Fundamentals of Technology Transfer

Develop the knowledge and skills to begin or progress a career in Technology Transfer

Event description

Many of the technologies that underpin the modern world such as novel therapies, improved medical imaging, renewable energy technologies, new materials and improvements to computers have been developed from public or charity funded academic research. This has also been a major route by which UK academic institutions have generated “Impact”. 

Effective technology transfer is highly challenging. It requires an understanding of technical matters in areas such as Intellectual Property and commercial licence agreements, a strong business sense as well as an ability to manage relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.


This course aims to equip those at the start of their career in KE with the fundamental knowledge and skills to embark on this process.  A key driver for the creation of this course is to provide the KE sector with a gold standard foundational course on technology transfer.

2024 Dates

Online

Tuesday 19 March - Thursday 28 March 2024 (remote attendance only)

Day 1 - Tuesday 19 March 2024 (9.15am - 13.15pm)

Day 2 - Wednesday 20 March 2024 (9.15am - 13.15pm)

Day 3 - Thursday 21 March 2024 (9.15am - 13.15pm)

Day 4 - Tuesday 26 March 2024 (9.00am - 13.15pm)

Day 5 - Wednesday 27 March 2024 (9.15am - 13.15pm)

Day 6 - Thursday 28 March 2024 (9.15am - 13.15pm)

 

Please click the 'Book Now' button to register your space for the online only course.

Event fee: Non-Members £1,255, Members £935

 

 

In-Person

Tuesday 1 October 2024 - Friday 4 October 2024 (cannot be attended remotely)

Venue: Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa

  • Registration Evening – Tuesday 1 October 2024   
  • Day 1 – Wednesday 2 October 2024 
  • Day 2 – Thursday 3 October 2024  (Free evening) 
  • Day 3 – Friday 4 October 2024 

Costs do not include accommodation and travel. PraxisAuril cannot make bookings on behalf of delegates. Once you have made your booking, you will receive your accommodation reference in your confirmation email. 

Please click the 'Book Now' button to register your space for the in-person course.

Event fee: Non-Members £1,835 Members £1,375

 

 

Training outcomes

Understand the role of technology transfer and research commercialisation within the Knowledge Exchange space in a publicly funded research environment
Recognise good opportunities and assess their potential for commercialisation
Know how to identify the appropriate form(s) of  IP to protect opportunities
Understand how to market (and do market research on) a technology
Know how to propose licence terms and confidently review a licence agreement for further discussion
 

The course also focuses on networking, providing a valuable platform to meet peers, discuss best practice, and interact with the course team and other contributors.

PLEASE NOTE: There may be a requirement for delegates to undertake some pre-course work/reading before the course begins.

Who should attend?

  • Relevant job titles: Technology Transfer, Knowledge Exchange, Business Development,  Intellectual Property, Industry R&D, Sales, Marketing, Contract Management, Finance (executive, manager or officer level)
  • Relevant sectors/organisations: Universities, research institutions, publicly funded research institutes, funding bodies, companies, government
  • Experience needed: Early-stage career (0-3 years). Some experience of how publicly-funded research is carried out would be helpful, as well as a general background in science or technology
  • Supporting courses: None required
  • This course will contain; group work, network evenings, and interactive activities. 

Course Directors

Sue Sundstrom RTTP
Sue joined the university sector in 2002 initially as Director, Lifescience Enterprise at the University of Southampton and then as Head of Technology Transfer at the University of Bristol, following a career with AstraZeneca. Whilst with AstraZeneca, Sue undertook a range of commercial roles in marketing (UK and international), corporate strategy (new and existing businesses), business development and general management. As Managing Director of a French subsidiary she turned it from loss making to profit in 2 years through a rigorous prioritisation and rationalisation process. She was responsible for the sale of a subsidiary in Chile to one of its customers, negotiating a good price while protecting staff and maintaining an appropriate supply arrangement.

 

 

 


 

Gavin Smith RTTP 
Gavin, now retired, was Director of Lancaster University Business Enterprises Ltd. He was responsible for commercialisation of research from all departments of Lancaster University, including evaluations, patenting, marketing, licensing, spinout company formation and also using IP to assist in winning collaborative research grants.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dermot Tierney

Dermot is the CCO at AMPLY Discovery, a spin out from the Queen’s University of Belfast which uses AI and machine learning for drug discovery. With AMPLY he is responsible for all business operations covering matters such as investment, business development, legal, and IP.

Prior to joining the start-up Dermot worked in university technology transfer for over a decade. Recently he was Head of IP & Commercialisation in the Queen’s University of Belfast, where he was responsible for managing the university’s technology out-licensing, IP income, technology feasibility, and worked with many university spin-outs. Previously Dermot worked in Technological University Dublin (TUD) focused on commercialisation and negotiating new licence as the Senior Licensing Manager and also having managed TUD’s start-up accelerator programme as the New Venture Manager.

Prior to working in Technology Transfer and Knowledge Exchange Dermot worked in a number of sales, marketing and new product development roles in the news media sector.

Dermot has been an advisor and non-ex with a number of early stage technology companies. He holds a BA from Ulster University and an MBA from UCD Smurfit. He enjoys long walks on the beach and Madden.

 

Katja Kostelnik
Katja is a Senior Commercialisation Associate at Cambridge Enterprise, the technology transfer office of the University of Cambridge. Katja joined Cambridge Enterprise in March 2018 and works closely with academics, funders/investors and commercial partners to turn ideas and inventions emerging from the life sciences into commercial opportunities. With activities such as supporting translational research funding applications, protecting inventions via patenting, connecting academics with consultants and mentors as well as marketing and licensing technologies, Katja’s day-to-day work is never boring. 
Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Katja worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Queen Mary University of London in the field of inflammatory diseases. Katja studied Biology with a focus on Human and Molecular Biology at the Saarland University, Germany and holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the Leipzig University, Germany with research projects in the areas of cancer and obesity.

 

 

 

Tim Francis
Tim started working in technology transfer in 2005, joining the University of Warwick from an R&D background in the life science sector. This was followed by four years at a technology consultancy. Here he led a cross-disciplinary team of sector analysts producing in-depth technology and market intelligence for organisations that ranged from SMEs to multinationals. Tim then worked at the NC3Rs (Medical Research Council) managing a large open innovation programme in partnership with global pharmaceutical and chemical companies.  In 2012 Tim moved back into technology transfer, first at Coventry University and subsequently at the University of Warwick.