The performance of a public research organisation in generating innovations and transferring technology is largely influenced by the transfer awareness of researchers. The research staff who are interested in transferring results and understand this process are more likely to follow properly the disclosure and patenting procedure, anticipate and communicate with TT responsible in the right moment, be more product and market oriented or participate in choosing the transfer strategy and potential partners. Some examples of actions which the TTO can use to create transfer awareness among researchers and engineers are presented in this process. www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu

1. Creation of Transfer Awareness
FITT
– Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer –
www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu
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2. Creation of Transfer Awareness
 The very first phase of TT opportunity detection: prepares the ground for
transfer projects to emerge
 Target group: researchers & engineers
 Introduced and managed by Technology Transfer Office (TTO)
 Includes different actions within a Public Research Organization (PRO)
which can result in creation of TT awareness
2 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

3. Creation of TT Awareness in practice
 Success factor: efficient communication between the TTO and the labs
3 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

4. Objectives
 Change the mindsets by bringing technology and knowledge transfer
perspectives to the attention of the researchers in the PRO:
➔ Make researchers aware of technology transfer process
➔ Show them the importance and advantages of considering the
commercialization opportunities from the early stage of their work
➔ Improve the information flow: researchers disclose their inventions and
talk to TTO about coming up opportunities
➔ Bring researchers closer to the challenges of start-up creation and
business reality
4 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

5. Creation of Transfer Awareness in Practice
Wide range of topics to cover; overview or focus on selected issues
(according to the situation and needs)
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6. Expected benefits
➔ Early detection
➔ Better cooperation between researchers and TTO
➔ Greater number of inventions disclosed
➔ Enhanced understanding of researchers concerning commercialization paths
with the help of TTO
➔ Better protection of PROs IP rights
➔ More researchers engaged in start-ups and more successful start-ups
6 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

7. Practices available in the Toolbox
DETECTION of Transfer Opportunities
 Network of Technology
Transfer Persons
 Recommendation Letter
to Inventors
CREATION OF DETECTION AND
 Entrepreneurial Skills TRANSFER MONITORING
Training AWARENESS
 TT Guide for Research
Teams
 Innovation Meetings
EVALUATION
OF TRANSFER
PROJECTS
Creation of TT awareness among
researchers should be considered
together with the process
Motivation and Incentives
7 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

8. Network of Technology Transfer Persons
 Getting closer to researchers by appointing TT Contact person –
an intermediate between TT office and labs
 Searching for “pro-transfer” mindset – researcher willing to cooperate in
TT activities
 The contact person goes through specific training done by TT officers
 Important role inside of the research team:
 inform and answer the questions of colleagues – first level contact
 raise awareness about technology transfer during daily activities of the team
8 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

9. Recommendation Letter to Inventors
 Letter sent to inventor to keep him up to date with the progress of patent
application
 Generic template and simple procedure
 Objectives:
 Involve researcher in the patenting procedure
 Explain the details of a patent application, which are not always familiar to
researchers
 Encourage researcher to contact TTO before any publication
 Emphasize the importance of strategy for disclosure and publication of the
invention
 Provide guidance and support, enhance future contacts
9 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

10. Entrepreneurial Skills Training: IED Program
 “Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Design course” is part of the Executive MBA program
at Imperial College Business School, which presents entrepreneurship challenges to
students
 The course focuses on introducing innovative products and services to the market
 It consists of a theoretical part and a practical exercise: ‘live project’ – work in teams
assisted by coaches and an online tool
 Main phases of the course: call, teams composition, teaching (2 modules), workshops,
business case presentation
 Participants learn to:
 Use methods to asses commercial potential of an innovation
 Identify routes to market
 Estimate the operational and financial needs of the venture
10 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

11. Entrepreneurial Skills Training :
Entrepreneurial Bootcamp
 The program focuses on developing the business ideas by entrepreneurial teams
 The call is addressed to the IBBT community of researchers and business partners,
but is also open to external parties, whose projects lies in the field of activities of
IBBT
 During a dating event, people with complementary skills are recruited to form
multidisciplinary teams
 Each of several workshops has different objectives, adapted to the phase of project
development
 The combination of teaching, coaching and doing
 The jury selects the best ideas which can be further developed in a real business,
with the support of pre-seed fund
 A way to identify hidden opportunities is to form ‘winning’ teams and generate
venture proposals with mature business plans
11 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

12. Technology Transfer Guide for Research
Teams
 Communication tool used by TT officers
 Covers main questions that researchers ask about transfer and the most
common problems they may encounter
 Target: mainly young researchers and newcomers
 Short and compact, but good starting point for R&D staff interested in
technology transfer issues:
 Provides tips for search of further information
 Provide useful contacts within the organisation (both in regional centre
and the headquarters)
 Distributed during face-to-face contacts, following the specific
communication strategy
12 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

13. Innovation Meetings
 Annual event organised in each INRIA centre for researchers and engineers
 The objective is to present the stakes and opportunities of technology transfer, as
well as to enable the discussion about new ideas and projects in the labs
 Renewed format in order to attract the maximum attention of the target group
 The content is based on testimonies of researchers – “TT success stories” in
which they have taken part
 They are followed by a series of short interactive workshops presenting INRIA’s
technology transfer activities and support measures for transfer projects
 The participants who want to get more information or discuss some ideas can take
an appointment for a face-to-face meeting with TT officer during the afternoon
networking session.
13 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness

14. Suggested Readings
 Link to code book
Communication
Intellectual Property Protection
Invention
Team & Network
Detection
Transfer Opportunity
Entrepreneurship
14 | January 2010 Creation of Transfer Awareness