Technology Transfer Professionals Research Articles

Cross-country analysis of the effectiveness of commercialization of scientific research results

The objective of this research is to undertake a comparative analysis of methodologies for evaluating the efficacy of research commercialization across diverse nations, focusing particularly on the United States, Australia, Canada, South Korea, the European Union, and Kazakhstan. The study methodology involved a comparative analysis, commencing with an exhaustive examination of academic and practical resources to pinpoint key organizations involved in research commercialization within the specified countries. Subsequently, after the selection of countries and a systematic scrutiny of these organizations' activities, the methodology endorsed by the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP) was employed to compare and assess commercialization efficiency across varied nations. Results of the study: the study outcomes unveiled common trends and effective assessment approaches, while also identifying deficiencies in Kazakhstan's commercialization evaluation system and offering recommendations for enhancement. The assessment of commercialization metrics in Kazakhstan is hindered by the paucity of comprehensive data, rendering comparisons with global benchmarks, including the ATTP methodology, challenging. However, concerted collaboration among governmental bodies, research institutions, and industrial stakeholders could surmount these hurdles and foster innovative entrepreneurship within the nation. The adoption of alternative research methodologies such as environmental functioning analysis models or regression analysis may enable a more profound evaluation of commercialization efficiency in Kazakhstan, notwithstanding data constraints.

Engaging More Women in Academic Innovation: Findings and Recommendations

Diversity is a key driver of innovation and a critical component of success on a global scale. Countries that deploy strategies to foster greater inclusion of all inventors in the innovation lifecycle will ultimately be best positioned to maximize their gross domestic product and ensure economic prosperity. The U.S. is losing ground because it is not fully engaging a significant portion of the inventive talent pool. According to a 2019 report from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the share of women among all U.S. inventor-patentees is only 12.8%.<br/> In an effort to understand factors that encouraged and discouraged academic women's participation in technology commercialization, a group of technology transfer professionals conducted a survey of academic women involved in innovation, invention and/or entrepreneurship. The 168 respondents were from public and private research institutions of varying sizes from all regions of the U.S. This paper outlines the key findings from the qualitative and quantitative data around the themes that emerged. It also puts forth a set of recommendations based on the survey feedback, follow-up interviews, and the collective experience of technology transfer professionals who work daily with academic innovators. It is our hope that these recommendations will provide valuable insights into concrete actions that can be taken to ensure systemic changes that foster greater engagement of academic women and other under-represented populations in all stages of the innovation lifecycle.

Not just numbers! Improving TTO performance by balancing the soft sides of the TQM

PurposeThis study investigates the role of “soft” factors of total quality management – in terms of empowerment and engagement of employees – in facilitating or hindering organizational performance of the university technology transfer offices.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), multiple regression model to test if empowerment and engagement affect organizational performance of the university technology transfer offices.FindingsThe authors found that “soft” factors of total quality management – in terms of empowerment and engagement – facilitate the improvement of organizational performance in university technology transfer offices.Practical implicationsThe authors’ analysis shows that soft total quality management practices create the conditions for improving organizational performance. This study provides practical implications by showing that, in the evaluation of the technology transfer office, not only the “hard” variables (e.g. number of employees and employee experience) but also the “soft” one (e.g. empowerment and engagement) matter. Therefore, university technology transfer managers or university technology transfer delegates should take actions to promote not only empowering employees but also create a climate conducive to employees' engagement in the university technology transfer offices.Originality/valueWith regards to the differences in organizational performances of university technology transfer offices, several studies have focused their attention on technology transfer professionals in technology transfer offices, but only a few of them have examined the “soft side” of total quality management. Thus, this study examines the organizational goals of technology transfer offices through “soft” factors of total quality management in terms of empowerment and engagement employees.

An Overview on patenting trends and technology commercialization practices in the university Technology Transfer Offices in USA and China

The Technology Transfer Office is critical in translating university research into commercial value. This research paper analyzes the performances of university Technology Transfer Office models as well as their technology transfer mechanisms. The first step of this research project involves conducting patent information searches on databases to investigate academic patenting activities in the USA and China. Many Technology Transfer Offices, have similar intellectual property licensing practices and the involvement of industrial partners throughout the commercialization process. However, during the comparison it is found that the Technology Transfer Office working models varied in several ways. The main difference is that the pace at which patenting is accomplished in the USA and Chinese universities is far more sophisticate. Because of substantial resources and government support, Proof of Concept funding at various stages of technological maturity is steadily developing at universities in the USA and China. Furthermore, both USA and Chinese universities are very active in teaching and incentivizing their faculty and students about the importance of academic entrepreneurship and are well-versed with skilled technology transfer professionals who have all the necessary skills to transfer technology.

Brokering knowledge, monitoring compliance: technology transfer professionals on the boundary between academy and industry

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to discussions about the processes and implications of technology transfer through analysis of the work of technology transfer professionals. The analysis relies on interviews with technology transfer professionals in Israeli universities, coupled with theory from the domains of knowledge brokering, boundary work, and the institutional work approach in new institutional theory. I argue that these professionals undertake two types of boundary work. The first is brokering work, in which they connect academic researchers with industrial partners and translate knowledge across boundaries. The second is maintenance work, a type of institutional work that involves policing and monitoring, to protect the university’s ownership of intellectual property and the normative boundaries of academic science. I reveal the strategies that professionals employ to manage conflicts of interest and of values as part of their ongoing work, and discuss the implications for technology transfer policy and the normative aspect of university-industry relations.

Nurturing entrepreneurs: How do technology transfer professionals bridge the Valley of Death in Japan?

The study aims to clarify the behavioral patterns of technology transfer professionals (TTPs) required in university technology commercialization. In the past, TTPs simply transferred technology using functional skills and experience gained in specific science/business fields; however, now they are often required to be entrepreneurial in the process, as mentioned in the literature and manuals on the TTP's job. However, we know little about what type of behavioral patterns of entrepreneurship are required for TTPs. Through our explorative case studies of veteran TTPs in Japan, we found concrete behavioral patterns within the theoretical framework of effectuation. TTPs start with the means they can use, try to set temporary goals under high uncertainty, raise technological value using affordable resources, and get stakeholders' involvement. In performing these activities, they take control of emerging situations and iterate several trial-and-error processes to deal with contingencies to accomplish their technology transfer projects. We found that entrepreneurial universities require TTPs who possess not only functional skills but also an understanding of how TTPs act to bridge the Valley of Death.

Blueprint for technology transfer in India: opportunities, challenges and the way forward

Public funded research finds its salvation in the Technology transfer space leading to indigenous development, entrepreneurship promotion, and affordable products contributing significantly to economic growth and larger public good. Recognising the importance of innovation in the country, Government of India is investing hugely to support R&D, leading to spurt in the number of publications and patents. However, few patents are licensed and translated into useful products. Analysing the input-output deficit and exploring the opportunities in India for developing affordable healthcare technologies for the world, the authors have evaluated the opportunities and challenges in the technology-transfer arena in India and suggested possible ways to address these challenges. A triple-helix strategy for changes at each level viz. national policy, institutional and human capital, has been proposed to create enabling environment for facilitating national and international technology transfers for global impact. This will be of relevance to policy makers, technology-transfer professionals and academicians.

Success Factors for Creating Spin-Out Companies by South African Publicly Financed Research and Development Institutions: A Resource-Based View Perspective

Technology commercialisation using spin-out companies has shown to be a viable option by publicly financed research and development (R&D) institutions internationally. In South Africa (SA) this trend of spin-out company creation for technology commercialisation is anticipated to be on the rise since the inception of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act number 51 of 2008 (IPR-PFRD Act). This study aimed at trying to understand the factors that influence the successful creation of spin-out companies by SA publicly financed R&D institutions, utilising the RBV as the main theoretical framework. A survey questionnaire was distributed using a purposive sample approach to 49 key individuals (technology transfer professionals) who have been involved in spin-out creation in the past and the response was received from 17 respondents. A mixed methods research methodology was utilised and the data was presented using descriptive statistics and narration. The results of the data indicate a similar pattern to international trends and in some instances unique resource combinations that are relevant to SA.

Success Factors for Creating Spin-Out Companies by South African Publicly Financed Research and Development Institutions: A Resource-Based View Perspective

Technology commercialisation using spin-out companies has shown to be a viable option by publicly financed research and development (R&D) institutions internationally. In South Africa (SA) this trend of spin-out company creation for technology commercialisation is anticipated to be on the rise since the inception of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act number 51 of 2008 (IPR-PFRD Act). This study aimed at trying to understand the factors that influence the successful creation of spin-out companies by SA publicly financed R&D institutions, utilising the RBV as the main theoretical framework. A survey questionnaire was distributed using a purposive sample approach to 49 key individuals (technology transfer professionals) who have been involved in spin-out creation in the past and the response was received from 17 respondents. A mixed methods research methodology was utilised and the data was presented using descriptive statistics and narration. The results of the data indicate a similar pattern to international trends and in some instances unique resource combinations that are relevant to SA.

The Road to Technology Transfer: An Infographic for Stakeholder Communications

The Road to Technology Transfer infographic (http://www.fuentek.com/techtransfer-process-infographic.php) was developed by Fuentek, LLC, to help technology transfer professionals communicate with their stakeholders about the long and complex path from an innovation’s discovery to its commercialization. In creating the infographic, the developers conducted an AMMO analysis of the Audience, Message, Mechanism, and Outcome of the communication effort to guide their work. Because each and every technology transfer effort is unique, and because each institution implements technology transfer in its own way, the infographic developers focused on making it as versatile as possible. Making it generic allowed the infographic to be relevant across many organizations, many types of technologies, and many markets—thereby increasing its potential value to technology transfer professionals communicating with their stakeholders. Keywords: Technology transfer, technology commercialization, intellectual property, patenting, licensing, infographic.

Scientific Prediction and Prophetic Patenting in Drug Discovery.

Pharmaceutical patenting involves writing claims based on both discoveries already made, and on prophesy of future developments in an ongoing project. This is necessitated by the very different timelines involved in the drug discovery and product development process on the one hand, and successful patenting on the other. If patents are sought too early there is a risk that patent examiners will disallow claims because of lack of enablement. If patenting is delayed, claims are at risk of being denied on the basis of existence of prior art, because the body of relevant known science will have developed significantly while the project was being pursued. This review examines the role of prophetic patenting in relation to the essential predictability of many aspects of drug discovery science, promoting the concepts of discipline-related and project-related prediction. This is especially directed towards patenting activities supporting commercialization of academia-based discoveries, where long project timelines occur, and where experience, and resources to pay for patenting, are limited. The need for improved collaborative understanding among project scientists, technology transfer professionals in, for example, universities, patent attorneys, and patent examiners is emphasized.

Technology Transfer Training in the Czech Republic – Pilot of European Certification

Low qualification of Technology Transfer professionals has been identified as a significant obstacle to improvement of TT in the CR. Trainings in this field are numerous but unsystematic and lack necessary quality standards. Situation being similar in many EU countries, EC funded two projects aimed at establishing standards for accreditation of TT training providers and certification of their students. As their outcome EuKTS was launched as EU-wide TT accreditation and certification body. The paper reports implementation of this initiative in the Czech Republic: in three related projects more than 900 students were trained and about 300 obtained the EU certificate.

Licensing lessons learned: if I knew then what I know now

Technology transfer professionals stress the importance of communication, staying informed and having flexible expectations.

The skills base of technology transfer professionals

As the importance of technology transfer activities to the growth and survival of public and private organisations has become evident in recent years, researchers have been paying closer attention to the resources and capabilities such organisations will need in order to compete in markets. Yet it is still unclear what skills that individuals who are considering the various activities and contexts they are part of need. This paper investigates the skills that individual technology transfer professionals generally need and how the importance of each of these skills varies by context. It is based on a multiple-phase qualitative and quantitative study of technology transfer skills at the individual level. Results indicate the importance for technology transfer professionals to possess a range of five particular soft and business skills besides having two hard skills such as those related to intellectual property rights and domain-specific knowledge. Our results also highlight the heterogeneity in skills that technology transfer professional mainly draw on depending on the contexts of which they are part.

Academic Technology Transfer: Tracking, Measuring and Enhancing its Impact

Since the 1980 passage of the US Bayh–Dole Act, academic technology transfer has gained profile globally as a key component of knowledge-driven economic development. Research universities are seen as key contributors. In this article, focusing on the USA and drawing on over twenty years of experience in the field of academic technology transfer in the USA and Canada, John Fraser, a former President of AUTM, the global association of academic technology transfer professionals, uses recently published statistics as a springboard for his perspective on the increasing economic and social importance of the commercialization of discoveries and innovations emanating from academic research. He looks in particular at trends in the means by which transfer is achieved and the search for new and more accurate ways of measuring its effectiveness and impact as well as the ‘success’ of university technology licensing offices.

Societal and economic valuation of technology-transfer deals

The industrial adoption of concepts such as open innovation brings new legitimacy to activities technology-transfer professionals have conducted for over 20 years. This movement highlights the need for an increased understanding of the valuation of intellectual property (IP) and technology-transfer deals. Valuation, though a centerpiece of corporate finance, is more challenging when applied to the inherent uncertainty surrounding innovation. Technology-transfer professionals are often overwhelmed by the complexity and data requirements of valuation techniques and skeptical of their applicability to and utility for technology transfer. The market longs for an approach which bridges the gap between valuation fundamentals and technology-transfer realities. This paper presents the foundations of a simple, flexible, precise/accurate, and useful framework for considering the valuation of technology-transfer deals. The approach is predicated on a 12-factor model—a 3 × 4 value matrix predicated on categories of economic, societal, and strategic value. Each of these three categories consists of three core subcategories followed by a fourth “other” category to facilitate inevitable special considerations. This 12-factor value matrix provides a framework for harvesting data during deals and for the application of best-of-breed valuation techniques which can be employed on a per-factor basis. Future work will include framework implementation within a database platform.

Imagining value, imagining users: Academic technology transfer for health innovation

Governments have invested heavily in the clinical and economic promise of health innovation and express increasing concern with the efficacy and efficiency of the health innovation system. In considering strategies for ‘better’ health innovation, policy makers and researchers have taken a particular interest in the work of universities and related public research organizations: How do these organizations identify and transfer promising innovations to market, and do these efforts make best use of public sector investments? We conducted an ethnographic study of technology transfer offices (TTOs) in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, to consider the place of health and health system imperatives in judgments of value in early-stage health innovation. Our analysis suggests that the valuation process is poorly specified as a set of task-specific judgments. Instead, we argue that technology transfer professionals are active participants in the construction of the innovation and assign value by ‘imagining’ the end product in its ‘context of use’. Oriented as they are to the commercialization of health technology, TTOs understand users primarily as market players. The immediate users of TTOs' efforts are commercial partners (i.e., licensees, investors) who are capable of translating current discoveries into future commodities. The ultimate end users – patients, clinicians, health systems – are the future consumers of the products to be sold. Attention to these proximate and more distal users in the valuation process is a complex and constitutive feature of the work of health technology transfer. At the same time, judgements about individual technologies are made in relation to a broader imperative through which TTOs seek to imagine and construct sustainable innovation systems. Judgments of value are rendered sensible in relation to the logic of valuation for systems of innovation that, in turn, configure users of health innovation in systemic ways.

Technology transfer and idea commercialization

Technology transfer professionals work at the interface of science and business to help move discoveries forward for the public good.

The MTA—rip it up and start again?

Securing material transfer agreements can be burdensome for academics and make downstream research prohibitively expensive, particularly for small startups with limited resources. Two technology-transfer professionals debate the pros and cons of such contracts.

Health related academic technology transfer: rethinking patenting and licensing practices

In this article, I argue that some academic technology transfer professionals are rethinking their mission, their models of success, and their public message. In particular, they are beginning to orientate their activities to take account more explicitly of the missions of academic institutions, the stated purposes of publicly funded research, and the goal of legislation governing academic patenting and licensing. Focusing on health-related technology transfer activities, which have attracted some of the strongest criticism, I review existing, emerging, and suggested practices aimed not at maximising profit but at maximising the social benefit of academic research, some of which employ sophisticated licensing of patented academic inventions and discoveries. These practices, I will argue, should be considered and, where appropriate, employed by academic technology transfer offices, both because they aim to secure a moral good and because they will help academic technology transfer offices achieve a kind of success that closely mirrors the missions of their institutions.