CHUV Achieves Over RMB 5 Billion in Annual Technology Transfer: Bridging Scientists and the Market

One month ago, an innovative project integrating neurotechnology at the Lausanne University Hospital (hereinafter referred to as “CHUV”) secured a substantial amount of incubation funding, totalingCHF 11.2 million,equivalent to approximately RMBRMB 76.87 million。

In fact, such financing events occur frequently at CHUV. According to statistical data, in 2020, a total of 41 medical innovation research projects at CHUV received incubation funding, with the total amount reachingCHF 75,000, equivalent to RMBApproximately RMB 5 billion, such a massive transaction volume also indirectly validates CHUV’s immense potential in medical innovation and translation.

Currently, Chinese medical institutions are accelerating their efforts in the race to translate scientific research achievements into practical applications.However, most are still in their infancy, with relatively low actual impact.Therefore, at this stage, it is essential for us to learn from industry pioneers such as CHUV, which have achieved remarkable results in medical innovation and translation and established mature translational models.

So, how exactly did CHUV achieve success?VCBeat Orange BureauA thorough analysis was conducted on this matter.

CHUV is one of Switzerland’s five university hospitals, serving as a teaching hospital for citizens in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. It is also a central hub within Europe’s healthcare system. Having evolved since the 13th century, its global standing remains unshakable. According to rankings by the authoritative media outlet Newsweek,CHUV has consistently ranked among the top ten best hospitals worldwide.

This is certainly a remarkable achievement, but like most top-tier medical institutions worldwide, CHUV also places great emphasis on “"Clinical-Research-Education"This interlinked innovation incubation model.

Start at the bedside.CHUV is dedicated to providing patient care across all medical disciplines, ranging from physical to mental illnesses, and comprises 16 clinical and medical technology departments along with numerous service units. According to statistical data, CHUV provided medical services to nearly 50,000 patients in 2020. The extensive volume of clinical cases has also guided scientific research, enabling researchers to derive many innovative ideas from clinical observations.

Secondly, walk from the bedside to the bench.At this stage, CHUV prioritizes collaboration with the University of Lausanne and its Faculty of Biology and Medicine, engaging deeply in clinical, translational, and basic research activities. Furthermore, to facilitate research by physicians, CHUV has established shared research infrastructure that enables the pooling of specialized resources too costly for individual or small research groups to fund independently. These shared resources include the Clinical Research Center (CRC) and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology (CepiC).

Finally, from the bench to the campus.CHUV maintains long-standing collaborations with the University of Lausanne’s Faculty of Biology and Medicine and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), training a large number of medical professionals each year. As a result, CHUV is regarded as a central hub for medical education in Europe. According to statistical data,CHUV trains tens of thousands of healthcare professionals across Europe each year,This effectively alleviates the substantial burden on Europe’s clinical healthcare system.

In fact,"Clinical Practice-Research-Education"Such a medical innovation system is no longer a secret; it is like a “standard answer” laid out before us, waiting to be solved. However, this is not a free gift. Whether healthcare institutions can truly “get the right answer” depends on their own “problem-solving approach.”

In terms of medical innovation and translation, CHUV places particular emphasis on integration with market-oriented approaches. It is precisely based on this rationale that CHUV has specially establishedPACTT (Technology Transfer Office)This functional department, on the one hand, provides researchers with “one-stop” services for the translation of medical achievements, but more importantly, itBridging the Gap Between Scientists and the Market。

Because the essence of innovation is to meet market demands, the success of medical innovation and translation largely depends on scientists’ understanding of the market; therefore, it is necessary toTo expand the pie of translating scientific research into practical applications, it must be done step by step.。

Specifically, the services that PACTT provides to them areIt starts with the protection of intellectual property rights.Before publicly disclosing their research findings, scientists must notify PACTT of their inventions to include them in the results repository. This step safeguards their legitimate rights and interests, as securing necessary funding is contingent upon the protection of fundamental intellectual property rights; it also facilitates the provision of precise, tailored services for scientists’ innovative projects in subsequent stages.

The next step is to commercialize intellectual property.In this process, research findings must first be transferred to the commercial sector, and after evaluation, a strategy for the commercialization of intellectual property is determined. It is worth noting that once an invention is protected by a patent, there are two possibilities for its commercialization.

The first approach is to seek commercial partners:

First, how to make a selection.In many cases, scientists have already established contact with potential commercialization partners. At this stage, PACTT needs to assist scientists in identifying suitable commercial partners and negotiating licensing agreements for the development of their inventions. Therefore,Close collaboration between PACTT and scientists is often a prerequisite for successful commercialization.

Secondly, PACTT will provide scientistsProvide recommendations on two aspects:The first is how to collaborate with the company on intellectual property issues and sponsored research; the second is how to maximize research benefits by integrating publications with intellectual property.

To alleviate the initial financial burden on scientists, PACTT will cover the costs of preliminary invention analysis and all patent-related expenses; however, this is not “free,” as these costs will be deducted from net revenue distribution upon successful commercialization. In addition, PACTT also providesInnoSTEP (Proof-of-Concept Program) Grant, with funding of up to CHF 40,000(approximately equivalent to RMB 270,000) to encourage researchers to better commercialize their innovative technologies.

Following the innovation and commercialization of intellectual property and entrepreneurship, it is also necessary to“Fairly Distribute the Cake”, i.e.Enable Every Participant in Innovation and Commercialization to Benefit. Therefore, PACTT stipulates that the net income from licensing agreements (after deducting all patent application fees and a 10% fixed rate to cover the operating costs of the Technology Transfer Office) shall be divided equally into three parts, distributed toScientists, and their affiliated units and institutions.

The second is scientists launching their own startups:

First, PACTT provides advice on the commercialization of inventions and the establishment of startups.Scientists must first obtain institutional intellectual property licenses; if the startup is established based on a university or university hospital (a “spin-off”), PACTT will also assist in drafting and managing appropriate licensing agreements.

Secondly, PACTT will also provide initial support, namely financial support named InnoTREK,Its purpose is to accelerate innovation and foster the creation of startups. Scientists can apply for a one-yearCHF 100,000(approximately equivalent to RMB 680,000) in grant funding to launch spin-off products, which has greatly encouraged researchers with innovative ideas to embark on entrepreneurial ventures.

Finally,PACTT provides market-oriented guidance and connections to other organizations actively engaged in innovation and business support.This primarily involves investment institutions, which engage with scientist-entrepreneurs through regularized business activities to foster better collaboration between the two parties.

From the perspective of the entire translational pathway, CHUV has primarily targeted the critical bottleneck in translating medical research achievements: how to guide and encourage scientists to commercialize their findings. Whether scientists are seeking business partners or launching their own startups, PACTT first provides them with extensive, professional advice on commercial matters, thereby bridging their knowledge gap in business. Second, it alleviates their financial burdens mainly by increasing project grants and attracting investment institutions. Finally, it ensures fair and equitable profit-sharing, guaranteeing that every participant benefits. This approach is regarded as the true core driving force behind medical innovation and translation.