Spin-off-support for Women in Information TeCHnologies

Objectives

Technology oriented start-ups are still male dominated, particularly concerning the foundation of spin-offs from research organisations. Therefore INI-Novation GmbH initiated “SWITCH – Spin-off-support for Women in Information TeCHnologies” as a pilot project funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research. SWITCH focused on female researchers in ICT research institutions of the Fraunhofer Society, who are interested in starting their own businesses based on their research activities.
Major goal of SWITCH was the identification of the female entrepreneurship potential and the support, coaching and mentoring of the start-up projects from the beginning.

Activities

In awareness raising workshops female scientists were identified and their ideas and technologies were evaluated towards future commercialisation potentials.
In a next step commercialisation experts provided an assessment for the selcted technologies.

The core element of the SWITCH project was the SWITCH Summer School which was held for the first time in the first week of October 2007. The summer school is a one-week seminar focussing on all aspects related to starting a business. During this week, the participants developed a first business concept and learned how to run their own science based start-up company.

Results

• Market analysis, commercialisation concepts and business plans were developed
• Coaching and mentoring services were offered
• Start-up initiatives were supported

For further information please visit www.switch-iuk.de/