Effective Technology Transfer Offices

Combining best practices, empirical studies and the authors’ own research on technology transfer offices (TTOs), technology transfer, ecosystems and scientists in the principal investigator role, this book presents a business model framework for TTOs. From a practitioner’s perspective the business model framework captures key elements of TTOs’ strategic and operational activities that are needed for effective management and leadership. Moreover, the frameworkaddresses central issues including strategy, organisational structure, staff and resources, activities, mechanisms, policy and procedures, and evaluation and outcomes, while also consideringcontextual factors that directly and indirectly affectTTOs, namely thecommercialisation culture and ethos,as well as researchers’ commitment, awareness and motivation. For each element of the framework, the book outlines the key success factors and facilitating factors that enable effective technology transfer.

Demystifying technology transfer—an increasingly important but little-understood aspect of research universities' mission. How do we transfer the brilliance of university research results into new products, services, and medicines to benefit society? University research is creating the technologies of tomorrow in the fields of medicine, engineering, information technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. These early-stage technologies need investment from existing and new businesses to benefit society. But how do we connect university research outputs with business and investors? This process, Tom Hockaday explains, is what university technology transfer is all about: identifying, protecting, and marketing university research outputs in order to shift opportunities from the university into business. In this detailed introductory book—a comprehensive overview of and guide to the subject—Hockaday, an internationally recognized technology transfer expert, offers up his insider observations, opinions, and suggestions about university technology transfer. He also explains how to develop, strategically operate, and fund university technology transfer offices while behaving in accordance with the central mission of the university. Aimed at people who work in or with university technology transfer offices, as well as anyone who wants to learn the basics of what is involved, University Technology Transfer speaks to a global audience. Tackling a complex topic in clear language, the book reveals the impressive scale of patenting, licensing, and spin-out company creation while also demonstrating that university technology transfer is a commercial activity with benefits that go well beyond the opportunity to make money.

Biotechnology is referred to as one of the key enabling technologies of the 21st century. It has the potential to offer solutions for a number of health and resource-based problems the world is facing, such as unmet medical needs and fossil fuel dependency. Considerable effort and investment has been expended in recent years to try and improve the outcomes of technology transfer in order to fulfill this potential. This book presents seventeen best-practice case studies on the topic of effective technology transfer in biotechnology. The selected case studies focus on technology transfer offices, funding models, incubators, education and clusters. Each presents an overview of an initiative that was deployed in Europe with the aim of supporting and stimulating the transfer of biotechnology discoveries and technologies from research laboratories to society. Readers are provided with a critical assessment of each initiative and policy makers, entrepreneurs, cluster managers and research institute managers will find inspiring lessons they can draw on when developing and implementing similar initiatives elsewhere. These cases are the product of research undertaken as part of the ETTBio (Effective Technology Transfer in Biotechnology) project, co-financed by the European Union (ERDF — European Regional Development Fund) and made possible by the INTERREG IVC Programme. ETTBio commenced in January 2012 and concluded in December 2014. Contents:Technology Transfer Office (TTO):Case Study 1: A Look Inside Imperial College's TTOCase Study 2: Technology Transfer at VIBCase Study 3: The Creation of a New Technology Transfer OfficeCase Study 4: A Model for IP Transfer and Shareholding for University Spin-Offs: The "Dresden Model"Funding:Case Study 5: Environmental Success Factors of Imperial College's TTOCase Study 6: The Industrial Research FundCase Study 7: Regional Innovation Vouchers as an Effective Tool for Supporting Technology TransferCase Study 8: Public Funds for Patenting, Valorization and Science-Industry CollaborationIncubators:Case Study 9: The Imperial BioincubatorCase Study 10: Idea Lab — A Platform for Students to Develop New IdeasEducation:Case Study 11: Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer Education at the Vrije Universiteit BrusselCase Study 12: BioEmprenedor XXI: Guidance Program for Starting Up and Growing Companies in the Life Sciences ArenaCase Study 13: Education for ScientistsClusters:Case Study 14: The Biocat Model: Managing the Bioregion of CataloniaCase Study 15: The Effects of a Cluster on a Spin-Off — The Foundation of AblynxCase Study 16: Brokerage Event: Matching International R&D projectsCase Study 17: The DRESDEN-concept: A Focus on Shared Services and Facilities Readership: Policy makers, entrepreneurs, cluster managers and research institute managers in biotechnology. Key Features:Focuses on effective technology transfer in the European contextTechnology specific focus on biotechnologyIdentifies and provides a detailed examination of best practice case studies in technology transfer across Europe. These include both highly experienced regions such as London and Flanders as well as "newcomers" such as Poland and EstoniaKeywords:Technology Transfer;Biotechnology;Effectiveness;Efficiency;Commercialization;Research;Funding;Cluster;Education;Technology Transfer Offices;Incubation

The Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer reviews the numerous studies of the effectiveness of university technology transfer and presents recommendations on how to enhance effectiveness.

This report presents the results of the first international survey on the patenting and licensing activities of public research organisations in OECD countries.

As state support and federal research funding dwindle, universities are increasingly viewing their intellectual property portfolios as lucrative sources of potential revenue. Nearly all research universities now have a technology transfer office to manage their intellectual property, but many are struggling to navigate this new world of university-industry partnerships. Given the substantial investment in academic research and millions of dollars potentially at stake, identifying best practices in university technology transfer and academic entrepreneurship is of paramount importance. The Chicago Handbook of University Technology Transfer and Academic Entrepreneurship is the first definitive source to synthesize state-of-the-art research in this arena. Edited by three of the foremost experts in the field, the handbook presents evidence from entrepreneurs, administrators, regulators, and professors in numerous disciplines. Together they address the key managerial and policy implications through chapters on how to sustain successful research ventures, ways to stimulate academic entrepreneurship, maintain effective open innovation strategies, and improve the performance of university technology transfer offices. A broad and ambitious work, the handbook offers comprehensive coverage for universities of all types, allowing them to confidently handle technology commercialization and further cultivate innovation.

In recent years, there have been numerous studies of the effectiveness of university technology transfer. Such technology transfer mechanisms include licensing agreements between the university and private firms, science parks, incubators, and university-based startups. We review and synthesize these papers and present some pointed recommendations on how to enhance effectiveness. Implementation of these recommendations will depend on the mechanisms that universities choose to stress, based on their technology transfer "strategy." For example, institutions that emphasize the entrepreneurial dimension of technology transfer must address skill deficiencies in technology transfer offices, reward systems that are inconsistent with enhanced entrepreneurial activity and the lack of training for faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students in starting new ventures or interacting with entrepreneurs. Universities will also have to confront a set of issues related to ethics and social responsibility, as they more aggressively pursue technology commercialization. Finally, we suggest some possible theoretical frameworks for additional research.