简介

许多知识经济体，经常面对世界级学术研究成果无法商业化的不幸落差。为了针对这类落差，作者找出德国诸多因应此类问题方案之一，以寻求可能解决之道。为德国联邦政府所用来扶植学界、业界、政策间合作倡议，为人所知最成功的当属EXIST。

1990年代，德国联邦政府体认到，未能善用世界级研究成果，肇因于德国大学与研究机构欠缺完善的创业文化。

为了呼应这项问题，联邦教育研究部（Federal Ministry of Education and Research）启动并补助EXIST倡议，现在则由联邦经济技术部（Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology）主掌。

EXIST 初始阶段

始自1997年，德国联邦教育研究部启动创意竞赛。要求一个区域中，学界、业界、政策界，都至少有一位参与的三方合作。上百份申请案中，有十二个区域的参选队伍入围，每队获得十万欧元补助，得以准备最终评比。1998年五队胜出，这五个区域队伍非常多元化，各自有不同的行动概念、起始条件与各种强调重点。五个队伍共获得总数两千一百五十万欧元的联邦政府补助，订定在1998到2001年间完成使命。

期间，五个队伍的计划不光有各自的组织架构，EXIST计划也提供五个区域跨学科支持。

首先，这些区域计划，获得名重学界的Fraunhofer系统技术与创新发展机构（Fraunhofer-Intitut for Systemtechnick und Innovationsforchung (ISI)）科学支持研究。并且，每季出版新闻报EXIST NEWS，分享不同区域发展的点子。

EXIST 种子基金

2000年EXIST种子基金（EXIST SEED FUND）启动（见图），目的是提供学生、研究生（申请经费起5年内可毕业者）以及年轻研究助理财务支持，以助发展商务点子，并准备开展他们自己的公司。基金并设有顾问董事会，成员来自学界、业界与财务领域专家。基金也要求申请人必须由某一大学导师指导，而申请人也必须能自由取用某高等教育机构的资源（译者按：申请人应当是学生或是研究人员身分）。EXIST种子基金更要求申请人在发展六个月后，必须将他们的点子卖出，基本上"贩卖"就是对他们身为创业家在点子和适用性上的回馈。

EXIST种子基金使创业者的风险降低，以一年的财务支持、发展个人创业技巧，以及将商业点子发展成商业计划，许多热切的创业家因此受到激励。

EXIST HighTEPP

EXIST种子基金，开始只在五个得奖区域施行；但自2005年起，全德国的所有大学也都享有这项计划。

除了EXIST种子计划，EXIST还提供EXIST HighTEPP。这是一个研究所计划，定位在教育创业者如何开始事业。这计划目的是，提供更高等教育机构的起始导向训练。EXIST HighTEPP与备受敬重的伙伴如VC 公司、新创公司、管理顾问以及既成技术公司密切合作，提供跨学科领域的管理技巧。

五个区域计划

EXIST的五个区域计划分别是

• Bizeps
• Dresden exists
• GET UP
• KEIM
• PUSH!

区域计划摘要表

五个区域计划的摘要表（见表格）中，第一横行Bizeps、Dresden exists、GET UP、KEIM、PUSH，标示了五个区域计划的名称。左边第一纵行，分别标示了区域定义、大学与研究机构、人口与学生数、网络类型、永久网络伙伴数目、及成员等等。

EXIST第二阶段

自2002年，十个区域入选加入EXIST计划。所得联邦经费明显较少（一千万欧元），但却有幸受到之前五个区域参与者的指导。所有参加者分享前人的最佳范例，目前的EXIST 伙伴关系，几乎是二十个。

EXIST第三阶段

基础建设与创业文化已然在参与区域间建立，现行EXIST的目的，是专注在使得计划更坚强。目的是在，发展大学与研究机构创业的特殊计划，得以受选并获得财物支持。

结语

EXIST计划接近尾声，相对联邦政府的起始状况来看，已有相当大程度的目标业已达成。

EXIST计划，成功创造了德国大学中，教育、研究与行政体系间的永续创业文化。EXIST帮助学术研究彻底利用商业机会；而且，EXIST培育了大量的商业点子，由大学与研究机构所产出并具潜力。

最后，EXIST让知识为基的创始企业数目快速增加 ，因此确保并且制造了新的且永续的工作。

Introduction:

PRC, like many other knowledge-based economies, is often faced with the unfortunate inconsistency between its world class academic research result, on the one hand, and the inability to commercialize such research results, on the other hand.

In an attempt to find a possible "cure" to this inconsistency, writer explored one of the many programs Germany has employed to address their problem.  Probably the most successful initiative utilized by the German Federal Government to foster the collaboration between Academia, Business, and Policy is known as EXIST.  

During the late 90’s, the German Federal Government acknowledged that the lack of exploiting its world class research was due to an insufficient entrepreneurial culture in German Universities and research institutes.

In addressing this problem, the EXIST initiative was launched and subsidized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and it is currently administered by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

In this article, writer gives a brief overview of the various phases of EXiST.
The various regional programs under EXIST, will be described in more detail in a follow-up article.

The first phase of EXIST:

To foster a more thriving collaboration between German academia and business, the German Federal Ministry of Education launched a competition of ideas in 1997. It required a cooperation of at least 3 different partners from a region, including at least one partner from a higher education institute, one from business, and one from policy.

Initially, more than 100 applications were submitted, but these were narrowed down to 12 regional finalist. The finalists were invited to present complete business plans showing how they planned to reach their goals. Participants were specifically asked to submit letters of commitment from business, research and policy to support the regional programme financially or in kind. The 12 regions each received approximately €100,000 to prepare their final presentation.

Then, in 1998, five winning partnerships were chosen from the 12 finalists. What was significant at that stage is that the diversity of the regions were clearly reflected in the diversity of concepts for action, starting conditions and varied emphasis submitted by each region. Each region differed from the others in structure and organization. The five winning regions received € 21.5 mil (together in total) from the Federal Government between 1998 and 2001 to fulfill their commitments.

While each regional programme had its own structure and organisation, the EXIST programme provided some interdisciplinary support to all 5 regions.

First, the regional programs received scientific support research from the esteemed Fraunhofer-Intitut for Systemtechnick und Innovationsforchung (ISI). Furthermore, EXIST NEWS was published quarterly, sharing ideas from developments in the various regions.

In addition, in 2000, the EXIST SEED FUND was started.
The purpose of this programme was to offer financial support for students, graduates (who graduated less than 5 years prior to applying for funding), and young research assistants, to develop their business ideas and to prepare for the setting up of their own companies. EXIST SEED was advised by the EXIST Advisory Board, who consisted of experts from the academic world, industry, and finance. EXIST SEED required that
Applicants had to be guided by a mentor at one of the universities and that they should have free access to resources at an institute of higher education. Furthermore EXIST SEED required applicants to "sell" their ideas after six months of development – this "sale" was basically a feedback on their ideas and suitability as entrepreneurs.

EXIST SEED FUND provided reduced risk for entrepreneurs. By offering financial support for one year, development of the individual’s entrepreneurial skills, and competent EXIST network support for the development of a business idea into a business plan, many aspiring entrepreneurs were motivated.

EXIST SEED was initially only available at the 5 winning regions, but since 2005, the programme is available at all German Universities. 
                                                                                     
In addition to the EXIST SEED programme, EXIST also offers EXIST HighTEPP.

Five Regional programs:

The five initial regional programs were:

• Bizeps
• Dresden exists
• GET UP
• KEIM
• PUSH!

Below is a summary of these regional programs. Writer will explore each of these programs in a follow-up article to this one. Note that the summary is bases on information for 2004:

The second phase of EXIST:

Since 2002, an additional 10 regions were chosen to join the EXIST programme. These 10 new regions received considerably less funding from the Federal Government (€ 10 mil), but they’ve had the fortune of being coached by the model 5 original EXIST participants. Best practice records are shared between all the participants of EXIST. Currently, there are now almost 20 EXIST partnerships.

The third phase of EXIST: 

Since the infrastructure and entrepreneurial culture has been established in the participating regions, the current aim of EXIST is to focus on a stronger project nature. Particular programs, which aim at developing entrepreneurship at universities as well as research institutions, are chosen for financial support.

Conclusion:

Nearing the end of the EXIST programme, it can be said that the initial objectives of the Federal Government has, to a large extent, been met.

The EXIST programme has succeeded in creating a sustainable culture of entrepreneurship in education, research and administration in Germany’s Universities.
Furthermore, EXIST has helped to thoroughly utilize the commercial possibilities of academic research. Also, EXIST has helped to nurture the enormous potential of business ideas generated by universities and research institutes. Finally, EXIST has contributed to an escalating number of knowledge based start-ups, as a result securing and generating new sustainable jobs.

Sources:

1. http://www.exist.de/englische_version/index.php#

2. http://www.bmbf.de/pub/exist-status_and_prospects.pdf

3. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/51/60/40208728.pdf