‘We truly need this for our future’

Margrethe Jonkman on the importance of a well-stocked innovation pipeline: ‘We truly need this for our future’

As a recognized career path for academics and a fully-fledged third core task for knowledge institutions, valorization has a solid foundation, according to Margrethe Jonkman, Chair of the Executive Board at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. But as long as investments in the corresponding financing instruments lag behind, innovation will ultimately come to little, she warns. ‘We must continue to fill the pipeline with new ideas and talented people who can bring them to fruition.’

There is no doubt that Margrethe Jonkman is a fervent advocate of the importance of innovation in science. ‘Just read the Draghi report and see how fast developments in technology and valorization are progressing outside Europe. We need to accelerate; our competitive position demands it. It is clear that the current challenges are too complex to be addressed with existing resources and technologies. Yet I sense a lack of urgency in The Hague and Brussels. We will need to invest significantly more in key initiatives, such as the Faculty of Impact and demonstrator labs. We need this so badly for our future. In the longer term, it will yield enormous returns. And if we don’t do it, we will have a huge problem in ten years’ time.’

Let’s do this right away!
Building bridges between scientific knowledge and practical application is Jonkman’s great passion. She obtained her PhD in food technology in Wageningen, then worked for many years in R&D and, before joining VU Amsterdam in 2023, held management positions at FrieslandCampina. Represented the nutrition company, she also served on the board of the science funding organisation NWO for several years and was involved in the decision to launch the Faculty of Impact. ‘Let’s do this right away’, was the unanimous verdict when the proposal for a national instrument to stimulate the economic and social impact of scientific research was put on the table in 2021. Three years later, Jonkman, as chair of the steering group, is still closely involved in the further development of the Faculty of Impact.

‘Currently, fifteen people join each year. That number could be 150 if you look at the potential of our academic landscape’

She joined in when (the now former) Minister of Education Eppo Bruins visited the Faculty of Impact during a working session before the summer. The minister was enthusiastic and, like Jonkman herself, was inspired by the fellows’ stories. ‘We are, of course, very happy about the Minister’s excitement, as we are with the positive feedback we receive from the policymakers at the department. But the next step is to translate this into action.’

Eliminate co-financing
Among other things, this would mean finding additional funding. However, Jonkman is saddened to see the opposite happening: the government has made substantial cuts to university funding. Severe budget cuts are affecting the entire scientific field – and therefore also the Faculty of Impact. For example, enrollment is being hindered by the requirement that knowledge institutions contribute a certain amount per participant admitted to the program. In times of austerity, this co-financing is hardly affordable, which makes universities reluctant to register candidates. Removing this co-financing, for example, by allocating additional funds from the ministry, would help. ‘That would be a small step forward, and for now, that would be very important’, Jonkman acknowledges. ‘But what we really need is to take a big leap.’

In her view, this can only be achieved by focusing on serious upscaling. She points to Biotech Booster, a program focused on innovation and commercialization that is financed by the National Growth Fund, which, unfortunately, has since been reduced. ‘What is happening there in biotechnology, we should be doing in at least five or six other areas in which we excel as a country. That means we need to significantly increase the mass at the front end, along with people and ideas to fill those pipelines. The Faculty of Impact is a fantastic tool for this, but on the current scale, it is a drop in the ocean. Currently, fifteen people join each year. That number could be 150 if you look at the potential of our academic landscape. This would reduce the costs per fellow and, more importantly, would make it much more interesting for the participants themselves. They then have many more peers with whom they can exchange ideas and experiences, including those from their own field, who are all going through the same phases.

‘When we talk about successful careers in science, it’s no longer just about research or education, but also about impact’

Less fragmentation, more role models
Jonkman is positive about the collaboration between various organizations in the Netherlands that are committed to innovation. She highlights how the individuals behind Biotech Booster, Techleap’s Academic Startup Competition, and the Faculty of Impact have found common ground. ‘I see that this has been improving in recent years. We regularly utilise the same individuals in training courses or as ambassadors, collaborate more closely in setting up training courses, and bring various initiatives together. That makes the field less fragmented.’
She also sees an increase in the number of role models. ‘When we talk about successful careers in science, it’s no longer just about research or education, but also about impact. Take the Entrepreneurial Scientists platform (Denkers die Doen), for example, which features wonderfully inspiring examples of leading academics who have also made their mark in entrepreneurship. I am sure that this group will continue to expand in the coming years.’

Think like an entrepreneur
This contributes to an important goal of the Faculty of Impact: teaching scientists how to think more entrepreneurially. ‘That’s not the same as becoming an entrepreneur’, she emphasizes. ‘Being the CEO of a company doesn’t have to be the ultimate goal; scientists often don’t enjoy that at all, and besides, there are others who are much better at it. I deliberately avoided becoming the commercial director of a company, as that’s not where my strengths lie. But a more commercial mindset, knowing what it takes to turn an idea into a product or company, where the pitfalls are, where and when to seek help: these are all things you can learn.’ And that already starts while looking for funding: ‘That’s your responsibility as a researcher. It’s not like ordering from McDonald’s; you have to do your own research. All universities have a knowledge transfer office, staffed by individuals who are knowledgeable about the various regulations and guidelines that exist. They are there to facilitate you as a scientist. But you have to take that first step yourself.’

‘I hope our next government takes this seriously and actually invests in it, not only for its earning potential but also for broader prosperity’

Successful startups
Encouraged to look five years ahead, she doesn’t need much time to think. ‘Well, in any case, I hope that by then there will be a government that understands how important valorization is for the future of the Netherlands. One that takes this seriously and actually invests in it, not only for its earning potential but also for broader prosperity. I also hope that by then we will have a whole new generation of impact professors at our universities, who will use inspiring examples to show how well the combination of fundamental science and application can work. And, of course, we will then have great examples of successful start-ups from the first cohorts of the Faculty of Impact, such as those in the medical sector or the field of sustainability. So that we can say: Look, it works! We started small, but now all these promising innovations are emerging from our knowledge institutions, and many participants are now working on the technology of the future.’