The network of regional tech transfer offices in France added a combined 97 new spinouts to their portfolios last year, bringing the total to 672.

Réseau SATT, the France-based network of regional tech transfer offices, has announced its consolidated results for 2021 and revealed the creation of a combined 97 new spinouts throughout the year.

The network’s total number of spinouts now stands at 672 and they have raised a combined €1.18bn ($1.34bn at current exchange rates) to date. The offices also identified 1,737 projects and inked 245 new licences, bringing those totals to 16,357 and 1,452 respectively. Additionally, the network has now secured 3,602 patents.

Réseau SATT was established in 2012 to centralise and streamline technology transfer at public institutions across France. Together, the 13 offices tap into more than 150,000 researchers and the network celebrated its 500th spinout in 2020.

News of the continued success was further underlined by a separate announcement that Montpellier University Hospital (CHU) and Montpellier Cancer Institute (ICM) had become the latest shareholders of SATT AxLR, responsible for academic labs in the Mediterranean area of France’s Occitanie region.

Philippe Nerin, president of SATT AxLR, commented: “I am very pleased to welcome our two new shareholders, Montpellier University Hospital and Montpellier Cancer Institute, after many years of fruitful collaboration.

“The research excellence developed by these healthcare institutions, combined with SATT AxLR’s know-how in innovation engineering and its investment capacities, will accelerate the development of innovations with high potential for the benefit of patients.” [translated from French by Global University Venturing]

Thierry Heles

Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).