What we offer

Over the past decade, iKNOW-WHO has focused on “Collaborative University Competitions”. Our mission is to transform multilateral industry-academia partnerships into rapidly growing client value – so if you have a challenge, please bring it to our attention. The more it is deemed impossible to solve, the happier we will be to do it!

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How we work

We design and manage Collaborative University Competitions; enabling breakthrough innovation through multilateral industry-academia cooperation for more than 15 years.

Read about our method

  • 33+
    CHALLENGES SOLVED
  • 50+
    Breakthroughs patent protected
  • 100+
    Universities involved
  • 200+
    University teams involved

Our clients:

Philips' Head of Research & Alliances on his Experience with iKNOW-WHO

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Dr. Sigvald Harryson

Founder & CEO | Switzerland

Sigvald Harryson is a Professor of Disruptive Innovation at HULT Business School in San Francisco. He also teaches at HULT in London and Dubai. Founder of HCG, INNOVENTUM and iKNOW-WHO. His first PhD was on Japanese R&D Management and his second one on Breakthrough Innovation. His book DISRUPTING INNOVATION – was recently published in co-authorship with Dr. Johan Roos to describe the iKNOW-WHO-method. See more at iknow-who.com/about/ Languages: SV, EN, FR, DE.
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Dr. Rafal Dudkowski

Managing Partner | Poland

Entrepreneur, manager and consultant with many years of project management, training, consulting and research experience.  Areas of expertise include creation and implementation of Growth Strategies, R&D Management, Industry/University R&D Partnerships, New Product/Business Development, Technology Venturing and Strategic Innovation. Prior experience gained within Booz Allen Hamilton, HCG and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants as well as start-up investor and entrepreneur. Languages: PL, EN, DE.
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Rob Kirschbaum

Chairman | The Netherlands

Robert Kirschbaum graduated from the Technical University of Delft as a Chemical Engineer in 1977, and moved into a 35 year career with DSM to invent and commercialize extreme materials like Dyneema. From 1997, Rob was in charge of the DSM New Business Development Corporation – the “Incubator” of the company, which evolved into the DSM Innovation Center. Rob then continued as VP Open Innovation of DSM until he joined iKNOW-WHO as Chairman of the Board in 2018. Rob received the prestigious Giulio Natta Award and enjoys a visiting lectureship on Corporate Venturing and Entrepreneurship at the ESADE (Barcelona) and the Erasmus University/RSM (Rotterdam). Languages: NL, EN, DE and minor in FR.
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Colin Harvey

COO | UK

Colin Harvey is an experienced professional with a background in the financial services industry.  He has worked in market risk management, developing and implementing analytics for the trading businesses and in trading.  He ran the GBP interest-rate option trading book at Barclays and was a Director in the Credit Trading business at HBOS Treasury Services.  He has interests in behavioural effects in economic decision making, finance and effective learning.  MEng in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Finance, MSc in Behavioural Economics and MBA from London Business School. Languages: EN.
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