LERU launches paper on technology transfer offices
16 February 2012
In its new advice paper ‘The TTO, a university engine transforming science into innovation’, the League of European Research Universities formulates ten critical success factors for an effective technology transfer office (TTO) operation. The paper was launched on Monday 13 February at a breakfast event at the Neth-ER House in Brussels. Prof. Koenraad Debackere, Executive Director of Leuven Research and development, presented the background and main points of paper of which he is the main author.
In a first part the paper focusses on the role and relevance of the TTO in academia. It presents a model of three stage development, from TTOs as isolated islands of technology transfer activity within the university (stage 1) to an inclusive TTO operation operating across the research, teaching and innovation dimensions of the knowledge triangle (stage 3).
In a second part of the paper the governance and organisation of the TTO are analysed. Governance aspects such as autonomy are crucial for the TTO to develop its activities successfully. Finally ten critical success factors (CSF) for an effective TTO operation are identified. They focus on the degree of autonomy of the TTO from the university and the mandate a TTO might need to operate in its region to build an effective spin-out operation, but also on the need for a supportive external environment. Other CSFs set out the incentives and code of conduct schemes TTOs can install for the academic community and give recommendations for TTO staff, the internal organisation of the office and the position of the TTO in the university.
Prof. Debackere’s presentation was followed by responses from Dr. Gil Beyen, Managing Director and Chief Business Officer and founder of Tigenix, Mr. Philippe Vanrie, CEO of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN) and Mr. Peter Dröll, Head of Unit ‘Innovation Policy’, DG Research, European Commission. Their interventions were followed by a discussion between the author, panel members and the public.
