An Enterprising University Roger Ford Chair of Innovation and Technology Strategy

University / Industry Technology Transfer Technology ‘Spin In’ An effective way of achieving technology development and commercialisation

The Universities as ‘Intellectual Property’ Generators Universities in the UK are heterogeneous with different roles and responsibilities Not all Universities have the same abilities or skills Their contribution to Innovation may be at a different stages in the Technology Transfer process, dependent on their history and experience

The Key Roles of a University These have always been Teaching & Research In future in some institutions there may be an increasing move towards Teaching & Scholarship

The Government’s Expectations for the Universities In addition to Teaching & Research their activities should include ‘A third leg’ Enterprise & Innovation The transfer of the ‘know how’ in Universities into UK Ltd

Achieving Academic Enterprise The objectives of the Government are clear The desire of the Universities to comply is supported by strong financial considerations How the Universities achieve these objectives within their existing structures is neither easy nor obvious

University Inventions The Arguments Research often generates inventions Therefore there must be masses of great ideas lying around in Universities waiting to be exploited! Since invention is the intellectually most difficult part of innovation why don’t the Universities undertake the whole of the innovation process? Innovation is however multifaceted

University Inventions Come predominantly from their ‘Research Portfolio’ Funding for this activity comes mainly from the public purse, because of this and their desire to sustain their programmes, universities look for academic rather than commercial excellence

Drivers for University Research Largely ‘Curiosity’ driven Principally instigated and led by individuals Level of funding derived from the Research Assessment Exercise Funding agencies such as EPSRC and the EU however give excellent opportunities to individuals for the exploitation of IPR

You start here Innovation appears deceptively simple! After all, it only requires a good idea, doesn’t it? “GOOD IDEA” © DAH:2001

Innovation is actually very complicated! Survival on the wild uncharted sea of uncertainty? Product development and costing Funding Business vision Partnership and ownership issues Business plan Management team IPR Regulatory approvals ‘Fitness for purpose’ accreditation Market research Manufacturing arrangements established Routes to market established Product value Development plan Prototypes © DAH:2001 The journey begins!

What is the nature of the ‘know how’ available in Universities? Highly innovative ‘ground breaking’ research in a rapidly developing area Invention or development in an industrially established area of science or engineering Application of a well developed academic understanding of science or engineering

What is the nature of the ‘know how’ available in Universities? Highly innovative ‘ground breaking’ research in a rapidly developing area Invention or development in an industrially established area of science or engineering Application of a well developed academic understanding of science or engineering

The Wider Innovative Capability of a University The ability to undertake fundamental research is not always linked to the ability to undertake technology ‘demonstration and development’ The complex and variable skills needed to achieve innovation and exploitation may not predominate only in major research lead Universities.

Invention or Development in a technologically established area Inventions in this area are normally much more difficult to develop and licensing must be a preferred option This is the type of activity in which many of the newer universities are involved Does this activity need to be tied to an ‘inventive’ step in the same University?

Academic Consultancy Perhaps this is in fact the perfect precursor to a full blown collaboration or licensing arrangement Enables the academic to become more closely involved with potential licensees in a low risk environment Can be made to fit in well with both University and Business Organisations This uses the University academic in a highly effective way

‘Spinning In’ Technologies Innomet Ltd The University has worked with a lone inventor to Establish the Company Raise equity (£300K) Develop the technology Build manufacturing capability (In Salford) Acquire Equity

The need for Industry to acquire Technology for Business Growth Historically large scale industry has retained substantial scientific capability via a global network of R&D centres These are being replaced by an emerging ‘New Ecology’ of Technology-Creating Organisations from Universities, Government Labs and and technology rich start up companies.

An Industrial Perspective Working with Universities in established manufacturing industries Difficult to gain a research active academic’s interest Usually ‘spinning in’ technology to use specific University skills Difficult to establish success criteria Definition of IP and ‘Know How’ in this area is difficult.

An Industrial Perspective Working with University Academics Aware that there are large amounts of ‘Know How’ in Universities just as in Encyclopedias. Difficult and time consuming to extract the detail. Difficult to focus academics on specific industrial problems Suffering from the problem of ‘short term’ focus If however the ‘New Ecology’ is going to work both Industry (large and small) and the Universities will have to find ways to overcome these problems

Conclusions The problems of ‘Technology Transfer’ are difficult and as varied as the organisations involved in the process. It is vital however that as industry down sizes its R&D that if the ‘new ecology’ for industry and thus society, to acquire new technology, is to work, then there must be a greater dialogue and understanding between our Universities and Industry. Development and Demonstration of Technology can however be achieved by the ‘spin in’ of technology into an appropriate University.

An Enterprising University