Impact officer EU Action Plan (0,8 FTE)

The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is an internationally oriented university specialized in engineering, science & technology. We are known for our great scientific impact and development of technological innovations. Next to the nine departments, there is a central TU/e organisation to provide innovation support services in the field of strategic partnerships, research support and knowledge valorisation. This highly contributes to the TU/e realizing intensive strategic cooperation with industry, development and acquisition of innovative research projects and support and guidance of high-tech start-ups and spin-offs of the TU/e.

The Gate
The Gate is the valorisation department of the TU/e. In The Gate we prepare and develop tech startups in the first stage of their existence. An information and advice platform, physical and digital, new entrepreneurs can reach out to for a successful take off.
At The Gate, business developers of Eindhoven University of Technology offer honest and independent advice. The goal is to improve the quantity and quality of new high tech startups of the TU/e. An important task is the support for funding for this early phase of a startup.

The TU/e creates impact by knowledge valorisation. This is the process of creating social and economic value from knowledge by linking different areas and sectors and transforming data, know-how and research results into sustainable products, services, solutions and knowledge-based policies that benefit society.

Research Support Network
The TU/e Research Support Network (RSN) is a comprehensive knowledge network on campus that supports researchers throughout all phases of their research & innovation projects. The RSN is organized into two tiers: the first tier consists of Departmental Project Development Offices (PDOs) who provide day-today support close to the researcher and Institute Program Managers (PMs) who support researchers from a thematic/strategic point of view. The second tier, that includes The Gate, consists of experts at central services who offer specialized support to both the first tier support and to researchers directly.

TU/e EU Action Plan
On the request of the Executive Board and as a deliverable of the TU/e 2030 Strategy, a new EU-strategy has been developed by a campus-wide working group, in cocreation with stakeholders at TU/e: the TU/e EU Action Plan.

Goal of the plan is to improve the way TU/e is engaging in EU-research & innovation policies and programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe). We aim to have an integral and coherent approach in which we closely cooperate on campus and where we learn and grow further together. In doing so, we will be compliant with all existing and new EC-regulations and requirements.

The EU Action Plan, which has broad support on all levels within TU/e, is a dedicated and balanced improvement program in which needed new instruments (like info sessions, trainings, workshops, etc.) will be developed. The overall aim is that TU/e and its researchers and support staff will have a high return on effort and optimal visibility, participation and impact in EU R&I programmes.

To this end, amongst others, staff in 4 central services will be extended, including in The Gate. The combined new staff will form an EU Action Plan core-team across these 4 central services; this team will closely collaborate with other staff in central services and with first tier support staff in the Departments & Institutes in various sub-projects towards achieving the goals of the EU Action Plan.

Impact officer EU Action Plan
We are looking for an enthusiastic and seasoned impact professional who wants to share her/his experience with researchers, research support staff and valorisation staff. As Impact officer EU Action Plan you will drive the identification of valorisation opportunities emerging from research-results in our many EU-projects. Able to quickly get to the bottom of a new application area to understand the relevant valorisation opportunities. A professional who is curious about new innovations, driven to commercialize innovations and establish partnerships. You have a relevant network that you use to achieve concrete results. Your strong business development and collaboration skills enable you to persuade and negotiate effectively, and to maintain relationships. You can make the underlying value of knowledge clear like no-one else. You will also help setting up and running a structured training programme for researchers as well as a training programme for support staff.

You will be hierarchically positioned in the team of The Gate, but content-wise in day-to-day operations be part of the new (cross-service) EU Action Plan team. This role offers a high degree of diversity and autonomy within these teams and the university.

Function description of the Impact officer EU action plan:

• Contribute to the successful execution of TU/e’s EU Action Plan.
• Secure that the TU/e meets EU-requirements on exploitation.
• Organise the exploitation of EU-project-results through various impact-pathways (including scientific advice for policy making).
• Scout, screen and develop possibilities for valorisation from scientific/technological inventions; organize and provide advice.
• Organize and coordinate further valorisation-support in the context of the TU/e knowledge valorisation policy, in order to help achieve the goals of the EU Action Plan of the university.
• Determine the feasibility of valorisation ideas; further develop into new and existing business cases; develop contacts with possible new cooperation partners
• Inform researchers/employees about specific possibilities in the field of knowledge transfer and acquisition
• Develop and connect to financing and innovation platforms and networks in the EU (e.g. EIC, EIT) and beyond.
• Secretary (and further development) of a foreseen TU/e Innovation Radar & Fund (proof of concept fund)
• Help with celebrating successes & collaboration and make (coordinating) project-winners and their impact visible.
• Coordinate and ensuring that all TU/e Focus Areas have a clear oversight for dissemination and strong communication narrative of their impact portfolio, together with our communication department. Orchestrate processes, support FA-coordinators, etc.
• Contribute to a structured training programme for researchers on various aspects of valorisation, as well as for research support staff.
• Closely collaborate with colleagues in the TU/e Research Support Network and other stakeholders on campus (e.g. department- and institute directors).
• Foster well aligned external relations & cooperation of the RSN with key valorisation partners in the region and beyond.

The candidate can have multiple backgrounds, such as scientist, entrepreneur or innovation professional. This background is combined with:

• 5 to 10 years of relevant work experience in developing, commercializing and/or implementing innovations or valorisation.
• Possesses an academic level of thinking and working.
• Is skilled in communication and proficient in conveying and sharing knowledge.
• Is preferably familiar with the European R&I policies, programmes & institutions and has a relevant network.
• Affinity with intellectual property law - in the broadest sense - and licensing.
• Goal-oriented, proactive, organized, hands-on, customer-oriented, analytical, reliable and considered a recognized sparring partner. A feel for organizational sensitivity and an experienced networker.
• Experience with the (academic) world of knowledge valorisation and technology transfer.
• Strong in stakeholder management: able to maintain an effective network with the involved organizations ;experience with developing international networks.
• Leads by example.
• independent and flexible and can work well with colleagues inside and outside the team. Brings stakeholders with different (cultural/international) backgrounds together.
• Good written and oral command of the English and Dutch languages.

The TU/e offers you a position within a dynamic university with a strong focus on new forms of cooperation, both nationally and internationally.

We offer a position for in principle 32 hours. You will start in this function with a one-year contract. If you perform well, this will be converted into a permanent contract.

The TU/e offers:

• Working at an inspiring campus where we work for the benefit of humanity and where you have plenty of room for personal development and growth.
• The salary is in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities and depending on education and work experience, salary scale 12 with a minimum of €5.495 and maximum of €7.056 (CAO-NU).
• An attractive package of fringe benefits, including excellent work facilities, extra holiday allowance 8% in May, end-of-year bonus of 8.3% in December and 41 holidays per year.
• Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance;
• Opportunities for your talent and personal growth and excellent development opportunities