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Universities are more than just institutions of higher learning; they are dynamic ecosystems that play a crucial role in driving innovation and economic development.

One of the most significant ways they contribute to this is through the creation and support of spin-outs. Spin-outs are companies that emerge from research conducted within a university. These companies, often rooted in cutting-edge technology or novel ideas, have the potential to bring academic discoveries to market, thus translating knowledge into tangible benefits for society.

The University Ecosystem: A Supportive Environment

The success of spin-outs is closely tied to the ecosystem that the university provides. This ecosystem includes a variety of support structures and resources that help translate research into viable commercial ventures.

Education and mentoring
  • Caempus

    Caempus is an incubation program, specifically designed to support spin-outs. They supports students, researchers and academics to grow their tech or science based business ideas into impactful companies of the future.

  • Law Hub Incubator Programme

    The Amsterdam Law Hub Incubator Programme is the only place in the Netherlands where students are supported in entrepreneurship in the field of legal innovation. The focus here is on the development of startups or NGOs that want to solve a legal or judicial problem.

    The programme offers selected startups an interest-free loan of €2,500 and includes training by legal professionals, free guidance and skill building for one year, a network of mentors who can support you, and more.

  • Start-ups & Legal Aid Clinics
  • Minor Entrepreneurship

    The Minor Entrepreneurship is a full-time 30 ECTS programme completed in 1 semester, open to all Bachelor students from the UvA (all faculties) offered by The Faculty of Economics and Business. Three courses make up the minor: Cases in entrepreneurship (6 ECTS), Startup Psychology (6 ECTS), and Entrepreneurship in Practice (18 ECTS).

    The Entrepreneurship in Practice course is the core course of the minor and lasts 3 blocks. This course is similar to an accelerator programme: student entrepreneurs benefit from industry expert guest lectures, weekly tailored coaching sessions, and mentoring from seasoned entrepreneurs. They also can participate in various pitching and networking events during the semester.

    Since its creation in 2007, the Minor Entrepreneurship has brought to life hundreds of startups, many of which have become profitable businesses. During the intensive 5-month programme, students develop a product or service and prepare it to enter the market. Around 20-25 startups are created each year, most of which are registered with the KvK, reaching several hundred customers and generating cumulative sales of over €15,000.

  • Master Entrepreneurship

    The UvA and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) jointly coordinate this programme. Targeted at learning how to be entrepreneurial and lead an organisation, this programme combines innovative and challenging knowledge with practical education, with real-life cases and an internship.

  • Justice Entrepreneurship

    During the Justice entrepreneurship courses, students are supported in developing legal solutions for a just society. From defining a problem to creating a prototype, students run the first steps towards their own company during this course.

    The course won the Innovative Legal Education Award from the Gouden Zandlopers in 2021.

  • Startup and Running

    Startup And Running is a platform based on networking. Here, students can connect with a large pool of voluntary mentors and match and connect with other entrepreneurs or potential co-founders. By uploading an initiative on this platform, entrepreneurs gain exposure and opportunities to create a social network supporting them in their projects.

  • Enactus

    Enactus is an international non-profit organization connecting students, higher education, and business leaders. It comprises more than 500 students in the Netherlands, supporting each other in setting up social enterprises. At Enactus, you meet an active and supportive community of students and benefit from professional input and knowledge during workshops. The start-up should be a social enterprise and participate in tackling social, economic, and ecological problems.

Access to Funding
  • Law Hub Startup Fund

    Every quarter, the Law Hub’s Start-up Fund takes applications from students or researchers of the UvA who need support on a start-up or innovation creation. To be eligible for the 2,500€ financing, the project should solve a justice or legal problem and be viable. The funded projects also get free mentoring through the Incubator programme.

  • Amsterdam Academic Angel Fund

    Supported by the UvA and VU, Amsterdam Academic Angel Fund, or 3xA Fund, offers financial support to startup initiatives from their students and young alumni.  The selected, very early-stage projects get a 10,000€ initial investment, and convertible loans are also available.

  • Innovation Exchange Amsterdam

    IXA offers researchers from all the universities’ research disciplines – from engineering, maths and life sciences to the arts, humanities and social sciences – a roadmap to a variety of EU and national grants and funding opportunities aimed at stimulating impact and valorisation in research, as offered by your the university.

  • Amsterdam Student Investment Fund

    The Amsterdam Student Investment Fund (ASIF) supports and invests in student-led start-ups in Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Affiliated with the UvA and VU, ASIF has many partners and is an excellent way to kick-start your innovative idea. Students and recent graduates can benefit from the funding and support of the ASIF community.

  • UvA Ventures Holding B.V.

    UvA Ventures makes scientific innovations and expertise from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) available to the market and society by establishing or participating in enterprises. In this way, UvA Ventures contributes to the university's goal of valorization.

Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs)
  • Innovation Exchange Amsterdam

    The Technology Transfer Office (TTOs) that plays a pivotal role in the spin-out process. TTOs help researchers navigate the complexities of intellectual property (IP) protection, patenting, and licensing. They also provide guidance on how to commercialize research, whether through licensing agreements with established companies or by forming a new spin-out company.