Finally the funding of Inserm Transfert is also changed

Valorisation of research results is today an essential dimension of the activity of large research organizations. A fortiori when it comes, as in the Inserm, of medical research, since the aim is ultimately to develop new tools to care for patients. These new tools can be developed in partnership with industry. The relationship with them was complex due to the operations division of valorisation of the Institute between two entities, its Department of valuation and transfer of technology and its subsidiary Inserm Transfert, company created in 2001, Allègre Act.

This dual organization proved counterproductive practice, rivalries the who away on complementarities. For the industrial partners of Inserm, the existence of two structures that may occur on the same records was a source of confusion and unnecessary complexity. Hence the need increasingly urgent to regroup all the activities of development into a single entity. To do this, the Inserm chose, at the head of its subsidiary, to appoint a new leader, Cécile Tharaud, who has acquired a solid experience in intellectual property in private.

The restructuring has led to the contribution of the activities of the Department of valuation and transfer of technology in Inserm Transfert, the chart has been completed and expanded to take account of the enlargement of its missions. In its new configuration, Inserm Transfert employs about 50 people. This restructuring results in the "conversion" full of valorisation activities, Inserm controlling Inserm Transfert to 100.

In addition to the "clients" of the Inserm interest to have a single interlocutor, the consolidation of all activities of valorization in a subsidiary allows it to control all of the value chain of the formatting of the scientific results to marketing agreements or the creation of start-ups. "We want to adapt our offer and our modes of negotiation as well to young innovative companies to major French and international industry," explains Cécile Tharaud.

The hiving-off of the activity of recovery comes, on the part of the Inserm, a delegation of public service, which means that Inserm Transfert has a degree of significant autonomy, including the power of signature, with a monthly with Inserm reporting. "These provisions are essential if we are able to act with flexibility and speed inseparable in the competitive environment of the companies with which we are dealing with," said Cecile Tharaud.

Finally, the funding of Inserm Transfert is also changed. "If I refer to the best foreign examples of technology transfer agencies, should not expect to earn money for eight years, says Cécile Tharaud.". Earn money cannot also be an end in itself for Inserm Transfert, where his role is first to help the Inserm to fulfill its mission of public service. However, we must also apply the rules of the competitive game.

A pre-boot Fund

Despite the turnover generated by the project management European and industrial projects, fiscal 2005 was indeed small deficit. New investments will be made in a start-up, which will increase the deficit. Capitalized at height of 4.5 million euros in its creation, Inserm Transfert has invested approximately 800,000 euros at end of 2005.

The creation of the pre-boot Inserm transfer Initiative Fund, a subsidiary of Inserm Transfert, should help to clarify the situation by separating equity from the rest of the activity. It also allows to expand the financial fund basis, since in addition to Inserm Transfert, which brought to approximately 1.2 million euros of assets, the Caisse des Dépôts, Ventech and Sofinnova have contributed $ 1 million euros. "It remains then to balance our operating account, which will take several years", said Cecile Tharaud. In fact, this reorganization is nothing else than an attempt to the enhancement of the Inserm at the level of the best European practices, as they are implemented at the Karolinska Institute, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory or Medical Research Council.