Project R-14349

IOF mandate Data Science Institute (DSI) 2024-2028 (Research)

Based on the current strategic plan, DSI's vision on valorisation and impact will rely on 4 pillars: inventions, a growing software engineering team, innovative business models, collaborations with industrial partners. DSI's strategy will focus on creating IP in the form of excellent software with a solid scientific and methodological foundation. DSI will focus on innovative software creation, for which a patent application is not always desirable. Instead, our focus shall be on creating value through innovative business models that take into account the opportunities offered by open science or by using trade secrets as an opportunity for licensing, spin-off creation, and consultancy. New valorisation strategies for software tools cannot be developed without the necessary support from a strong IOF Team, especially since each software might need a tailor-made business model and IP protection strategy. DSI has a strong consultancy team that has grown to be a respected and preferred partner in our network. Our ambition is to further build upon this track record in the future. However, we feel it is important to diversify our valorisation effort and start exploring other valorisation strategies more vigorously. The growth in the operational KTT in the period 2024-2028 can only be obtained through the activities of a strong team of business developers in synergy with the expected growth of both the DSI consultancy team and the data science/software engineering capacity at DSI

01 January 2024 - 31 December 2028