Summary

 

Technology transfer, the process of sharing knowledge and technologies among institutions who can further develop and exploit the technology into new products or services, is an essential part of the knowledge economy. Research institutions, such as universities, recognize that technology transfer represents a commitment to improving the public good by creating new businesses and jobs. 

The IFC and infoDev have partnered to explore how developing countires can best facilitate technology transfer from research institutions - both internally and from industrialized nations. Reports, presentations and Q&As can be found below.

Background

In 1980, the American Congress passed the Bayh-Dole Act that gave research institutions the ownership of intellectual property resulting from government funding. In turn, many universities established Technology Licensing Offices to manage and license to private firms the intellectual property rights resulting from institution research. Although the American technology commercialization model is widely emulated, some data suggests this may be misguided. Instead of simply trying to recreate Silicon Valley, are there other models available for technology commercialization that may be more appropriate for the unique context of each country? In what innovative ways are other countries stimulating technology commercialization?

This website is structured around an IFC study by Stephen Sammut that examines global technology transfer.

As a starting point, the report raises a number of questions, including:

1. Has the US model been successfully replicated elsewhere? Can it be? More importantly, should it be?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the US technology commercialization model in the US context? What are the implications for emerging markets?
3. What other models exist and what are their strengths, weaknesses, adaptability and implementability?
4. Who are the stakeholders in tech transfer generally? Which of these play an active role in commercialization? Which currently do not but should?
5. What are the special technology transfer considerations by industry, e.g., human health, agriculture and food, information technology, and alternative energy?
6. What approaches might improve technology flows between developed countries and emerging markets?

These issues and more were discussed at the Technology Transfer Facility Convocation held on May 14-15th, 2009. A number of experts have responded to the above questions. Please click their name to view and respond to their insight:

• Louis P. Berneman, Former MD of Penn CTT, Currently CEO of Texelerate
• Richard Cahoon, COO, Cornell Research Foundation
• Marcelo Menossi, Professor and Director, UNICAMP Technology Transfer Office, Sao Paulo
• David Martin, Executive Chairman, M-CAM & Fellow, Batten Institute, University of Virginia
• Jane Muir, Technology Transfer Manager, University of Florida
• Michelle Mulder, Technology Transfer Manager, South Africa Medical Research Counsel
• Dirk Radzinski, CEO, Humboldt University Technology Commercialization
• Nava Swersky Sofer, Immediate Past President & CEO, Yissum (Hebrew University)
• K. Vijay Vijayaraghavan, President, STEM (India)
• Patricia Weeks, Former Director of Technology Transfer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and former president, AUTM

At the Convocation, experts presented on topics ranging from technology transfer in Israel to Chile to potential changes that can be made to the current system. These presentations are available here.