Technology Transfer offices in Europe

Technology Transfer offices in Europe

• 1.
  Technology Transfer Offices inEurope Notes from European Patent Office Conference in Zurich Jan 2017
• 2.
  ABOUT ME • 36/ 1 / 1 • Business Background • #b2b #marketing #sales #early_stage_startups #coach #judge #mentor • 7 at the Careers Office • 4 years at Diogenes Business Incubator (acting CEO) and COO of C4E • Executive Director of Youth Board of Cyprus • Entrepreneurship enabler • Family business helper • Basketball addict Menelaos A. Menelaou
• 3.
  Agenda • State ofthe art Technology Transfer office in Europe • New emphasis point
• 4.
  ETH transfer -Technology Transfer Office of ETH Zurich • Research Agreements • Patents and Licenses • Spin off Support • Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lab Making ETH’s technologies available for the benefit of society • Providing services to the ETH researchers in in drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements. • Evaluating, protecting and out-licensing ETH technologies • Coaching and supporting members of ETH starting an ETH Spin-off company • Incubator for ETH entrepreneurs, e.g. for Pioneer Fellows
• 7.
  Patenting & Licensingof IP • Evaluation of ETH inventions • Advice on patentability • Patent applications, administration and setting up of IP strategy • Production of marketing material • Licensing opportunities and “Tech Alerts” • Identification of industry partners/licensees • Licensing agreements • Controlling and distribution of revenues
• 8.
  Motivation • How dothey convince researchers to patent? • Builds reputation/nice on CV • Products on the shelf with their technology inside • Creating employment and income • Personal financial incentive: 1/3 of the net revenues goes to inventor • Potential participation in the “Spark Award” • It is fun to do…
• 9.
  How do theyget notice of inventions? • Mostly: Direct disclosure to ETH Transfer • Preconditions: • Scientists/Inventors have to be aware of a possible commercialization potential of the research results • Scientists/Inventors have to know about whom to contact and when • Scientists/Inventors have to be aware of the importance of confidentiality • PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IS
• 10.
  Who do theytarget? • Mostly • Researchers • Professors • Postdocs • PhD students • Potential founders of spinoff companies • Students are not in the primary focus of ETH transfer
• 11.
  ETH transfer activities– IP awareness • Seminar talks in research groups • Specifically “accessible” after a bad experience • Talks within the framework of education for founders to be – mainly from outside experts • Sporadic seminars within the framework of PhD schools • Spark Award • No active scouting for technologies for potential patents, e.g. no constant contact with researchers
• 16.
  New Emphasis onIP Education • Goals • Awareness • Modesty • Reach • Constrains • Size (20K students + 500 professors) • Diversity (Bsc to Professors) • Curricula (timing, “focus on math not IP) • What doesn't work • Don’t try to reach all – don’t impose – don’t evangelize
• 17.
  New Emphasis onIP Education • What does work • Basic IP classes • National, EU and International IP Law • Focus on patents, copyrights • Use external lecturers • Specialized & Integrated classes • Workshop and Lecture Series on the Law & Economics of Innovation • IP basics for PhD students in Physics • Entrepreneurship classes • Variety • Normal classes Vs short modules • Non traditional educational activities (incubators, individual counseling, project/active learning etc)
• 18.
  Thank you • Questions?