Fundamentals of Technology Transfer 8-11 October 2019

Is this course right for me?

The course is principally for people who are already working in Knowledge Exchange (KE) but don’t feel completely comfortable or knowledgeable about all aspects of technology transfer/research commercialisation, as they won’t have done the job long enough &/or have experienced enough projects to learn from.

You may also be new to KE, with the level of experience of attendees generally 0-3 years.  Some will have more experience, or have held other roles which have given them knowledge &/or skills of relevance i.e. working in industry R&D, sales and marketing or contract and negotiation experience. This means that some delegates will already be aware (and perhaps in some depth) of the content of one or more of the sessions but will have little or no knowledge of other aspects – this course offers everyone a basic grounding across all key aspects of the job.

Whilst delegates will largely be from UK universities and other research institutions of varying levels of research activity, other organisations represented are publicly funded research institutes, funding bodies and companies.  There are often several international delegates also attending the course.

This course is also suitable for:

• Those in other teams such as contracts management and finance who support this process.

Why should I attend this course?

Many of the technologies that underpin the modern world such as novel therapies, improved medical imaging, renewable energy technologies, new materials or improvements to computer technology have been developed from public or charity funded academic research and has been a major route by which academic institutions have generated impact.  The uptake of these technologies by the commercial world is essential for their delivery to society but the nature of this early stage, cutting edge research can mean that commercial partners can be reluctant to take on the risk of developing them to market ready products – those in technology transfer/research commercialisation roles seek to bridge the gap by identifying the most compelling opportunities, developing them and bringing them to the right commercial partner.

Effective technology transfer is highly challenging. It requires an understanding of technical matters in areas such as IP and the structure of licence agreements, a strong commercial sense as well as an ability to manage relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

This course aims to equip those at the start of their career in KE with the fundamental knowledge and skills to embark on this process.  A key driver for the creation of this course is to provide the KE sector with a gold standard foundational course on technology transfer and its role in KE that draws upon the wealth of experience and best practice in the sector.

What will I learn from the course?

• Gain an understanding of why Universities and other research orientated research bodies value KE and the role of technology transfer and research commercialisation within the KE space.

• Increase knowledge and confidence in how to identify good opportunities and assess their potential for commercialisation in the light of an improved understanding of their potential markets, IP protection available and possible routes to market

• Gain understanding of how opportunities can be protected through the key forms of IP encountered in a publicly funded research environment with lots of examples so that they can engage effectively with IP advisors to put in place appropriate IP protection.

• How to conduct market research through a variety of sources to inform commercialisation strategy

• How to interact with market experts including engaging with potential licencees and understanding the key role that collaborators play in the development of opportunities

• Understanding what a licence is for and the key terms in the agreement

• Increase their understanding of what different type of industry are looking for

• Building knowledge of negotiation strategies and confidence to apply them through role play exercises, having the opportunity to apply the learning achieved during the course in a complex negotiation scenario.

• Have the opportunity to hear from (and speak directly with) a range of people from academia and industry who are involved in KE.  

The course also focuses on networking, providing a valuable platform to meet peers, discuss best practice, and interact with the course team and other contributors.

PLEASE NOTE: There may be a requirement for delegates to undertake some pre-course work/reading before the course begins.

View draft programme (subject to change)

Venue

The course will be held at Burleigh Court which is located on the Loughborough University campus (West Entrance). Loughborough railway station is three miles away - taxis are available at the station or there is a regular shuttle bus every 20 minutes from the station to the venue. If you are driving, Burleigh Court is one mile from junction 23 on the M1; ample free secure on-site car parking is available. Nottingham East Midlands Airport is just eight miles away.

Accommodation

Discounted bed and breakfast accommodation is available at Burleigh Court at £92 per night, per person. Please book your accommodation direct with Burleigh Court by calling 01509 633030 and quote the PraxisAuril event reference number 321307 in order to receive the discounted rate. Discounted rates are not available when booking accommodation online.  Any bedrooms that are not booked by Tuesday 10 September 2019 will be released. Accommodation may still be available at Burleigh Court after this date but might not be at the discounted rate.

Please note that the course begins with registration, including dinner and drinks, on Tuesday 8 October 2019 from 1830-2030.