VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL SPIN-OFF NETWORK
  • University of Santiago de Compostela

    The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) is a Research University with a long-standing academic tradition built on scientific innovation, social engagement and internationalisation. Founded in 1495, USC is rich in historical, cultural and natural heritage sites located in its two campuses in the cities of Santiago de Compostela and Lugo. Its historical background, as well as its environmental surroundings, have transformed USC into a forward-looking institution determined to contribute to society through research, dissemination, and application of knowledge by adopting a social, economic and environmentally sustainable approach. To this end, internationalisation is a key element of USC´s strategy concerning attracting specialised international talent, improving scientific and academic standards, and exchanging good practices with other higher education institutions.
    In 2018, USC researchers obtained the Special Jury Prize in the Arquímedes National Research Awards in the fields of genomics and ecology, respectively. USC is among the nine Spanish universities included in the 2018 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University on the basis of academic development, highly acknowledged researchers and papers published in scientific journals, amongst the ranking criteria. In 2017, the USC was acknowledged by the European Commission, through the EURAXESS-Research in Motion, with the "HR Excellence in Research" award. This award identifies the institutions and organisations as providers and supporters of a stimulating and favourable working environment for researchers.
    Moreover, the USC is in the vanguard of promoting the funding of university enterprise and knowledge. It has managed to attract the interest of other universities and the backing of national investors, in order to create venture capital societies at the service of university research. Currently, USC is the 6th university in research and in the number of patents applied for at a national level.
    With 25183 students enrolled in 2018-2019, the university offers modern facilities and a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses: USC has 30 faculties and schools, 27 research centres, 62 master degrees, 55 PhD programmes and 49 official undergraduate degrees. Among the official courses offered at USC, there are three joint Erasmus Mundus postgraduate programs such as the Erasmus Mundus Masters Crossways in European Humanities, the Erasmus Mundus Master in Lexicography (EMLex) and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate in Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Innovation (NanoFar).
    As a result of pursuing academic excellence, USC has been awarded with an International Campus of Excellence: Campus Vida (focused on Life Sciences -Medical Sciences, Medical Technology, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing, Veterinary, Biology, Physics and Chemistry). International Campuses of Excellence represent a new concept where the interaction of universities with research and technological centres, scientific and technological parks, businesses and other agents will develop territorial education, research and innovation communities oriented towards international excellence. Following this path of international academic excellence, USC has also created Campus Terra (Earth Sciences), a campus focused on becoming an international scientific reference on Agricultural and Rural Development by means of environmental, economic and social sustainability.

    USC´s commitment towards achieving the highest accountability standards has been consistent over time, as USC was the first Spanish university to obtain the ISO 9001 certification for the academic area; presenting the Social Responsibility Report; with graduates who occupy the post of radio physics and of intern psychology in the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, since 2010, the European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE) has acknowledged USC´s efforts as an example of good practice regarding Gender Mainstreaming in Research Institutions Self-Regulation.

    Office for Technological Transfer and Entrepreneurship (AVTE)
    The USC’s Office for Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (AVTE) aims to make research results have an impact on society through its incorporation into processes, products or services.
    The origin of this office dates back to 1989 and during these 25 years has helped the USC to be listed among the 10 best Spanish universities in technology transfer and innovation. AVTE users are:
    - USC researchers interested in the task of making possible that the new knowledge generated by their research activity has an impact on society.
    - Innovative companies demanding new technologies or investors interested in focusing on the development of new products, processes or services.
    - Entrepreneurs of the university community who are interested in starting a new business project based on knowledge.
    AVTE’s staff works jointly with the research team in activities related to the identification of results with commercial potential, its evaluation, its protection (patents or others) and license. The creation of companies based on research results (spin-off) is also one of the areas of AVTE.
    The AVTE is also responsible for finding, negotiating and managing license agreements with companies. A license agreement of a technology usually includes the following terms:
    USC’s Transfer Accelerator
    This program has as objective to progress in maturation of research results, by making easier the transference of results to the social and economic environment following the experiences of other national and international activities such as those introduced in the meeting: "Valorización de resultados de investigación: Fondos Proof of Concept" (link).
    The “Transfer Accelerator” program is open to all the research groups of all knowledge areas that have identified some research outcome with transfer potential.

    USC’s Spin-Offs
    3edata Ingeniería Medioambiental is a spin-off from Campus Terra in Lugo, offering services based on data capture from unmanned air vehicles (UAV). 3edata equipment for aerial work of multispectral sensors includes multispectral sensor that enable conducting technical studies and projects in the agroforestry field wherein obtained algorithms and models are applied.
    http://www.3edata.es/
    AYeconomics is an Universidade de Santiago de Compostela spin-off specializaed in quality research and recommendations in the area of socioeconomic public policies. The promoter team has developed innovative methodologies which allow to develop impact analysis with scarce information (PATH-RAS) and spatial analysis (EVAL-SET).
    https://ayeconomics.com/
    Biostatech's team is made up specialists with experience in the application of statistical methods to the life and health sciences. It has various products of advice and training, which respond to the distinct needs of researchers. These products include the design of experiments, data analysis, the preparation of technical reports, and the development of scientific publications.
    http://www.biostatech.com/
    Celtalga Extract is a company dedicated to the production of antioxidant extracts obtained from seaweeds processing. These extracts have applications in the cosmetic industry, mainly as an active ingredient in formulations.
    http://www.celtalga.com/
    Chemantec is service-based a company in the field of analytical testing and consulting to determine the safety of products consumed by final clients. Its activity focuses on food security although also has proposals to act in other sectors: pharmaceutical, cosmetic and others.
    http://www.chemantec.com/
    DART develops equipment for the evaluation of radiotherapy treatments applied to patients with tumors. The technology exploited by the company grew out of the Research Group of Radiophysics of the USC.
    http://dart-dosimetry.com/inicio/
    Deroceras is focused on the application of new technologies for the integral control of slugs and snails damage in horticultural crops and in the search of new biopesticides that mitigate the effect of this type of pest.
    http://deroceras.com/
    Geneaqua Genetic Technology for Aquaculture focuses on providing genetic services to aquaculture enterprises, with the aim of improving their production in a profitable and sustainable way through the application of genetic technology.
    http://www.geneaqua.com/inicio/
    i-Grape produces natural and organic extracts obtained from grape bagasse employing sustainable environmental techniques. These extracts have antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
    http://www.i-grape.es/
    Imagames commercializes a platform to develop gamification campaign, which allows to design such campaigns in a very easy way. Gamification consist in the application of game techniques to non-game environments such as education, training, customer loyalty, motivation, etc.
    http://www.imagames.com/
    HGBeyond is a company dedicated to the development of a new material suitable for the manufacture of soft contact lenses useful for delivery of compounds in a controlled and sustained manner over time in the ocular surface. Thus, it focuses on the development of contact lenses with high comfort and medicated contact lenses.
    http://www.hgbeyond.com/
    MDUSE develops advanced and original software software for simulating and analyzing the dynamic and structural behavior of molecules and molecular aggregates. It offers personalized computational studies of particular molecular systems suitable for designing new materials or molecular basis devices for optimizing industrial processes. The techniques used by MDUSE are mainly based on mulstiscalar molecular dynamic simulations.
    http://mduse.com/es
    Nanogap is a company dedicated to the development of nanomaterials manufactured from complex chemical processes. Nanomaterials have applications such as development of electrically conductive materials, fotoluminescentes materials, antimicrobial additives for paints and plastics, or a potential new therapeutic treatment for cancer.
    http://www.nanogap.es/
    SITUM - A lot of indoor localtion technologies are oriented to be used in particular environments and require a high cost specific hardware. Situm has developed a precise and robust multi-sensor technology that can be used anywhere, aboiding the used of additional hardware.
    http://www.situm.es/
    Software 4 Science Developments (S4SD) provides solutions focused on analysis and simulations of Isothermal Tritiation Calorimetry experiments (ITC), Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and absorption and emission of light.
    http://www.software4science.com/
    TasteLab is a technology-based consultancy company oriented towards the study of products and consumers from a sensorial and innovative point of view. TasteLab looks for the sensations, emotions and motivations which move consumers to select a product or trademark. TasteLab provides precious information for companies that want to be competitive.
    http://tastelab.es/
    Xuntos, atención psicológiaca y psiquiátrica offers comprehensive care for mental health problems at different stages of life: childhood, adolescence and adults up to age 80.

    USC’s Spin-off Financing
    UNIRISCO GALICIA is a capital risk company which, under the initiative of the University of Santiago, was established in November 2000 with the aim of promoting the creation of companies that take advantage of the knowledge generated by the University, through temporary investment in their capital or other financial instruments, always under the criteria of profitability and job creation.
    http://www.unirisco.com/
    ViaGalicia is a program of acceleration for the development of business ideas, which provides entrepreneurs and start-ups support and assistance. They provide capital seed, training through a network of mentoring, infrastructure and intensive counseling.
    https://www.zfv.es/viagalicia
    Zarpamos is an accelerator/incubator for software projects, in the field of Internet and mobile apps. Zarpamos provides experts in graphic design, programming, online marketing, content development, business development, legal, administrative and financial advice and market research to internationalization.
    http://zarpamos.com/
    USC’s Incubation
    UNINOVA is the incubator of innovative and technology-based companies promoted by the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela and the Council of Santiago. It was created in 1999 with the aim of promoting the creation of enterprises at the University environment.
    http://www.uninova.org/
    USC’s Research Institutes
    • Galician Language Institute (ILG)
    • Acuiculture Institute
    • Agricultural Biodiversity And Rural Development Institute (IBADER)
    • Ceramics Institute
    • Educational Science Institute (ICE)
    • Institute of Criminology
    • Galician Studies and Development Institute (IDEGA)
    • Nutritional Research and Analysis Institute
    • Technological Research Institute
    • Mathematics Institute
    • Institute of Legal Medicine (INCIFOR)
    • Galician Institute for High Energy Physics
    USC’s Specific Research Centres
    • Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials Research Centre
    • Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases Research Centre
    • Life Sciences and Technologies Research Centre
    USC’s Own Research Centres
    • Centre for Cooperative Studies(CECOOP)
    • Centre for History Studies in the City
    • Security Studies Center (CESEG)
    • Center for Studies on Western Sahara (CESO)
    • Centre for Tourism Studies and Research (CETUR)
    • Centre for Film Studies (CEFILMUS)
    • Research Centre for Emerging Cultural Processes and Practices (CIPPCE)
    • Centro Integral de Análise e Resolución de Conflitos (CIARCUS)
    • Gumersindo Busto Interdisciplinary Centre for American Studies
    • Interdisciplinary Centre for Feminist Reseach and Gender Studies (CIFEX)
    • Centro de Responsabilidad Social, Gobierno Corporativo y Protección del investidor (CERGI )