mediterranean technology transfer: good practices toolkit

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PROGRAMME MED

MediterraneanTransnational Technology Transfer

Project co-funded by the

EUROPEAN REGIONAL

DEVELOPMENT FUND

Technology Transfer Good PracticesC3.1 Mediterranean Transnational

Technology Transfer Network

Responsibl e Par t ner: CITAndalucaInvolved Par t ner s:

NHRF,ARTI


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MED Programme MET3Del. 3.1 Technology Transfer Good Practices Toolkit

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Project DetailsProgramme MED

Priority Axis 1. Strengthening Innovation Capacities

Objective 1.1: Dissemination of innovative technologiesand know-how

Project TitleMediterranean Transnational TechnologyTransfer

Project Acronym MET3

Project Code No 1G-MED08-309

Lead Partner National Hellenic Research Foundation

Total Budget 1.715.000,00 Euro ()

Time Frame

Start Date End Date 01/05/2009 31/10/2011

Deliverable Details

Component C. 3.1

Phase

Title of Deliverable Technology Transfer Good Practices Toolkit

Partner Responsible CITAndaluca

Partners Involved NHRF,ARTI

Due Date of Deliverable 30.10.2009


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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................42. ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES ...............................................................10

2.1. GOOD PRACTICES .................................................................................................................112.2. BEST PRACTICES...................................................................................................................32

3. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................404. INTERNET SOURCES ....................................................................................................................44


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1.INTRODUCTION

1.INTRODUCTION

The growth in the field of research and innovation of European Union during

recent years has increased the economic development gap between

European regions.

To compete in todays economy and to maintain or even improve its

position, each region needs to capitalise on its knowledge base and to

develop its capacity to innovate.

The regions success will depend on the distribution of knowledge and a

genuine partnership amongst individuals, enterprises, research institutions,

associations, and regional administrations. EU has identified the

transnational dimension of technology transfer as one of the key areas for

action on its Innovation Strategy.

To bridge this gap it has been created the project Mediterranean

Transnational Technology Transfer (MET3), with the need of interregional

cooperation and joint approaches.

MET3 brings together seven regions from France, Italy, Spain and Greece

with a variety of profiles but common needs and perspectives on improving

Transnational Technology Transfer methods and assisting regional

stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships.


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In this manual we are to describe the good practices contained in the

Mediterranean area but, it is convenient introduce the concept of

technology transfer and its basic aspects.

The term Technology Transfer can be defined from several points of view,

depending on a series of elements, factors, agents and circumstances. We

shall define Technology Transfer as the process through which an entity

acquires certain knowledge, technology or innovative process or product

that another agent has developed or created (Schumpeter)1.Technology

transfer involves the processes of detecting, captain and sharing new

technologies and innovation activities. This is what this toolkit aims at,

sharing the activities that make the TT process possible in the

Mediterranean regions.

Technology Transfer can refer to several types of activities:

Introduction of new products

Introduction of new production methods

Opening of new markets

Development of new supply lines of raw materials and other

resources

Development of new market structures in a sector

For a business, TT basically represents the adoption o fan innovation that

makes it increase its productivity and competitiveness. Therefore TT has

come to play a central role in business strategies.

Furthermore, there are several definitions of the concept of TT going from

those that limit it to the negotiation and signing of a licence agreement to

exploit a patent to those broader ones that include many other types of

1Schumpeter, J.A. The Analysis of Economic Change",(1935)


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technological cooperation that leads to more competitive positions in the

market. Anyhow, TT agreements should be tailored to the results desired.

The final objective of MET3 project is the sharing of experiences between

partners, identification of strong & weak points of existing TT mechanisms

and lessons learned.

Next, a brief description of the partners who have collaborated in this

manual:

Agenzia Regionale per la Tecnologia e lInnovazione (ARTI)

ARTI is the Regional Agency of Technology and Innovation of Apulia. The

activity performed by ARTI - based on the fundamental role played by

Research and Innovation to achieve economic growth and social cohesion it

is part of a more comprehensive strategy of economic development pursued

by Region Apulia and it's addressed to promote, stimulate and meet the

needs for innovation and retraining of human resources, local enterprises

and production systems.

The Regional Agency of Technology and Innovation of Apulia was established

with the objective of promoting and consolidating the SIR (System of

Regional Innovation), i. e. the networking of public and private players

implementing common strategies. Its main tasks are: promoting regional

innovativeness and competitiveness strategies; favouring the relationsbetween science and industry and between science and society; supporting

the innovativeness of enterprises; favouring the networking of all the

players of the regional R&D system at international level.

National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF)

The National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) is a multidisciplinaryResearch Centre of Region Attica. Its purpose is the organisation, finance


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and support of high-level research projects in the humanities and the

natural sciences.

The Humanities Institutes cover a wide spectrum of study and research

fields in Greek history and culture, contributing substantially and critically

to the knowledge and promotion of Greek identity.

The Natural Sciences Institutes perform basic and applied research in

leading edge areas of science such as health, pharmaceuticals,

environment, biotechnology and new materials. They develop innovative

methods for solving complex problems facing Greek industry and they

provide specialised services and know-how both to the public and private

sector.

The NHRF is governed by the Board of Directors and the Central

Administration under the Director/Chairman of the Board.

The Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)

The Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), is one of the

largest research centres in Greece with well organized facilities and highly

qualified personnel. It functions under the supervision of the General

Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of

Development and consists of seven Research Institutes located throughout

Greece: Heraklion, Rethymnon, Patras and Ioannina. The Foundation'sheadquarters are located in Heraklion, Crete.

The research and technological directions of the Foundation cover major

areas of scientific, social, and economic interest, such as: Computer

Sciences, Molecular Biology, Lasers, Telecommunications, Medical

Engineering, Microelectronics, Robotics, Biotechnology, Materials, Chemical

and Biological Engineering, Applied and Computational Mathematics,


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Biomedical Technologies, Bioinformatics as well as Historical and Cultural

Studies.

Over the years, FORTH has become one of the top European research

centres, thanks to its high impact research results and its valuable

socioeconomic contribution.

Mediterrane Technologies (MT)

Mditerrane Technologies is incorporated as a nonprofit organization under

the French 1901 Law. MT is the regional coordinator of the innovation

network and is financed mainly by Regional and ERDF funds and national

funds (10%). The Regional Innovation Network (RIN) is the group of the

various institutions and organizations in charge of coaching and delivering

services to SME. As an example, a member of the RIN could be an incubator,

a cluster, a technical center, a Business Angel Association or a financing

company or agency. The list of members of the PACA RIN is available from

the web site at the following address: www.pacainnovation.com. The RIN

delivers services to SME ranging from IP diagnostic or sales plan to

internationalization business plan for products or services.

Beside the activity of PACA RIN coordinator, MT is also the EEN (Enterprise

Europe Network) consortium coordinator for 3 regions of southern France:

PACA, Languedoc-Roussillon and Corsica. MT organize and participate into

SME to SME brokerage events and MT does not manage any funds or grants(except for small amounts within the context of patent registration or

prototype finalization) and is not involved in the process of technology

transfer between public (or private) research and the industry.

Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre of Andaluca (CITAndaluca)

The Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre of Andaluca - CITAndalucais a public company that depends of the Regional Ministry of Innovation


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Science and Technology of the Regional Government of Andalusia. Is the

main technical partner in the current Andalusian node of the Enterprise

Europe Network, CESEAND (Centre of Services for European Affairs in

Andalusian) and their most important contribution is planning and main

technical support for technology brokerage and technology transfer

activities: participation and organisation of brokerage events, company

visits, detection of technology profiles, evaluation of RTD projects,

preparation and diffusion of newsletter and e-bulletins.

CITAndaluca carries out a series of activities and offers a range of

customized and agile services centred in two main areas:

The promotion of Technology and Knowledge Transfer in Andalusia

Increasing the Andalusian participation in European R&D and

Innovation Programmes


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2.ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES

2.1. GOOD PRACTICES

2.2. BEST PRACTICES

2.ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERACTIVITIES

The preparation of this toolkit is one of the main activities contained in the

first phase of the MET3 project and the TT support mechanisms described in

it are the main tools used by the partners to carry out their TT activities.

This manual describes the main good practices identified by CITAndaluca in

several Mediterranean regions with diverse typologies: Crete, Apulia, Attica,

Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur (PACA) and Andalusia.

Synergies and complementarities with other networks and initiatives (such

as former IRCs, now Enterprise Europe Network) will be described in order

to position the MET3 project and create a common ground on technology

transfer approaches in MED.

This point covers the activities and good practices and the best good

practices carried out by the regions of Crete, Apulia, Attica, Provence-

Alpes-Cte d'Azur (PACA) and Andalusia.


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2.1Good Practices

The more important activities to foster and obtain Technology Transfer in

the Mediterranean Area are:

Dissemination of Technology Offers and Technology Requests.

Inventory of Technology Offers and Technology Requests.

Matching between Technology Offers and Technology Requests.

Follow-up of the results of the Technology Transfers.

Fostering meetings between Universities/Research Centres and

Companies

Programmes to help finance and promote Technology Transfer

projects.

Giving advice in IPR and contractual issues

To carry out these activities all the partners of this task are members of

Transnational networks same as:

Enterprise Europe Network (FORTH, ARTI,PACA and CITAndaluca)

ProTon Europe (ARTI, NHRF)

ASTP-Association of European Science and Technology Transfer

Professionals (NHRF)

IRC-Innovation Relay Centres Network(NHRF)

The main target groups of the different members are:

Universities/Research Centres

Companies

Other organisations (other than Universities, RTOs, companies) as

potential end users of technology.

To achieve the technology transfer in their regions, FORTH, ARTI, NHRF,

PACA and CITAndaluca collaborate with public organizations, companies,

RTD, and centres.


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Dissemination of Technology Offers and Technology Requests

To disseminate, in terms of the field of innovation, means to broadcast

technology offers and requests to the technical public. The different

Mediterranean regions develop this action by the following way:

APULIA REGION

The European Enterprise Network and the Innovation Observatory are the

main channels through which ARTI achieves the dissemination of Technology

Offers and Requests.

In particular, the Innovation Observatory allows the diffusion of specialised

information on the issues and experiences related to research and

development, innovation and technology transfer. The programme offers a

support for the development of the Regional Technology Transfer Network

and for the exploitation of research results.

The production of reports for each technology sector responds to the

information need about competences, opportunities and relevant research

results available in the regional system on one side and about the

enterprises innovation needs in relation to production, services and

processes to the other side.

A first level of interaction between technology demand and offer is

achieved also by the organization of public events where the study results

are presented to the stakeholders interested.

The toolsthey use are the following:

Paper edition distributed during the public events and eventually onrequest


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Online contents available on the ARTI web site.

Newsletter to targeted mailing lists.

Other Enterprise Europe Network information tools.

CRETE REGION

They make this activity through target mailing, personal contact,

publications. Extensive presentation and promotion of highlight incoming

technology offers as Technology of the Month in specialised technical

magazines. Active promotion of selected Technology Offers and Technology

Requests to potentially interested clients.

Tool used

Monthly newsletter, collaboration with third party technical magazines.

PACA REGION

The European Enterprise Network is the main channel through which MT

achieves the dissemination of Technology Offers (TO) and Requests (TR). MT

does not have any other specific tool to disseminate the information.

However, they will see below that MT is organizing on a regular basis

specific event to match TO and TRs.

ANDALUSIAN REGION

They make possible the action of dissemination of technology offers and

technology requests through of:

Technological bulletins. They make this bulletin with TOs and TRs of the

Enterprise Europe Network. CITAndaluca is the Andalusian node of the

Enterprise Europe Network.


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With all technology profiles of the participants of TTAndaluca

(Technology transfer event) CITAndaluca prepares the Catalogue of the

Event that includes the current technology offers and technology

requests of the corresponding sector in Andalusia and makes the

dissemination between the participants of the event.

Target mailing and personal contact.

Inventory of Technology Offers and Technology Requests

Each Mediterranean region develops an accountancy and characterization of

all the innovative resources, in terms of innovative companies, innovation

projects and technology offers/requests.

APULIA REGION

Within the Bridgeconomies Consortium, ARTI offers intelligence services to

assess research laboratories and SMEs needs and opportunities. This activity

is managed also with the support given by the Regional Technology Transfer

Network.

Besides, the Agency carries out a specific program called Innovation

Observatory that aims at mapping the regional innovation and technology

demand/offer as well as supporting their effective interaction.

ARTI has developed a methodology within the Innovation Observatory to

support the most effective interactions between technology offer and

demand. With this purpose, the Agency is conducting a detailed analysis on

innovation and research needs at the regional system level. Then, further

analysis is covering the exploration of competences and opportunities

offered by the regional scientific system.


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Besides, the relevant information acquired is organized by developing a

technology profile for each stakeholder involved. When specific technology

offers and requests can be detected, these are introduced into the

European Enterprise Network.

Further, the TT Network relies on the development of a shared regional

technology database.

Tools used

Technology Audits.

Company visits.

EEN information tools (First Class).

CRETE REGION

FORTH make possible the inventory thank of the evaluation of the portfolio

of the Enterprise Europe Network and selection of the Technology Offers

and Requests that best fit the needs of their local clients.

Uploading of the selected TOs and TRs in their website and creation of the

local TO and TR portfolio.

Tool used:

Their online CRM tool provides all the infrastructure needed for the TO and

TR database.

They have developed and maintain their own Customer Relation

Management tool which is an online database containing all data concerning

their clientele and also our TT interaction with them.

They have developed flow charts for all processes occurring in the

framework of their TT operation and TT interaction with their clients. The

process flow charts are mainly used for purposes of training new staff. Everyactivity, transaction and service provided to their clientele is recorded on a


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daily basis in the online CRM tool. The CRM tools also have information on

events and participation by their clients.

The CRM tool is designed so as to:

Track easily all available information on clients / TT cases.

Provide information useful for follow-up.

Easily obtain data for reporting.

This tool is the most important internal management tool developed by

FORTH to carry out all their technology transfer activities

ANDALUSIAN REGION

The Andalusian Technological Resources Inventory (IRTA) develops an

accountancy and characterization of all the innovative resources in

Andalusian, in terms of innovative companies, innovation projects and

technology offers/requests. Thanks to IRTA, CITAndaluca is able to:

Know what companies and are innovating and their typology.

Know how these companies are developing these innovations.

Find common interests between the companies.

The inventory must be developed and maintained as a systematical and well

structured process; a good planning and coordination between all the agents

involved is required.

The different sources for the inventory to acquire information would be

identified and, if possible, automated.

CITAndaluca mainly uses interviews and phone calls, in a semi automatic

process to insert the information into the database.


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CITAndalucas information update process is continuous. The information is

stored or updated whenever it gets to CITAndaluca.

The inventory would be managed by software and a database that must be

defined in this stage. CITAndalucas inventory software also does electronic

mailing to advice the firms for technology offers/demands and events that

might match their interests.


After knowing the TOs and TRs, we need to make an analysis of the

technology transfer opportunities of each region.

APULIA REGION

ARTI achieves a professional and organized matching activity of Technology

Offers and Technology Requests through the Bridgeconomies Consortium

(Business Relays for Innovation and Development of Growing Economies) as

partner of the Enterprise European Network.

Also, the Agency relies on the support given by the Regional Technology

Transfer Network on matching activities.

Within the Bridgeconomies Consortium, ARTI offers listening services toassess SMEs needs, promotes the development of industry networks,

encourages the participation to EU Programmes and proposes brokerage and

consultancy services to innovative companies.

The Regional TT Network counts on the technology transfer offices within

regional universities and other public research institutions where front

office personnel is available for supporting clients (researchers andenterprises) in matching their TO/TR.


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Tools used

Automatic Matching Tool

Partnering events:

Match making seminars organized in Apulia and outside the region

where technology offers and requests are presented to potential

partners;

Brokerage events at European scale focused on selected themes and

aimed at achieving a link between potential partners and producing

a TO/TR catalogue;

Company Missions as guided meetings between entrepreneurs of

different countries.

Access to a TO/TR database through the Regional TT Network front

offices.

CRETE REGION

They achieve this action Search for suitable TOs and TRs in the Enterprise

Europe Network database that could match the TRs and TOs (respectively)

of their clients.

Sector- and keyword-based search after communication with client and

specification of the desired outcome. Search and matching are custom-made

according to the clients needs and no automatic tools are used. Good

communication and cooperation with the client and exact identification of

their needs and competencies is crucial for a successful match. A custom

made manual search is ideal, because it allows as exact as possible match

with the needs of the client.

They do not use an automatic tool (such as the AMT used by the Enterprise

Europe Network) because it is not intelligent enough to find good matches

for their client's needs other than keyword match. Then, They useEnterprise Europe Network intranet website and database.


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PACA REGION

Matching between TO and TR is done through the EEN network. However,

MT organizes (see below) on a regular basis events to do the matching

between companies (95% of the event) or research labs and companies (less

than 5% of the meetings). MT and EEN partners are conducting interviews

with SME in order to identify more precisely their need. The structure of the

regional economy through clusters helps a lot to identify the key players and

put them in relation with other partners.

ANDALUSIAN REGION

MASTRIX is a strategic tool which analyses technology transfer opportunities

in a specific region or country.

It includes and relates the technology offers of the Innovation and

Technology Centres, University Research Groups, and other entities and

matches them with the technology requests detected in Andaluca.

MASTRIX is able to show a cross-linked range of technologies and industrialsectors of relevance, coupled with a second layer representing levels of

technological development and needs within the regional SME and R&D

Centres base.

Among others, MASTRIX has the following features:

Weaknesses and opportunities analysis for the innovation system;

Strategies and priorities design for technology policy actions;


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MASTRIX was awarded with Best Good Practice 2005 at the Innovation

Relay Centre Networks tenth anniversary. This Best Good Practice

award was elected by the network among 48 candidates.

CITAndaluca carries out a register of all the Innovation Activity Entities,

these are all the entities that have proved an innovation activity as a result

of having an innovation project, or an innovation profile (element of

identification, validation and exchange of technology offers and technology

requests as defined by the European Commission and used in CITAndaluca

for TT events, technology audits, Enterprise Europe Network offers and

demands) or an industrial property.

This information is coded using the Codification Systems defined by the

European Commission that ensures the potential comparison with the

European information:

SIC Codes (Subject Index Codes) to define technologies

VEIC Codes (Venture Economics Industry Codes) to define sectors

Mastrix tool reads the Innovation Activity Entities database and displays a

matrix report. The Mastrix report shows to figures for each of its elements,

these are related to the technology offers and the technology requests in a

particular sector, specifically:

Having a technology offer, we can know the technology that has been

developed and market sector of application

Giving a technology request, we can know the activity sector which is

making the demand, and the technology that is required

An algorithm calculates the offers and demands that best match, and

exploits all the information using a temporal variable that allows to analyse

the information in a prospective way.


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Fostering meetings between Universities/Research Centers and

Companies

APULIA REGION

ARTI is committed in a day to day job to facilitating meetings between

research institutions and companies, through its frontline staff personnel

and relationship network within the region. The Agency is also engaged in

organizing regional and national events with the specific purpose of creating

opportunities for research and industry to meet.

They close cooperation with the technology providers and the innovation

stakeholders of the region: universities, research centers, test laboratories,

high tech companies, intermediaries, technology parks, incubators,

professional associations, etc.

Tools used

Innovation Festival: a regional event with exhibitions, conferences and

workshops, that aims at showing to the public and regional, national and

foreign stakeholders the activities of the Regional Innovation System, thetechnological clusters, the new high tech companies, patents and results of

regional research.

National Road Show: calendar of public events to present to national

stakeholders updated report of the regional innovation system.

Innovation Club: organization of meeting introduced by guest speakers withthe goal of creating a chance to meet and compare experiences of regional


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women and men working in industries, universities, research centers and

public authorities.

Regional Technology Transfer Network intermediary services.

ATTICA REGION

The Technology Transfer Office of the National Hellenic Research

Foundation organises working-group meeting between research institutes,

enterprises and, in some cases, SME unions in order to explore the

possibility of collaboration on a common ground / technologies.


Foundation organises working-group meetings between research institutes,



The methodology used for identifying common interests such as requests of

specific technologies (on behalf of enterprises / private sectors) and

technology offers (on behalf of research institutes) constitutes of the

following steps:

a.

One-on-one interviews with researchers in order to identifytechnologies that have been developed within the research

institutes borders and further definition of areas of interest.

b. One-on-one interviews with personnel from enterprises and

SME unions in order to identify technology needs and define their

main key areas of interest.

c. Inserting all relevant material and results driven from the

interviews into an internal database in order to clearly filter-outkey areas of interest and create a map of potential partnerships.


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d. Organise working-group meetings in order to bring together

and establish a communication bridge between research

institutes, enterprises and SME unions in order to exchange

information, share of ideas, identify common areas of interest and

explore the possibility of creating a fruitful collaboration between

actors (technology providers and technology receivers).

Tools used

One-on-one semi structured interviews

Internal Database for recording and filtering potential partners

Working-group roundtable meetings between potential partners

CRETE REGION

They organise meetings of researchers with companies on demand.

PACA REGION

Again, the main actions are conducted to foster technology transfer

between companies (mainly SMEs). EEN consortium and MT organize 3 types

of meeting:

1) Matching meeting organized in the PACA Region. Usually the EEN

event piggy back on a thematic event (Few examples: Nuclear

Industry in May 08, Aerospace in Oct09, Agro Food in Dec09, Solar

Energy in May10, ...) EEN advertise through the Network but also

through the specific cluster (according to the industry sector) and

collect registration of SME and prepare one to one meeting during

the thematic event (convention, workshop, trade show, ...). Most

of the matching meetings are SME to SME, however sometimes

research institute may participate to the matching event (it wasthe case in Oct09 for the aerospace matching event).


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2) Matching meetings organized outside PACA (mostly abroad) with the

support of local EEN and in collaboration with PACA development

agencies. For instance, EEN organize one to one matching meeting

at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. A similar event was

organized in Greece in 2008. PACA SME registers for the matching

event and get special conditions to travel to the country where the

matching event takes place. At the same time they are able to

meet with local research organization.

3)Matching meeting organized on demand by MT. SME is identified by a

cluster and has a specific request as they would like to meet a

technology partner abroad. MT together with EEN partner and the

consortium partners organize a meeting in the EU country targeted

by the company.

Thanks to the cluster structure and policy in PACA it is quite easy to identify

the SME and research labs by industry sector. Most of the actions organized

by EEN targeting innovative companies are organized in collaboration with

the cluster governance.

Programmes to help finance and promote Technology Transfer projects.

To achieve a better collaboration of the companies and research groups inthe innovation activity of the Mediterranean area, each Region develops a

method to promote innovative projects of the entities.

APULIA REGION

ARTI is in charge of designing and managing, on behalf of the Regional

Authority, the interventions to finance the patent production and the spinoff creation by regional public research institutes.


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The Agency may also provide brokerage services for technology and

knowledge transfer, partnership building and access to private equity.

ARTI is also involved in fostering the circulation of information and raising

awareness regarding innovation policies, legislations and support programs.

Their methodology is:

Exchanging best practices with other regions

Maintaining relationships with venture capitalists and other investors.

Monitoring the finance opportunities available in the market as well as

in the public sector (FP7, national and other regional support programs).

Tools used

ARTI offers Vouchers which partially cover costs of international

extension procedures for patents owned by universities and services for

the establishment and growth of academic spin off.

Organization of the first regional business plan competition dedicated to

innovative business ideas spinning out of scientific research

CRETE REGION

Identify clients needs, search for funding opportunities and provide custom-

made information individually to each interested client. Provide support and

assistance with the participation procedures. Publication of funding

opportunities in their newsletter and active promotion of selected items

individually to clients.

Use of their own CRM tool, monthly newsletter, NCP network partners,

CORDIS.

PACA REGION


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As said before MT does not manage funds. Therefore, there is no possibility

for MT to foster TT in PACA. However, and it was mentioned above, MT

manages a small voucher program to finance patent registering. The main

target is non innovative SME who would like to register a patent for an

invention developed in their R&D department.

ANDALUSIAN REGION

CITAndaluca promotes a Public Programme to promote and foster

Technology Transfer projects in Andalusia by awarding those regional

intermediary Agents that have facilitated a Technology Transfer Agreement.

It is called the TRANSFER PROGRAM.

Object ives:

Develop and foster a structure to facilitate relationships between

Andalusian Agents involved in the Science Technology Enterprise

System by means of collaboration through RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT and

INNOVATION: License Agreement, Technological Cooperation, Joint

Ventures, Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance

Increase the number of Andalusian entities involved in Technology

Transfer Operations, offering or requesting a certain technology,

focusing particularly International ones.

How i t works:

(I) Publication of the call & Request of documentation (15 days)

Once the call is open, organisations interested in participating

must request the documentation.

(II) Expression of Interest (EOI) from those entities interested in

joining the program (1 month)

Organisations interested must send the document EOI signed by their legal representative.


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(III) Sign of the Transfer Protocols.

After all EOI are processed and only the valid organisations are

requested to sign the Protocol to join the Programme:

INTERMEDIARY ORGANISATION

(IV) Submit the projects.

Intermediary organisations have 2 months to submit those

projects in which they have given technical advice according to

the terms of the call.

(V) Evaluation and Results. (1 month)

Projects are evaluated and final results are sent to every

Intermediary organisation.

(VI) Financial Issues. Send the invoice. (1 month)

Intermediaries will receive 3.000 for every project that

they have been awarded.

An invoice for the total amount must be sent to

CITAndaluca to receive the money.

Tools used

Spreadsheet templates designed to filling on the forms in order to

automate the creation of a database with all the projects information.

Spreadsheet templates designed to provide an easier and more

homogeneous evaluation of the projects quality.

Giving advice in IPR and contractual issues.

Each Mediterranean region provides support to its research groups and

companies on issues of both intellectual (I.P) and industrial property rights

protection.

APULIA REGION


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ARTI relies on the support given by the Regional Technology Transfer

Network where professionals working in the technology transfers offices

within regional universities and other public research institutions may offer

advice and consultancy services on IPR and contractual issues.

ARTI is involved in the capacitating of technology transfer professional

working in the offices, offering those training opportunities and assistance.

Tools used

Front offices services.

Open workshops within PROs on intellectual property issues, with the

goal of improving awareness among researchers on the importance of

disclosing and protecting the results of their research efforts and derive

some value (both economic and relational) from their work.

Staff personnel of the Agency and the Regional Technology Transfer

Network offering one to one first level consultancy services.

ATTICA REGION


Foundation provides support to its researchers on issues of both intellectual

(I.P) and industrial property rights protection. In order to provide more

effective and up-to-date information, the Technology Office collaborates

with external experts (major lawyer brand with expertise on IP rights) while

it has established important collaborations with relevant organisations, both

at National (Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation) and International

Level (EPO-European Patent Office, IPR Helpdesk), for better monitoring the

international scene.

The Technology Transfer Office has developed and published the Good

Practices Guide on Management & Commercial Exploitation of IP fromsynergies between Public & Private Sector, which considered being the


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bible, covering a variety of themes relevant to IP rights. Although the

above Guide has been developed according to the latest legislative texts, it

does not substitute them but can be used as a reference document or may

be the starting point of further actions.

Moreover, the Technology Transfer Office has successfully organised

seminars on Intellectual Property Protection in which several external

experts from both National (Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation) and

International (EPO-European Patent Office, IPR Helpdesk) Organisations

have been invited in order to provide researchers with key information. The

above activity is concerned to be the key

Tools used

Dedicated web-space on the Technology Office Official Website with latest

news and documents concerning I.P.R.

CRETE REGION

Assist with the basics of IPR and contractual issues of technology transfer.

Signposting to local collaborating organisations and professionals for further

support.

Organize seminars on IPR issues targeted to specific groups/discipline

Useful because: Raise awareness on possibilities of technology exploitation

Constitutes the initial steps to technology exploitation

Facilitate the process of technology exploitation

Tools used

Local network of collaborating professionals.

PACA REGION


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Regional Clusters (who are also members of RIN) had recently organize

specific event around collaborative projects and how partners could protect

their own interest or invention if they are involved into projects together

with large industries, SME, research labs or research institutes.

Technology Transfer Event

A TT Event consists on the celebration of bilateral meetings between

entities based on their technology profiles. There are different types of

these events in the Mediterranean Regions:

APULIA REGION

Regional Innovation Fair: Represents an important annual event where the

regional research results and excellences are displayed and offered to the

national market. It is difficult to obtain higher involvement from the

industry.

Venture Contests:The real value for Apulia start up companies is offered by

the assessment procedure from a panel of experts in the financial field. The

chance to receive funding from investors at the end of the contest remains

low.

CRETE REGION

Organization of TT events in Crete and assistance for participation of

Cretan entities in TT events abroad:

Organization of thematic Brokerage Events

Organization of incoming company missions

Organization of outgoing company missions

Co-organise Brokerage events abroad


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Technology Transfer events are among the activities that can facilitate TT

with the greater success:

1. Bring together parties with real interest in collaboration;

2. Thematic and focused events which multiply probabilities of reaching

agreements

3. Face to face talks between parties are a lot more efficient

ATTICA REGION


Foundation organises working-group meeting between research institutes,



TTO organises working-group meetings in order to bring together and

establish a communication bridge between research institutes, enterprises

and SME unions in order to exchange information, share of ideas, identify

common areas of interest and explore the possibility of creating a fruitful

collaboration between actors (technology providers and technology

receivers).

More than 35 partnerships between NHRFs research groups and companies

PACA REGION

See above (fostering TT)

Beside EEN action, MT as one of the Trans2Tech project, organized aEuropean conference in Aix en Provence named: Driving Innovation from


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Science to Business. This one day conference gathered in 2008 more than

100 specialists of TT coming from all over EU.

ANDALUSIAN REGION

This practice includes the following activities:

Inventory of Technology Offers and Technology Requests.


Follow-up of the results of the Technology Transfers.

Fostering meetings between Universities/Research Centers and

Companies

Programmes to help finance and promote Technology Transfer

projects.

Giving advice in IPR and contractual issues.

The mission of TTAndaluca is to promote and strengthen Industry Science

relationships in order to fill in the gap and promote a better use of the

public R&D financing opportunities.

The four organizers of all the events are in charge of different tasks:

IDEA and RETA are responsible for companies participation, detecting

technology requests/offers.

ROA is responsible for the research groups participation, detecting

technology offers.

CITAndaluca acts as intermediary between them all working as the

general coordinator, managing TTAndaluca web site and coordinating

the rest of the organizers.


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A TT Event consists on the celebration of bilateral meetings between

research groups and companies based on their technology profiles.

2.2Best Practices

APULIA REGION

The Regional Network of Technology Transfer Off ices from Publ ic

Resear ch Or ganizat ions.

It is a practice started in 2007 in the Apulia region which had just succeeded

an assessment procedure held this year by the regional Government.

Therefore, it will continue to operate with some further tools and targets

until the next assessment deadline of 2013.

It is aimed at increasing the value of the whole set of applied research

projects occurring in the regional public research system, where the latter

accounts for the majority of R&D and innovation expenditures undertaken in

Apulia compared to the private research sector.

The network is implementing several tools that foster the involvement of

the main actors committed in technology transfer (triple helix model:

institutions, academy and industry) and allow the implementation of

common practices among them.

In particular, the most appropriate tools are selected in order to exploit the

IPR developed by research centers, improve their capability to achieve

successful agreements with the industry and support the creation of new hi

tech start up and spin off companies.


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General impact on the regional system of innovation:

Increase in overall technology transfer performances.

Improve the valorisation of research results.

Better awareness on IPR issues by researchers.

Larger commitment in matching the innovation and technology offer

with demand.

Some quantitative outcomes related to the year 2008:

Establishment of a complex network starting to operate with n.6 nodes

represented by the Technology Transfer Offices of n.4 public

universities (Universit di Bari, Politecnico di Bari, Universit del

Salento,Universit di Foggia), n.1 private university (LUM) and by a

coordinator (ARTI).

Development of an organizational model.

Implementation of common operational tools (information and

communication tools, regulations and praxis).

Improvement of specialized competences by personnel (64 hours of

training).

Implementation of several research exploitation tools (defeasance

clauses, option contracts, licensing contracts, material transfer

agreements, non disclosure agreements, procedures for licensing, etc.)

and a guideline for the negotiation of research results.

Realization of n.39 tutorials to researchers within Universities on IPR

and technology transfer issues.

Support to the international deposit of n.33 new patents filed by the

Universities involved in the network.

Support to the creation of n.11 new spin off companies and the

development of n.7 existing ones.


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Organization of a business plan competition (n.50 entrepreneurial

groups involved) and an investment contest for innovative start up

companies (n.12 start up selected).

Organization of a three days event named Innovation Fair (13000 square

metres exhibition; n.100 exhibitors; more than 4500 visitors; more than

2000 high school students; about 500 speakers to a total of n. 150

workshops and conferneces; n. 40 prototypes displayed).

CRETE REGION

It is not easy to distinguish between tools and activities which may run in

parallel and interact with each other. There is also a selection of active

tools and methods (e.g. Promotion of profiles and TT events) which

facilitate directly Technology Transfer and more passive tools (e.g. CMS

Tool) which may not directly assist in TT, but are of great help to the

practitioners of TT. All activities described in this questionnaire are of great

importance to (T)TT.

We would single out two of them as the ones with the greater direct impact:

1. In terms of absolute numbers and statistics the clear winner is the

combined tool of Dissemination of Technology Offers and Technology

Requests and Matching between Technology Offers and Technology

Requests. The key elements for this activity are:

The careful selection of profiles to be disseminated based on quality of

profile.

Very careful matching of profiles to client's activities. Done on a client

to client and not on a profile to profile basis.

Continuous communication with the client to identify specific needs and

competences.


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Use of expert media to disseminate monthly a profile of excellent

quality, highly relevant to local economy.

Follow up

2. TT events. Brokerage events organised on the occasion of

fairs/exhibitions and/or conferences provide a good opportunity for TT

agreements. Also outgoing / incoming company missions provide a more

targeted and easily manageable way to bring two interested parties

together. Key elements for the success of such activities are:

Identification of the theme of the event and the relevance of the needs

and competences of clients.

Identification of the appropriate entities for participation.

Careful selection of the participants.

Careful and detailed preparation of participants before the event with

the help of the TT officer/consultant.

Willingness of the parties to collaborate.

Follow up

The Best Practice among TT activities is continuous communication with the

client, good knowledge of their needs / competences and provision of tailor-

cut services to satisfy these needs / competences.

ATTICA REGION

In response to the low level of commercialization of R&D results, the Greek

Ministry of Development, developed the Operational Programme

Competitiveness 2000-2006. One of the objectives of the OP regarding

research and technological development -which were managed and carried

out by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology- , as a

prerequisite for improving Greek economic competitiveness, was to support


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research units for standardisation and commercial exploitation of research

results (via the creation of Spin-off companies) PRAXE measure.

More specific, the measure aimed to:

Increase the level of commercialisation of R&D results

Developing an environment favourable for entrepreneurial activities

Developing co-operation between Greek universities and R&D

institutions

The measure included two phases. In the first phase a relatively small

amount (up to GRD 15 million) was used to finance the perfection of the

prototype and all supplementary work (measurements, tests, studies, etc.)

and to found the company if this has not already been done. In the second

phase support was provided for the company that is to exploit the product.

The second phase has been brought out in three rounds.

The supported projects have activities in the fields of:

Development of legal or administrative framework within universities

and R&D institutions, which influence application of research results in

business and creation of favourable business environment in

universities and R&D institutions.

Creation of spin-off enterprises, patenting, licensing policy

development, financing and access to (international) capital markets.

Enhancing the contract research and R&D-related cooperation

improvement of exchange of information and co-operation between

local and international partners.

The PRAXE measure was financed by EU structural funds, the private sector

and the Greek government.


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During the first round of the second phase of the measure 16 projects were

approved, at the second round also 16 projects were approved and at the

third 4 projects were approved. A sum of 36 spin-off companies was

established, of which 16 were set up in the region of.

A new program has been announced by GSRT regarding the creation

support to new innovative enterprises, notably highly knowledge intensive

(spin off and spin out) and it will be carried out within the period 2009-

2011. 33 projects for the establishment and/or growth of spin off and spin

out firms shall be supported with the budget available.

PACA REGION

ValorPACA is an organization that makes the interface between the

university research lab and the industry and packages the TO in order to

make it available in a more understandable way for the industry. Therefore,

ValorPACA has contact with both research labs (mixed units from university

and National Scientific Research Center) on one side and with the industry

on the other side. The objective of ValorPACA is to mutualism the efforts

made by the TTO of the 6 universities of PACA and increase the quality level

of proposals coming from research labs in PACA. During 2009 ValorPACA

spent 2.3M used to mature 23 projects through patenting process and

market studies (www.valorpaca.fr). 1.5M of the 2.3 were used to supportthe maturing of projects and creation of spin offs from the university.

Beside the National Scientific Research Center and the universities, large

research institutes like INRA (Agro-Food), INRIA (ICT), INSERM (Health), CEA

(Nuclear Energy) have their TTO.

ANDALUSIAN REGION


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TTAndaluca is a work methodology established by CITAndaluca and three

relevant agents of the Innovation System with the aim of joining and leading

forces to get the best use of the large public investments made in R&D and

Innovation by the Industrial Sector in Andalusia. This work methodology

allows:

The detection of the specific sectors/subsectors of activity where it is

necessary to stimulate innovation and technology transfer,

And, acting on them through specialized technology transfer events in

which, thanks to the synergy between the organizers, we bring entities

with potential for collaboration together, provide more adequate public

funding for their projects and give advice to ensure a good project

development.

The mission of TTAndaluca is to promote and strengthen Industry Science

relationships in order to fill in the gap and promote a better use of the

public R&D financing opportunities.

There are four agents involved in TTAndaluca that has been conveniently

selected:

Agencia IDEA: Agency for Innovation and Development of Andalusia.

RETA: Technological Network of Andalusia.

Red OTRI Andaluca, ROA: Andalusian Network of Research Results

Transfer Offices.

CITAndaluca: Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre of Andalusia.

These four agents depend of the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science

and Enterprise of the Regional Government of Andalusia.


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The added value of this initiative is the use of synergies between the

agents involved. Each agent was created by the Regional Ministry of

Innovation, Science and Enterprise with a different mission but with the

same objective: to foster Innovation in Andalusia, and this initiativejointhe

services offered by them, giving a coordinate answer to Andalusian

companies and research groups in Technology Transfer and Innovation

issues.

The tools used in TTAndaluca are:

www.ttandalucia.com This is TTAndaluca web site. Each TT Event has

its own web page on this site. On the website of a TT Event, users can

register, add a profile, view technology profiles of the catalogue and

select those profiles that interest them.

GeoP It is a tool that belongs to CITAndaluca. CITAndaluca use this

tool to make the dissemination of each TT Event.

Meeting Planner Its a software developed of the Enterprise Europe

Network. CITAndaluca use this software to make the agendas for

meetings.


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3.POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

3.POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Mediterranean countries have developed their own strategy for

technology transfer. In the different regions there are some actions to

achieve the process of diffusing research results on the market.

This manual has included the good and the best practices in the

Mediterranean area, describing the TT activities which are carried out by

the participating organisations.

The manual has allowed to exchange views and experiences within other

European regions. It has confirmed that our regional polices are going in the

right direction and it has also provided the opportunity for local actors to

improve their support measures for starting up creation and innovation.

After the study of all the good and best practices in the manual, we can

make a list of strengths and weaknesses in the Mediterranean region:

Services in IPR

Programmes to help finance and promote TT

projects

Technology Transfer Event

Dissemination of Technology Offers and

Technology

STRENGHTS

Promotion/Dissemination of partnership profiles

European program Seminars / WorkshopWEAKNESSES


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STRENGHTS

The regions of Apulia, Crete, Attica and Andalusia carry out activities to

provide to local entities services on IPR. They organize seminars on

Intellectual Property Protection in which several external experts from

both National and International. Companies are invited in order to

provide researchers with key information.

This practice is useful because it raise awareness on possibilities of

technology exploitation. It is the initial step to achieve the market

exploitation of the technology.

In the Med area, the different organizations develop programs to help

finance and promote Technology Transfer projects. Successful cases are:

o All the regions identify clients needs, search funding opportunities

and provide custom-made information individually to each interested

client. They give support and assistance on the participation

procedures. They make diffusion of funding opportunities in their

newsletter and actively promote selected items individually to

clients. All of them use their CRM tool, monthly newsletter, NCP

network partners, CORDIS.

o All regions provide services that have direct effects on spin-off

creation and development.

o

The specific goals of the programs are to convert knowledge into

innovative products, procedures & services and support the

introduction of technology into enterprises and SMEs and Invest in

enterprises that are directly linked to research & innovation.

Technology Transfer Events is one of the most important activities to

achieve technology transfer within a region. Different types of Technology

Transfer events have been found:


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o Annual events where the regional research results and excellences

are displayed and offered to the national market.

o

Workinggroup meetings between research institutes, enterprises and

SME in order to explore the possibilities of collaboration on common

ground/technologies.

o Thematic brokerage events (national and international)

o Incoming company missions

Before the dissemination of TOs and TRs, it is necessary have a good tool

to match TOs and TRs.

o Internal Web- Based database for managing, filtering and matching

TOs and TRs.

o Especially remarkable is the Andalusian region, which has developed

a methodology for matching TO and TR that is also capable of

obtaining strategic conclusions, boosting the innovation cycle of the

region where it is applied. It is also used for policy definitions.

Dissemination of Technology Offers and Technology Requestsis other

important activity to facility possible technology transfer in the Med area.

This activity consists of:

o Active promotion of selected TOs and TRs to potentially interested

clients.

o Promotion through targeted mailing, personal contact and

publications.

WEAKNESSES

It cannot be said that the Mediterranean region, as a whole, has got any

weakness in terms of technology transfer, since all the regions have

implemented interesting and useful practices for improving the technology

transfer in its influence area.


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Nevertheless, we can find that there is a group of practices that have been

applied in a lower term by the regions, or even not applied. Since this

cannot be considered a weakness, it is recommended that these practices

are spreaded through all the regions, since they can provide new tools and

also a new perspective to the knowledge and technological needs of the

regions, and making this way a better understanding of it.

Mediterranean regions need to increase their efforts to promote

European programs between their regional companies and research groups:

o

Organizating Info-days on FP7 during every cycle of calls proposals.

Info-days are important for early dissemination of information on just

announced open calls and a good opportunity for networking with EU

institutions.

o Organizing European program seminars and workshops joined to the

Technology transfer event. This seminar greatly facilitates the

creation of consortia for submission of projects proposals and the

promotion or diffusion of partnership profiles.

Provide advice and support for the creation of spin-off companies to

researchers for the exploitation of innovative and exploitable technologies.


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4.INTERNET SOURCES

4.INTERNET SOURCES

For further information:

European Service Network: www.esn.be

Innova Europe: www.innova-europe.lu

Intrasoft Internacional: www.intrasoft-intl.com

Strategic Information Management Services:

www.strategicinformation.com

The Practice Development Institute: www.pdiblobal.com

Enterprise Europe Network: http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/info/network_en.htm

CESEAND: www.ceseand.net

IPR Helpdesk: www.ipr-helpdesk.org

European Regions Research and Innovation Network: www.errin.eu/en/

Partnerships for Research and Innovation (UK):

www.auril.org.uk/publications/pfrai

Open Innovation: www.openinnovation.net

mediterranean technology transfer: good practices toolkit

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