Global University Venturing examines the technology transfer and university venturing scenes of innovation hotbeds around the globe to provide an overview and ascertain trends, issues and developments. In this issue, we look at eastern Europe and in-depth at Russia, Finland and Poland.

Before moving on to our main focus of Russia, Poland, and Finland, it is worth taking a look at the region as a whole. Unlike previous focuses on the UK and Scandinavia, and continental western Europe and Ireland, the rest of Europe presents a somewhat bleak landscape for technology transfer after its emergence from the break up of the Soviet Union more than 20 years earlier.

With the exception of Finland – considered part of Scandinavia but held back for…