Mission statement: knowledge and technology transfer

KU Leuven Research & Development (LRD) is the technology transfer office (TTO) of the KU Leuven Association. Since 1972 a multidisciplinary team of experts guides researchers in their interaction with industry and society, and the valorisation of their research results. LRD is a separate entity within the university that aims to promote and support the transfer of knowledge and technology between the university on the one hand, and industry and society on the other hand. In order to do this, LRD offers professional advice about legal, technical as well as business-related issues. The knowledge and technology transfer activities of LRD include:

• Research collaboration: professional advice to determine opportunities (innovation advice & technology brokerage) and to negotiate research agreements, such as defining a workplan, pricing, intellectual property rights, etc.;
• Intellectual property rights managment: an active patent and licensing policy is pursued with respect to university research results. This allows LRD to generate funds for further scientific research;
• Creation of new research-oriented and innovative spin-off companies: professional advice and access to venture capital, through the Gemma Frisius Fund KU Leuven, and accommodation in the incubators and in science parks for entrepreneurs who want to set up a business that makes use of the university's knowledge or technology;
• Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation by stimulating networking initiatives such as Leuven.Inc (Leuven Innovation Networking Circle) and technology clustering such as DSP Valley and LSEC (Leuven Security Excellence Consortium);
• Regional development: in close collaboration with the city of Leuven, the province of Vlaams-Brabant, and the Flemish and European government, LRD supports the development of a favourable climate for knowledge-driven entrepreneurship and innovation. Leuven is also part of the ELAt-network which connects the knowledge regions of Eindhoven, Leuven and Aachen and constitutes a European technological top region.