technology transfer: a career at the interface
DESCRIPTION
Presented at "Regenerative Medicine Careers: How to choose and secure your dream career" 14th February 2014TRANSCRIPT
www.le.ac.uk
Technology Transfer – a career at the interface
Dr James Lapworth Senior Licensing & Commercialisation Manager
CV in brief
2001 – 2005: BSc (dual honours) Chemistry & Biology, Keele
2003-2004: Year in Industry, ICI Paints
2005 – 2009: PhD Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine, Sheffield
2007: Biotechnology YES competition
2008: Internship, Harrison Goddard Foote patent attorneys
2009 – 2010: Associate Yorkshire Enterprise Fellow
2009 – 2013: Business Manager, University of Sheffield
2011: PRINCE2 training (project management)
2013 – Present: Senior Licensing & Commercialisation Manager, University of Leicester
Overview
1. Beginner’s guide to Tech Transfer and Knowledge Transfer
2. What to Knowledge Transfer people do? – About the role(s) – skills, attributes
3. Routes into KT
4. Useful sources of information
Knowledge Transfer- what is it?
“Bringing together academics, industry (and funding) to bridge the gap between fundamental research and commercial application.”
Priorities
• Research Income • High impact publications • New & interesting problems • Public value
• Maintaining a competitive advantage:
• New products • New markets • Efficiency and cost
savings • Protectable IP • Commercial value
Strengths
• Generation of fundamental knowledge and “discoveries”
• Securing grant income
• Product development • Routes to market • Facilities for scale-up,
manufacture and marketing
Knowledge Transfer - what is it? Spinning-out a company
Licensing intellectual property
Collaborative R&D
Contract Research
Consultancy and University Services
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses
Secondments and Fellowship Schemes…
Knowledge Transfer - why is it important?
“Recommendation 1. Universities have extraordinary potential to enhance economic growth. Incentives should be strengthened to encourage maximum engagement in an enhanced Third Mission alongside Research and Education, and universities should make facilitating economic growth a core strategic goal”
Witty Review, Oct 2013
“…has emerged to manage the process of turning technology, know-how, expertise and skills into innovative, commercial products and services.”
Institute of Knowledge Transfer
Knowledge Transfer- “a new profession”
So what does a “Knowledge Transfer” professional do?
Day to day activities • Evaluating new commercial opportunities
• Attending scientific seminars & Industry networking events
• Writing/ reviewing project proposals, grant applications, business plans…
• Managing effective communication between academics and industry partners
Attractions of the role. Positives • University environment
• Scientific background is highly valued – and put to good use
• Variety of projects
• Variety of people / expertise
• Challenging and intellectually stimulating
• Potential for real societal impact
“Challenges” • University environment
• Projects (and successes) often aren’t “your own”
• Impact may occur over the (very) long term
Key skills & attributes. From PhD/ postdoc • Analytical thinking
• Problem solving
• *Time-management
• Independence/ autonomy
• Communication – inc. written & oral
• *Multi-tasking
• *Adaptability
• (Technical knowledge)
Additional • Commercial awareness
• Technology development & commercialisation
• Intellectual property, esp. patents
• Negotiation
• Networking
• Project planning/ project management
• Customer service…
*especially interdisciplinary PhDs
Picking up the additional skills.
Routes into KT… and back out Richard Sam James
Education PhD Polymer Chemistry (Sheffield, 1996)
PhD Chemistry (Sheffield, 2007)
PhD Biomaterials (Sheffield, 2009)
Previous Roles Post-docs & Lecturer (1996-2001) 2 Regenerative Medicine Spinouts (2000-07)
Part time lecturer, Sheffield College (2007) Biomaterials & medical device industry (2006-2010)
Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship, “CellSupports” service, University of Sheffield (2009-2010)
KT Roles METRC Manager, N8 Universities (2007-09) EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Account Manager, University of Sheffield, (2009-2012)
Business Development Manager, METRC (2009-2011)
Business Manager University of Sheffield (2009-2013)
Senior Licensing & Commercialisation Manager, University of Leicester (2013- )
Where next? Centre Development Manager, Centre for Assistive Technology & Digital Healthcare, University of Sheffield
Chief Operating Officer, QuantumDX Group Ltd. (2011-present)
TBC
Useful information. Key Organisations • AURIL
• Praxis Unico
• Institute for Knowledge Transfer
• Technology Strategy Board
University Enterprise Links • Nottingham
• Leeds
• Loughborough
• Sheffield
• Keele
National Sources of Training • Biotechnology YES
Publications • Lambert Review (2003)
• CIHE/ CBR Report (2008)“Universities, Business and Knowledge Exchange”
• Dyson Report (2010)“Ingenious Britain”
• Wilson Review (2012)
• Witty Review (2013)
