Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Drone in field

At Wageningen University & Research (WUR), innovation and entrepreneurship drive sustainable impact. We connect scientific excellence with real-world application, working closely with industry, entrepreneurs, governments, NGO’s and knowledge partners to turn innovative ideas into tangible solutions. 

Discover our technologies available for licensing

Technology licensing

Whether you aim to develop new innovations or improve existing products and services, Wageningen University & Research offers a wide range of technologies available for licensing.

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Making biodegradable plastics from syngas: a biotech solution to waste and plastic pollution

A novel fermentation process was developed to produce biodegradable polyester plastics using syngas (or other CO-rich streams) as a feedstock.

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IceBinders: artificial antifreeze proteins

Wageningen University and Eindhoven University of Technology have collaboratively designed artificial versions of such ice-binding proteins that can prevent the growth of large ice crystals.

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Trapping plant pests: a physical alternative to chemical pesticides

The group of dr. Thomas Kodger has developed a biobased alternative to chemical pesticides: a sprayable sticky liquid that can trap pests on the plant surface.

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ThermoCas9: Stable and efficient gene editing, even at high temperatures

CRISPR-Cas is a microbial adaptive immune system that uses RNA-guided nucleases to cleave foreign genetic elements. CRISPR-based genome editing tools have revolutionised fundamental research and biotechnological applications in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes due to their speed, cost-effectiveness, and precision.

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SHIKIMAX: biotechnological production of aromatics

The chemical industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices to reduce its environmental footprint. Microbial production of key chemical building blocks, such as aromatics, can offer a biobased alternative.

Interested in a license?

The WUR Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) is your central point of contact for licensing, collaboration, and access to a wide range of technologies. KTO supports researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners throughout the process, from initial inquiry to final agreement.

Brechtje Vreenegoor

How does it work?

Wageningen University & Research offers patent licensing under fair and transparent conditions, using basic licensing terms fully aligned with Dutch and EU regulations, including knowledge valorization policies.

View basic licensing terms

The licensing process follows these steps: 

  1. Express of interest - indicate your interest in a technology offer.
  2. Exploration - discuss potential applications and opportunities.
  3. Optional Proof of Concept project - test and validate the technology.
  4. Term sheet - outline the main conditions of the license.
  5. Standard license - formal agreement granting the rights to use the technology.

We also collaborate on further development of the technology and are open to tailored agreements that fit your specific needs. We assist in exploring relevant funding or subsidy opportunities to advance the technology.

Licensing IP to academic spin-offs       

By facilitating the development of academic spin-offs, WUR offers researchers and entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring research-driven solutions to society.  WUR adheres to the Dutch National IP Deal Term Principles for licensing IP to academic spin-offs.

View National IP deal terms

Explore investment opportunities

Academic spin-offs

Looking for opportunities to invest in innovative ventures and the further development of new technologies or sustainable solutions? Take a closer look at some of our featured academic spin-offs.

Examples of WUR spin-offs (5)

Researcher records plant growth with BABETTE
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A time machine for plant growth - BABETTE

Researcher Johan Bucher (WUR), together with colleagues Matthijs Brouwer, Rick Hendriksen, Richard Visser, and Gerrit Polder, developed a modular platform called BABETTE, designed to capture the development and growth of plants in great detail.

A woman sits at a table where packaged cowpeas lie
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Afropulse – social enterprise with tangible impact

What started as academic research has grown into a social enterprise with tangible societal impact. Elisabeth Obeng, founder of Afropulse, Italian Born and daughter of Ghanaian diaspora parents, experienced the inequality between Africa and Europe early in life. After completing her studies at Wageningen University & Research, she saw agriculture as a bridge, connecting continents through honest food and fair trade.

Co-founder Corjan van den Berg and colleague
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Revyve creates sustainable food ingredients from side streams

Revyve, co-founded by former assistent professor at Wageningen University & Research Corjan van den Berg, creates sustainable food ingredients from natural microorganisms, mainly yeast.

Three men from NoPalm Ingredients each show a bottle with NoPalm products
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Collaborating on a sustainable and circular alternative to palm oil – NoPalm Ingredients

Potato peels, sugar beet waste, brewer's grains, rejected vegetables. For one company, it's waste; for Wageningen-based NoPalm Ingredients, located at Business & Science Park Wageningen, it's raw material for making oils and fats.

Two researchers stand on either side of each other working in the lab
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Deep tech WUR spin-off Scope Biosciences focuses on CRISPR-based diagnostics

CEO Niek Savelkoul of Scope Biosciences, a Wageningen-based spin-off developing revolutionary diagnostic tests, feels right at home within the Wageningen ecosystem. “We’re right in the middle of a hub of talent and knowledge.

Presentation Starthub

Join our entrepreneurial community

Starthub Wageningen

Starthub Wageningen is the incubator of Wageningen University & Research, supporting entrepreneurial ideas and facilitating the development and growth of new ventures.

Discover Starthub Wageningen

Read more (5)

Drone photo of Campus Wageningen
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Wageningen at the forefront

Wageningen has excelled in securing prestigious European Innovation Council (EIC) grants. These grants, offering up to €2.5 million, are part of the Horizon Europe programme and are designed to support promising deep-tech startups. The competition is fierce, and the chances of success are slim. Why does Wageningen's startup ecosystem perform so well? And who are the startups shaping our future, standing out as the fortunate few among the hundreds of applications submitted each year?

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Support Entrepreneurship

With donor support, we foster entrepreneurship within Wageningen University & Research. Our young entrepreneurs use their Wageningen knowledge to find answers to societal problems. We help launch and develop more initiatives in the agri-food sector—from idea to working prototype. We help impact-driven startups find alternative revenue models and enable promising startups to incubate faster.

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Wageningen Impact Catalyst

The Wageningen Impact Catalyst supports entrepreneurs at WUR with funding, knowledge, and guidance to turn innovative ideas into successful startups.

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Entrepreneurship education

The WU offers a BSc minor and an MSc track to further develop your entrepreneurial mindset during your studies.

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Partner up for impact

Collaborate with Wageningen University & Research on applied, practical research that leads to sustainable solutions.