Technology Transfer Offices in Europe

Notes from European Patent Office Conference in Zurich

Jan 2017

ABOUT ME

• 36 / 1 / 1

• Business Background

• #b2b #marketing #sales #early_stage_startups

#coach #judge #mentor

• 7 at the Careers Office

• 4 years at Diogenes Business Incubator (acting

CEO) and COO of C4E

• Executive Director of Youth Board of Cyprus

• Entrepreneurship enabler

• Family business helper

• Basketball addict

Menelaos A. Menelaou

Agenda

• State of the art Technology Transfer office in Europe

• New emphasis point

ETH transfer - Technology Transfer Office of ETH Zurich

• Research Agreements

• Patents and Licenses

• Spin off Support

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lab

Making ETH’s technologies available for the benefit of society

• Providing services to the ETH researchers in in drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements.

• Evaluating, protecting and out-licensing ETH technologies

• Coaching and supporting members of ETH starting an ETH Spin-off company

• Incubator for ETH entrepreneurs, e.g. for Pioneer Fellows

Patenting & Licensing of IP

• Evaluation of ETH inventions

• Advice on patentability

• Patent applications, administration and setting up of IP strategy

• Production of marketing material

• Licensing opportunities and “Tech Alerts”

• Identification of industry partners/licensees

• Licensing agreements

• Controlling and distribution of revenues

Motivation

• How do they convince researchers to patent?

• Builds reputation/nice on CV

• Products on the shelf with their technology inside

• Creating employment and income

• Personal financial incentive: 1/3 of the net revenues goes to inventor

• Potential participation in the “Spark Award”

• It is fun to do…

How do they get notice of inventions?

• Mostly: Direct disclosure to ETH Transfer

• Preconditions: • Scientists/Inventors have to be aware of a possible commercialization

potential of the research results

• Scientists/Inventors have to know about whom to contact and when

• Scientists/Inventors have to be aware of the importance of confidentiality

• PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IS

Who do they target?

• Mostly• Researchers

• Professors

• Postdocs

• PhD students

• Potential founders of spinoff companies

• Students are not in the primary focus of ETH transfer

ETH transfer activities – IP awareness

• Seminar talks in research groups

• Specifically “accessible” after a bad experience

• Talks within the framework of education for founders to be – mainly from outside experts

• Sporadic seminars within the framework of PhD schools

• Spark Award

• No active scouting for technologies for potential patents, e.g. no constant contact with researchers

New Emphasis on IP Education

• Goals• Awareness

• Modesty

• Reach

• Constrains • Size (20K students + 500 professors)

• Diversity (Bsc to Professors)

• Curricula (timing, “focus on math not IP)

• What doesn't work• Don’t try to reach all – don’t impose – don’t evangelize

New Emphasis on IP Education

• What does work• Basic IP classes

• National, EU and International IP Law• Focus on patents, copyrights • Use external lecturers

• Specialized & Integrated classes • Workshop and Lecture Series on the Law & Economics of Innovation• IP basics for PhD students in Physics • Entrepreneurship classes

• Variety • Normal classes Vs short modules • Non traditional educational activities (incubators, individual counseling, project/active

learning etc)

Thank you

• Questions?