WP2 WP2 Setting up and working on a TTO Setting up and working on a TTO

Giuseppe ContiGiuseppe Conti

TTO DirectorTTO Director

Politecnico di MilanoPolitecnico di Milano

March 23 – Casablanca meetingMarch 23 – Casablanca meeting

Unchain ProjectUnchain Project

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20102

INDEX

Technology Transfer Approach

Technology Transfer Office

Check list for setting up and boosting TTO

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DE

VE

LO

PM

EN

T

University Industry

KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION

know howpatents

contractsspin-offs

graduatesPhDEDUCATION

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Scientific publications

Which are the KT tools?

RE

SE

AR

CH

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20104

the milestone

Public research is (usually) at the beginning of the innovation

line, industry is (usually) at the end, and part of the path

should be shared in partnership.

The tools should be used in agreement.

The different missions and roles should be seen as

opportunities rather than disadvantages.

The efficiency strongly depends on the participation of all of

the four actors of the TT.

KTOs play a crucial role !!

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20105

Scheme of Technology Transfer ways

Department driven

Handled by TTO

Transfer by publications

Transfer by contracting

Transfer by cooperating (joint labs)

Transfer through infrastructures (test facilities)

Transfer by training

Transfer by head (Phd, spillover)

Transfer by licensing

Transfer by spinning off

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20106

Technology Transfer goals

Short term

Medium term

Long term

To disseminate IPR, TT and entrepreneurial culture To apply any kind of IPR To support new company creation

To favour a deep link between university and industry To promote networking of spin-off / start up company

To increase the innovation potential of regional and national industry

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20107

Definitions

• Technology Transfer Office• (Industrial) Liaison Office• Knowledge Transfer Office• University Industry Linkage• Contract Office• Office of sponsored research• Patenting and Licensing Office• Business Development Office

…

TTO could and should be the link between research and industry worldsfor developing Technology Transfer activities

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20108

I L O – T T O: role

TTOTTO

Role: listen, understand, evaluate, promoteRole: listen, understand, evaluate, promote

University

Research Centers

University

Research Centers

Spin-off

Industries

Associations

Chamber of commerce

Spin-off

Industries

Associations

Chamber of commerce

UE Ministers Regions Fondations Banks BA Venture CapitalUE Ministers Regions Fondations Banks BA Venture Capital

TTO © 2009 TTO © 20109

1. To have a lot of patents

2. To make a lot of licenses

3. To make profit as much as possible

Possible mission (Wrong) Possible mission (Wrong)

Updated “mission” (Polimi case studies) Updated “mission” (Polimi case studies)

1. To promote protection and exploitation of the university research

results, to play a role in the relationships between University and

Industry, to make possible the industrial applications of innovation.

2. To improve the excellence of University; to actract students and

excellent scientists, to actract research fundings from industries

TTO Mission

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201010

TTO: Organisational model

Internal

Outsourced

Indipendent

Coordinator

PROPRO

PROPRO

PROPRO

Dep

Subsidiary

IntermediaryPROPRO

PROPRO

PROPRO

Dep

PROPROPROPRO

PROPRO

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Basic ResearchBasic Research

Cooperative researchCooperative research

I.P. ProtectionI.P. Protection

Spin-offSpin-off

I PI P

IPRIPR

I.P.R LicensingI.P.R Licensing

Development contractDevelopment contract

Scientific publication

Contract research negotiation

Contract research negotiation

Marketing

negotiation

agreement

Marketing

negotiation

agreement

Incubation

Fund raising

Incubation

Fund raising

Marketing

Value negotiation - IP

Marketing

Value negotiation - IP

TTO functional model

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201012

TTO Organizational model

Spin-off patent licens

admin

BoardsBoards

Legal Legal

CommunicationCommunication

Int.consultantsTTO staff

projects

Technicaladvisors

Technicaladvisors

University staff

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201013

TTO Main activities

PatentingLicensingSpin-off creationCoperative research

Training

Advertisingknowledge management

Fund raisingProject managementAmministrative process

Research scoutingIP state of the artFilingPatent attorney mgmInfringment suirveillanceLicensees researchNegotiationAgreement preparationBP evaluationSpin-off fund raisingIP negotiation coop researchResearch result marketing

Research scoutingIP state of the artFilingPatent attorney mgmInfringment suirveillanceLicensees researchNegotiationAgreement preparationBP evaluationSpin-off fund raisingIP negotiation coop researchResearch result marketing

Relation with media partnersConferences and seminarsAdvertising materialDatabase management

Relation with media partnersConferences and seminarsAdvertising materialDatabase management

Grants researchInvoice mgm….

Grants researchInvoice mgm….

Giuseppe Conti 2006 ©

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201014

Licensing process: definition and meaning

Licensing activity is a process articulated in several steps to valorise and to exploit the patented research results.

This process starts after filing a patent application.

Through this activity Politecnico di Milano is able to transfer its research results to industry and to create an important link between companies and university …

Licensing activity is a process articulated in several steps to valorise and to exploit the patented research results.

This process starts after filing a patent application.

Through this activity Politecnico di Milano is able to transfer its research results to industry and to create an important link between companies and university …

Meaning:

To exploit a result of the research

To transfer a patent

To transfer the know how of inventors

To help industry to find a new market or an innovative solution

Meaning:

To exploit a result of the research

To transfer a patent

To transfer the know how of inventors

To help industry to find a new market or an innovative solution

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201015

Licensing process: procedure and steps

Keep in mind: time consuming activity that should be carry on together with inventors !

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Mito tech: spin-off for licensing outsourcing

Keep in mind: licensing needs right skills and IP critical mass

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201017

Spin-off process

Giuseppe Conti 2006 ©

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201018

Main goals: TTO Check list

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201019

TTO Check list: 2 Benchmark

Define:

1. Mission and goals

2. Organization and management

3. Activities

4. Manpower and skills

… Information, training and advertising

… Budget

… Networking

To understand and plan what and how you can do it

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201020

To favour a deep link between university and industry To increase the innovation potential of local industry To increase the innovation potential of regional industry To increase the innovation potential of national industry To promote the commercial exploitation of IPR and KH To increase the patent portfolio To increase the spin-off portofolio To disseminate the IPR and TT culture To make money To have access to public or private funds ….

Check list ILO: 2.1 Mission and goal

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201021

Organizational units or department within the PRO+ internal liability

+ close link to the researchers

+ ownership of IP

+ clear definition of the role

+ secure budget coverage

+ lower fixed costs

+ management of contracts

high level of burocracy, weak incentives and motivation to commercialisation Subsidiary organizations outside the PRO

+ managerial and financial independence

Public or private intermediaries + high specialised expertise

+ economies of scale

+ broader access to commercialisation

- distance from research and researchers, weak management of research portfolio

Check list ILO: 2.2 Organization

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First consultancy Research on novelty Market evaluation Patent application Patent exploitation (licensing) Advertising and comunication activities Liaison for contract research

client recruitment contract signing legal issues

Administrative activities Spin-off assistance Financing of spin-offs

seed capital holding shares

Check list ILO: 2.3 Activities

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Man power = function (goals, time, activities, organization budget)

Man power and role YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5

Professor IN – PT IN – PT IN – PT IN – FT IN – FT

To Manager IN - FT IN - FT IN - FT 2IN - FT 2IN – FT

Administrative IN - PT IN - PT IN - PT IN - FT IN – FT

Patent attorney OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT

Secretary IN - PT IN - PT IN - FT IN – FT

Legal expert IN - PT IN - PT IN – PT IN - PT

Finance expert PT PT FT

Management expert PT PT PT

Licensing expert IN - PT IN – FT IN – FT IN – FT

Communication PT PT FT FT

Man power (FTE) 2 4 5,5 8,5 9

Check list ILO: 2.4 Human resources

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201024

Define the goals and the philosophy of TT activitiesWithin the university

Within the local government

Among every actors of the Area

Be different in comparison to others initiatives Analyse key points of the other actors

Underline minus and plus factors

Create value added in the TT process

Pay attention to raise awareness onIPR and entrepreneurship culture within the university

Innovation needs of the industrial world

Innovation policies and strategies of Government

The Key factors

TTO © 2009 TTO © 201025

Many thanks !!

Merci beaucoup !!

giuseppe.conti@polimi.it

www.polimi.it/tto

www.mitotech.eu