Setting up a Technology Transfer Office. Establishing a technology transfer office is a major undertaking that needs proper planning and infrastructure to succeed.. Policies, resources, staffing and above all the commitment of the senior administration are all important factors. In order to optimize the office and achieve success, issues such as procedure development, successful practices, faculty education and community involvement also play an equivalent role.
Managing Relationships in Technology Transfer. Many different activities fall under the umbrella of technology transfer, with office members routinely in contact with a variety of stakeholders. This course is designed to provide technology transfer professionals with the skills and tools necessary to work with a variety of stakeholders such as faculty, students, administration, industry, non-profits, economic development agencies, and government.
Essential of Business Development. Universities have become proactive in reaching out to companies in order to create strategic partnerships. In order to approach companies, it is necessary to develop an internal business development strategy and define the goals and objectives of the business development efforts. This course will provide participants with ways to create and foster their business development efforts by focusing on strategic planning and developing a culture inside the university that is receptive to working with industry.
Developing an E-commerce Licensing Platform for Technology Transfer. Patent licensing is a hit and miss proposition. There is no guarantee a patent will be licensed and, if so, no guarantees that a product will be launched and produce a predictable revenue stream. While patent activities are a critical component of technology transfer, many offices fail to realize that there are methods to monetize university assets that can produce year-to-year running revenue. Assets such as tangible materials, programs, software, and methods can be leveraged to create a new and more predictable source of income for your office. Learn how to leverage these resources to create a direct e-licensing, subscription licensing, and academic or clinical licensing platform to help guarantee that your office can generate long-term sustaining revenue. Discover your university’s hidden assets and learn how to turn monetize them. Topics covered will include discovering assets, pricing and positioning, program and database platform licensing,
The Ethics of Technology Transfer. Technology transfer rests at the intersection of science, business and law. As such, each area has specific ethical considerations which in technology transfer may conflict with each other. Conflict of interest for faculty in sponsored research and startup companies needs to be managed; technology transfer offices face conflict and ethical consideration with respect to decisions that may benefit the institution but harm the inventors; is it imperative to adhere to AUTM’s “9 Points to Consider when Licensing University Technologies”; allocating resources for patent protection; responsibility to inventors; responsibilities to the institution; and, conflict between researchers and technology transfer staff are some of the issues that are part of everyday decisions that need to be addressed.
Branding & Strategies to Promote the Technology Transfer Office. Just as in business establishing a brand for your technology transfer is important. A brand is more than just a logo and a website. A brand conveys the way you treat your clients i.e. the inventors and innovators in the university and how deal with external stakeholders such as companies, government, investors, and the community. To create a good brand for the technology transfer office the needs of each of these stakeholders needs to be considered and addressed in balance with the needs of others. Communication strategies, regarding roles, value process; engaging with stakeholders; media and collateral; and, the performance of the office all play a role on building the brand and communicating an image of the technology transfer office.
Developing Strategic Partnerships for a University. There is an increasing need in both industry and academia to create strategic partnerships. Industry needs access to early stage research, and universities need development partners. In order to develop these types of strategic partnerships it is important to know the responsibilities, roles, goals and objectives of the respective partners to craft an appropriate agreement. Using case studies and examples, this course will walk participants through the process of developing, negotiating and managing strategic partnerships.
Economic Development Considerations of Technology Transfer. With an increasing emphasis on the creation of start-ups, universities became an integral part of economic development strategies in many areas. Learn about the reality of startups in the innovation ecosystem, and the infrastructure that is required to support their development, how to work with state and regional governments, and managing the expectations and relationships for politicians.
International Technology Localization and University Incubators: R&D, Consultancy, Development, and Manufacturing. Technology transfer occurs across borders, but the impact is felt locally. Further, and enhanced innovation ecosystem permits the localization of the innovations being commercialized by providing the essential elements necessary for the success of the venture. These elements include business and science parks, resources for development, and facilities for manufacturing. University incubators and accelerators fit in to this ecosystem by providing a bridge for startup companies and small and medium enterprises to move from research and development to manufacturing. An important consideration is the level of support and resources provided by the university.
