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Technology transfer practices
Camilla Bonati
Technology transfer
2
License
Academic research ideas
relations
contactsfeedback
IP management
Technology assessment
Industry assessment
Market assessment
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Due Diligence - SWOT analysis
3
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportunities Threats
Technology Patent Market (preliminary)
InnovationState of the Art
Applications
Scope of protectionPrior art
Dependence
OpportunitiesFreedom of operation
Critical issues
1 2 3
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Technology/patent face off
product, process, software, novel use application(s) mature ↔ emergent
technology ↔ patent geographic protection ↔ markets of
interest SOTA landscape ↔ future developments
4
Technology…
… Patent
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Retrieving information
Key element of successful technology transfer:
The inventor
applications, technological atouts, market players, contacts
Cooperation with TTOs
Search engines
Scientific & patent DBs
5
Commercial DBs
Forum, Associations
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6
Patent DBs
www.epoline.com
www.wipo.int
www.qpat.com
www.uibm.gov.it
www.uspto/gov
www19.ipdl.inpit.go.jp
www.delphion.com
Scientific papers
www.endnote.com
scholar.google.com
www.cas.org/SCIFINDER
www.isiwebofknowledge.com
Retreiving scientific & patent information
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7
Weakness: prior art
Threats: freedom of operation
Example: Photosensitive device
Source: Qpat
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Technology: “early stage” or “mature”?
8
Source: Qpat
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Geographical patent landscape
9
Source: Qpat
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10
Retrieving information: market assessment
DBs and reports
Forums and associations
Les-italy
Techno-l
Associazione Italiana Documentalisti Brevettuali
Medtrack (pharma) Hoover’s
Knowledge express Frost &
Sullivan
Lexis nexis
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Example (continued)
Opportunities: market
11
Source: hoover’s
Consumer Products ManufacturersPhotographic & Optical Equipment/Supplies Manufacturers
Consumer Products ManufacturersConsumer ElectronicsVideo Equipment Canon Competitors
Foveon competitors (acquistata da Sigma corporation)
Aegis Corporation Acer Incorporated Agfa OmniVision Technologies
Agfa-Gevaert Ltd. Action Asia Limited ASML Pixim
Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Alco Holdings Limited CASIO COMPUTER Zoran
Arkwright Advanced Coating, Inc. Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. Eastman Kodak
AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Apex Digital, Inc. Fuji Xerox
Berli Jucker Public Company Limited Apple Inc. FUJIFILM
Bray Imaging Technologies Ltd. Archos S.A. Fujitsu
Bushnell Outdoor Products Audiovox Specialized Applications, LLC Hewlett-Packard
Canon Canada Inc. AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Hitachi
Canon Inc. Avid Technology, Inc. InfoPrint
Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Bang & Olufsen a/s Konica Minolta
Canon Oy BenQ Corporation Kyocera
Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. Broadcast Microwave Services, Inc. Lexmark
Canon (UK) Limited Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc. NEC
Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon Canada Inc. Nikon
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung Canon Inc. Océ
CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. Canon Oy Oki Electric
Casio America, Inc. Centon Electronics, Inc. Olympus
Celestron Acquisition, LLC Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. Panasonic Corp
The Chilcote Company Clarion Co., Ltd. Philips Electronics
Computextos S.A.C. Crestron Electronics, Inc. Polaroid
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Opportunities: growth of major players in industry
Key Numbers Canon Konica Minolta Ricoh Company Xerox
Annual Sales ($ mil.) 34,790.9 9,742.9 21,500.5 15,179.0
Employees 168,879 36,875 110 53,6
Market Cap ($ mil.) 56,810.5 592,338.4 1,000,000.0 9,849.2
Profitability Canon Konica Minolta Ricoh Company Xerox Industry Market
Median Median2
Gross Profit Margin 44.48% 45.12% 40.30% 70.43% 43.14% 28.77%
Pre-Tax Profit Margin 6.84% 3.51% 0.09% 4.13% 7.79% 8.48%
Net Profit Margin 4.10% 1.60% (0.43%) 3.20% 5.12% 5.53%
Return on Equity 4.9% 3.6% (0.9%) 7.3% 9.5% 10.1%
Return on Assets 3.4% 1.6% (0.4%) 2.1% 5.4% 1.5%
Return on Invested Capital
4.9% 2.4% (0.5%) 3.1% 8.9% 4.4%
Valuation Canon Konica Minolta Ricoh Company Xerox Industry Market
Median Median2
Price/Sales Ratio 0,088194444 0,043055556 0.57 0,045833333 1.08 0,175
Price/Earnings Ratio 40.65 41.49.00 (133.33) 20.58 24.21.00 27.32.00
Price/Book Ratio 0,110416667 1.43 1.22 1.40 2.09 7.22
Price/Cash Flow Ratio 0,386111111 5.51 6.11 4.51 8.55 23.09
Operations Canon Konica Minolta Ricoh Company Xerox Industry Market
Median Median2
12
Source: hoover’s
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Due Diligence - Output
13
Weaknesses
ThreatsOpportunities
Strength
Information transfer1. Commercial flyer2. Cluster - flyer
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Introducing the technology
Commercial flyer
IP
kind of protection
geographical
coverage
technology
description
Innovation Advantages Applications
State of develop.
Offer
LicenseResearch
14
Contact informationImages, Examples
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An Example
15
Highlights
Applications
Competitive
advantages
Kind of IP
Stage of development
Aim
Technology transfer…
…in 5 steps :
I. Patent analysis
II. Discussion with the inventor
III. Set up of supporting material (commercial flyer, clusters)
IV. Identifying potential licensee
V. Contact
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Identification of potential licensees
Combine different research strategies…
Suggestions from the inventor
Databases Patent (IPC, keywords, citations) Economic (industry reports, keywords, competitors)
Search engines
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…& Screen the results!!
Licensing models
Academic research
Market
Push
Pull
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Example: permanent magnet actuator
21
“A magnetic actuator for adaptive type actuation comprising a set of permanent magnets (M) including at least one first set of magnets and one second set of magnets spatially arranged so as to be able to interact magnetically with one another; means (SM) for orienting the magnets of one set in relation to the magnets of the other set in order to vary the mutual interaction between them; potential energy storage means (RE) connected to the two sets of magnets to recover the energy needed to orient the magnets”
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Technology assessment
Highly efficient magnetic actuator based on permanent magnets, able to produce strong forces and featuring high adaptability (reversibility) and stiffness control towards the user and the surrounding environment. The actuators have been successfully employed to allow muscle-like flexion of the single segments constituting a bio-inspired robot, reproducing the typical eel-like movements.
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the actuator generates a force (muscle-like behavior) high intensity forces may be produced great adaptability and reversibility high efficiency stability
Advantages
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Applicatiosn
Bio-ispired Robots
… but also:
robotics· automotive· aerospace
games– entertainmenthealthcare
· orthopaedic ehabilitation
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Due Diligence
24
Strength Weaknesses
Opportunities Threats
Different applicationsCompetitive advantages
search reportgeographical protection
Early stageBased on permanent magnets
Many recipientsBig playersDifferent target markets
Automotive market crisis
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Patent assessment – finding potential licensees (I)
Citation analysis(3rd level)
25
Source: Qpat
!!Company screening!!
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Patent assessment – finding potential licensees (II)
Relevant International classes- keywords
PHILIPS
SEAGATE
SIEMENS
EATON CORP
SAMSUNG
SONY
MATSUSHITA
MITSUBISHI
DELPHI
HEWLETT PACKARD
ABB
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Number of patents
Assig
nee
Main assigneesAssignee timeline Source: Qpat
Robot, actuator, automation, magnet
Market analysis
27
!! Company screeing!!
Source: hoover’s
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Market analysis: company assessment
28
Industrial Manufacturing· Industrial Automation &
Industrial Control Products Manufacturing(primary)
Electronics· Electrical Products· Electronic Inspection &
Monitoring Instruments· Electronic Test & Measurement
Instruments
Source: hoover’s
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Flyer
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