1. Network of Technology Transfer Contacts
FITT
(Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer)
www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu

2. The concept
 In a research organisation → identify and train a contact person in
each lab, aware of technology transfer (“correspondants valo”)
 Promote the transfer of technologies from the labs, through internal
organisation & communication
Credit: Microsoft Office
 Initiative of the technology transfer office of Paris-Sud 11 university
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3. Objective
set up a network of transfer contacts in the labs to support the action of the
technology transfer office on a daily basis.
Technology transfer office (SAIC)
Technology transfer manager,
Business developper,
Technology transfer assistant,
IP lawyer
Laboratory Laboratory
Research teams, Research teams,
1 technology transfer contact 1 technology transfer contact
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4. Who?
The Technology Transfer contact persons:
 Researchers or engineers, interested and/or experienced in technology
transfer.
 In addition of regular research activities, the TT contact person will improve
technology transfer by facilitating the communication flow between researchers
and TT officers and by their willingness to answer questions about technology
transfer.
 Best situation: internal person, hired to be a TT contact at the end of a fixed-
term contract (knowledge of the teams and recognition of technology transfer as
part of his activity)
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5. Who?
Other stakeholders are also involved :
 The technology transfer officers of the university Paris Sud XI:
 Train the TT contacts via the internal training sessions on intellectual property (4
days, internal & external speakers) or other specific trainings offered to the
university staff
 Introduce the Technology Transfer contacts to the activity of the technology transfer
office (informal)
 Coordination with each technology transfer contact (monthly meeting)
 The management of the laboratories
 support necessary for a real success
 Promotion/ communication of this new position internally (newsletter, lab days,
website…)
 And the researchers !
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6. Why?
 Rationale for the Technology Transfer contact network?
The goal is to help laboratories to improve the transfer of their technologies by:
• Finding faster the most relevant researchers to answer a external private company
demand
• Enhanced identification of the needs for specific training for researchers
• Being closer to the labs in order to define the most appropriate actions
• Initiating a reflex
 What was the context?
• TTO of the university : central unit, far from the labs!
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7. When?
 2 technology transfer contacts (2 laboratories) since 2005.
 Since May 2009, TTO and TT contacts meet during monthly meetings.
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8. Pros & Cons
PROs CONs
• Helps build a network of TT specialists • TT contact persons must be already
well integrated in the lab and know the
• Continuous awareness-raising on TT
projects of all the different teams
• Organisation of meetings between lab
and companies is smoother, with a
• Advice to others trying a similar
approach : TT contact persons need to
collaborator within the lab
be trained to have a real impact
• Filling up of the gap between the lab
and the TT office
• In order to have applicants to the job,
the evaluation of the research staff
should fully recognise technology
transfer performance, which is not
currently the case.
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9. Outcome
 Lack of indicators: difficult to measure the impact.
 Some concrete achievements :
• lab/company meetings,
• communication documents & information database about technology transfer,
• training session about intellectual property
 Will to extend the network with other contact persons. Real impact to be
measured in a few years, since organisational changes require time to sink in.
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10. Lessons Learned
 Looking back now, what would you …
• do different?
Hire somebody internal and well integrated to the lab to be a TT contact person,
instead of a researcher from the outside.
• … improve?
Recommendation to train the lab contact person from the beginning.
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11. Suggested Readings
 Links to code book
 Technology transfer office
 Link to related websites
 Technology Transfer Office of Paris-Sud 11 University :
http://www.u-psud.fr/fr/l_universite/organisation_generale/services_communs/saic.html
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