportunities and potential pitfalls of your idea and advise you on the steps to be taken. For social sciences and humanities (SSH) and medical technologies, we have developed valorisation guides.

Questions you can expect from our team:

• How do you envisage the application of your idea?
• Is there any interest from (external) parties?
• What problem did you identify, and what solution do you offer?
• Are similar products or services already available, to your knowledge?
• If so, what makes your idea, invention or innovation stand out?
• What are the potential commercial and/or societal benefits?

Not sure about the potential of your innovation? Then get inspired by the stories of scientists who have went before you and turned their idea or research results into relevant societal applications.

Visite the IXA website for inspiring stories: Impact stories

Do you want to learn more about valorisation? Do you want to know how to collaborate effectively with companies? Or do you want to become an entrepreneur by starting your own company? Then sign up for our valorisation workshops and impact programmes.

• Impact Program (6 days over a 6-month period), create more societal impact through your research and teaching.
  The work you do as a researcher and teacher is important. But how do you increase your societal impact? What kind of strategy do you need? How do you present the story behind your research more clearly, with more emphasis on output and relevance? Who might be interested in your project or idea? And how do you approach media outlets, government agencies or companies? The Impact Program offers answers to all these questions and more.
• Learning Path Valorisation and Impact
  Ever think about the impact that your research can have outside of academia? Would you like to explore how you can increase the impact of your research? IXA offers a learning path on getting involved in valorisation and creating impact. The objective? Inspire, learn new skills, and make you aware of the possibilities of valorising research.

For current programs check the calendar on the IXA website.

Do you have an innovation or project that needs further development, but the practical feasibility and/or (commercial) exploitation possibilities are still uncertain? Or are you working in the early stages of your startup? Then you may be eligible for financing from the IXA-GO Impact Fund of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

The IXA-GO Impact Fund exists to finance research that determines the conceptual, social, technical and/or economic feasibility and/or market opportunities.

Applications can only be made by researchers or startups affiliated with the VU.
It is likely that the financing of the project will be recouped. The financing is not a subsidy, but an investment (for example a loan or convertible loan).
The maximum amount per application is €15,000.

Entries can be submitted all year round (no application deadlines).
You can submit an application to IXA-GO VU by sending the completed application form together with your business developer in cc to ixa@vu.nl. Put “Application for IXA-GO Impact Fund” in the header of your email.
Download the VU IXA-GO Impact Fund application form here

The researcher and business developer of IXA-GO discuss the possible application.
The researcher submits his or her application.
IXA-GO assesses the submitted proposal together with an independent external evaluator.
The aim is to communicate the outcome (award, on hold, rejection) to the applicant within two weeks.

Beyond Weather, a VU-spin-off, uses AI to make long term weather forecasts. Beyond Weather is now partnering with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector for product development that has the potential for necessary transitions in the agriculture industry. This product exploration is being made possible through the IXA-GO Impact Fund. Sem Vijverberg, CTO of Beyond Weather, says: “I want to provide practical answers to problems that relate to climate change. Through working with stakeholders in agriculture we can develop tools that can help predict weather extremes and improve decision making processes.”