Valorisationmanager IOF consortium IDLab

Department: Valorisation Office
Regime Full-time

Let's shape the future - University of Antwerp

Within the framework of the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) and to support applied research, the Association University & Colleges of Antwerp (AUHA) is looking for a full-time valorisationmanager for the IOF consortium IDLab.

University of Antwerp - imec IDLab research group

The Internet & Data Lab (IDLab) is an imec research group at the University of Antwerp and Ghent University. IDLab focuses its research on internet technologies and data science. By bringing together 500 Internet experts, we develop technologies that outperform current solutions for communication subsystems, high-speed and low-power networks, distributed computing and multimedia editing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and web semantics. In Antwerp, IDLab's general research areas are mainly machine learning and connectivity. IDLab has a unique research infrastructure that is used in numerous national and international collaborations.

Imec is the world's leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The combination of our widely acclaimed leadership in microchip technology and deep software and ICT expertise makes us unique. Leveraging our world-class infrastructure and our local and global ecosystem of partners across a wide range of industries, we are creating breakthrough innovation in application domains such as healthcare, smart cities and mobility, logistics and manufacturing, and energy.

IDLab collaborates with many universities and research centers around the world  and develops cutting-edge technologies together with industry  (R&D centers of international companies, Flanders' most innovative large companies and SMEs, as well as numerous ambitious startups).

To strengthen the team in Antwerp, we are looking for an IOF valorisation manager, who can bring IDLab's research to its partners through win-win collaborations.

Position

The IDLab consortium is focused on emerging AI & Machine learning and 6G, with a specific focus on sustainability, Industry 4.0, logistics and mobility. As an IOF valorisation manager, you will build partnerships with the R&D departments and managers of both national and international partners. In the valorisation team, you will work together with other valorisation managers, each with their own area of expertise.

Your core tasks are:

• You will consolidate and expand the research consortium from a valorisation management perspective with the aim of:
  • fostering cooperation with industry;
  • building a knowledge and IP portfolio of potential relevance to the industry;
  • exploring new opportunities for collaboration and valorisation.
• You build and maintain relationships with the Flemish and international ecosystem;
• You will capture the overall industry needs and be able to link them to the overall IDLab research strategy and activities;
• You follow up on collaboration opportunities and make them a success: you set up both national and international strategic collaborations with industry and international research centres;
• In agreement with the researchers of the consortium, you will be responsible for initiating new initiatives, which have the potential for new promising collaborations in the industry;
• You are responsible for your valorisation project within the valorisation team of the UAntwerp and communicate with the valorisation team, legal IP departments and other experts from both the university and Imec;
• You stimulate (interdisciplinary) collaboration with other faculties / departments / research groups of the university, as well as with the universities of applied sciences belonging to the association (AUHA), and create national and international cooperation networks;
• You will be responsible for creating and recognizing opportunities and portfolio management related to patents and spin-offs;
• You will help develop the consortium's strategy, roadmap and collaborations. You will become the IDLab consortium's point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.

More generally, your activities will always be focused on the industrial valorisation of new technologies and research results from the IOF consortium, with the aim of increasing the IOF parameters of the University of Antwerp and the AUHA colleges: PhDs (P1), A1 publications and citations (P2), industrial income (P3), income from EU programmes (P4), patents (P5) and spin-offs (P6),  whereby the valorisation manager's efforts are mainly situated in P3, P4, P5 and P6.

Profile

• You hold a master's degree in a relevant field and have at least 5 years of relevant expertise in research or organization of research related to 1 or more of the listed research domains. Possession of a doctorate by dissertation in a relevant research field of the IOF Consortium is not a requirement but is considered an additional asset;
• You have excellent administrative and communication skills and experience in contract negotiation and management;
• You have proven experience in business development and/or innovation management. Experience with public-private partnerships is definitely a plus;
• You are able to bridge the gap between customer needs and research. Experience and a network in the application areas of sustainability, industry 4.0, logistics, mobility is a plus;
• You are able to build credibility with senior executives, technical and non-technical project teams, and peers;[email protected]
• You are a team player who can motivate people to collectively strive for a common goal;
• Relevant work experience in both academic and industrial research is a strong asset;
• Experience in attracting external research funding from the private and public sectors in the field of applied research at both national and international level is desirable;
• Experience with valorisation within an academic context is a plus;
• Experience with spin-off trajectories based on academic results is a plus;
• Experience in managing a team is a plus;
• Knowledge of technology transfer processes required to valorize academic research results and available technology, as well as experience in managing a broad project portfolio is an advantage;
• Experience with EU projects and related administration is also an advantage, including intellectual property management;
• Given the challenging position in both national and international contexts, it is important that you are fluent in English. Extra knowledge of Dutch is a plus.

What we offer:

• An employment contract of indefinite duration, depending on positive evaluations and available budgets, appointed at the University of Antwerp. After 1 year, there is a first evaluation.
• A full-time gross monthly salary of Valorisation Manager with a salary scale for postdoctoral researcher or lecturer. You can consult the pay scales here .
• A dynamic and stimulating environment;
• Flexible working hours;
• 40 days of leave per year and closing week between Christmas and New Year;
• Free commuting by public transport;
• Possibility of a bicycle allowance;
• Startdate: as soon as possible.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy up to and including April 22, 2024  via the online application platform of the University of Antwerp. Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to add the following attachments:
  • (1) a motivation letter and
  • (2) your CV and that until April 22, 2024  at the latest.
• The selection committee will review all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. Once a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. We ask you to take this date into account in your calendar: May 3, 2024 in the morning.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, you can consult the Frequently Asked Questions or email [email protected] .
• For information about the IOF, please contact Jurgen Joossens (Tel. 03 265 30 25, [email protected] );
• If you have any questions about the position, please contact Erik Mannens, ([email protected] ).

The University of Antwerp is a family-friendly organisation, with a focus on equal opportunities and diversity.