Dutch universities present updated 鈥楧eal Terms鈥� for spin-offs
In 2025, Dutch universities introduced updated, broadly applicable and market-aligned IP Deal Terms to accelerate the spin-off process.
The Dutch universities have presented an updated national standard for transferring intellectual property (IP) to academic spin-offs. These so-called National IP Deal Term Principles (2.0) are designed to ensure clear, fair and market-conform agreements between researchers, universities, and young companies. The update鈥攂ased on experiences since the first introduction in 2023鈥攚as launched in 2025.
The deal terms were developed to simplify the often complex and time-consuming negotiation process surrounding IP rights. When researchers end their employment and wish to start their own company based on university-generated knowledge, the deal terms establish which IP rights are transferred and what compensation is provided in return. Transparency, simplicity, and fairness are central to this framework.
According to Margrethe Jonkman, Chair of the Executive Board of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and portfolio holder for valorization at Universities of the Netherlands, the strengthened principles help to accelerate the spin-off process. 鈥淩esearchers, entrepreneurs, and investors can achieve results more quickly, both socially and financially. This strengthens the ability of universities and scientists to capitalize on the positive impact of their research and contribute to a more innovative Netherlands,鈥� Jonkman said.
Refined and expanded agreements
The updated IP Deal Terms are based on experiences with dozens of spin-off trajectories. The new version:
- sharpens the principles based on practical feedback;
- provides more clarity about IP allocation and equity structures;
- ensures a competitive, internationally comparable compensation structure;
- is more broadly applicable than before鈥攏ot only for researchers fully leaving employment, but also in other situations.
All Dutch universities will work with the new agreements. The principles will soon be supported by practical tools, such as legal documents for establishing spin-offs, developed in collaboration with Capital Waters. Most university medical centers (UMCs) will also implement a sector-specific variant.
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Monitoring and collaboration
The application of the deal terms will be periodically monitored by the Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) and Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) of all knowledge institutions. At 果冻传媒, this falls under the KTO team led by Renato Calzone (previously known within RSV as The Gate).
In addition, collaboration between knowledge institutions will be further strengthened through the establishment of the Knowledge Exchange & Entrepreneurship Network 鈥� Netherlands (). This network will focus on further professionalizing knowledge transfer and will work with universities, Techleap, and entrepreneurs to continue evaluating and updating the deal terms where necessary.
More info? National Dutch Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) guidelines and standards or (intranet).