1. Opportunity Identification
FITT
(Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer)
www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu

2. Definition
 In the context of public service, technology transfer aims at bringing the results of
research laboratories to public use and benefits. The conversion of scientific findings
into useful commercial products or processes is a way to bring innovative technologies
to the society.
 In the scope of technology transfer, the detection of opportunities is the way research
organisations identify the technologies that could be successfully turned into
commercial products.
2 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

3. Position in the valorisation chain
 Detection is the starting point of the technology transfer
process.
 Answer the question: “What can be brought to the market?”
before “How can it be brought to the market?”
New ideas/
Technologies
What? How?
3 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

4. Position in the valorisation chain
 In reality, valorisation process is a more complex, iterative process. All steps are closely interrelated.
 A lot of time and money is dedicated by Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) to the protection and
exploitation of the inventions that have been detected.
 As a consequence, a “quality” detection
should also involve a first assessment of
the commercial potential before taking the
ideas further. Some protection and
exploitation (such as pre-marketing)
aspects have to be considered from the
start.
Research activities
NEW IDEAS/TECHNOLOGIES
4 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

5. The challenges
 Quantitative : increasing the number of
invention disclosures
 The goal is to ensure that there are no missed
opportunities. The more invention declarations are
filled in by the researchers, the more technologies
have chances to reach the market.
 Qualitative: increasing the commercial
potential of the invention portfolio
 Intellectual property coming from public research is more
easily protected than exploited. However, patents are costly
and the search for the appropriate commercialization is time-
consuming. A more selective filing of patents would resulting
in a higher exploitation rate of the patents. With regard to
this aspect, the early assessment of the technology and the
market is crucial.
5 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

6. Success factors
6 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

7. Detection’s core components
Monitoring of research
activities
Awareness
creation
Evaluation
Detection of promising inventions for industrial applications
7 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

8. Processes available in the toolbox
 Technology transfer offices in Europe have implemented processes and tools to
improve the detection of research ideas with commercial potential. Some of the
processes target the increase of invention disclosures number while other target the
improvement of their quality by assessing the commercial perspectives.
 Some of these methods have been selected by the FITT partners to be included in
the toolbox, providing a range of existing initiatives to support the detection and
selection of valuable technologies in the labs:
 AWARENESS CREATION
 MONITORING OF ACTIVITIES
 EVALUATION
8 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

9. Detection’s core components
 Creation of technology transfer awareness
 Technology transfer is not always clearly established in researcher’s and manager’s
mindset. Initiatives targeting the awareness of TT support detection by disseminating the
basic rules of technology transfer and bringing researchers closer to the TTO.
 Monitoring of the activities
 To have a clear overview of the research activities and outputs, in order to do proactive
detection (« tracking down » the inventions). Invention disclosures constitute a fundamental
tool in this regard.
 Evaluation
 First assessment of the invention, to confirm the interest to proceed further and select the
most valuable projects in case of limited resources. Usually involves a « multiple » analysis
(quality of invention, IP, market, team) lead by the TTO with support of the researcher.
9 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

10. Practices available in the toolbox
AWARENESS CREATION MONITORING OF ACTIVITIES
Laboratory notebook
Entrepreneurial skills training
Network of Technology Partnerships management:
Transfer Contacts Agreement guidelines
Recommendation letter Partnerships management:
for inventors Researchers’ consulting Satisfaction survey & impact
assessment
activity
Invention disclosure
Quick assessment tool for business ideas
(NABC)
Technology transfer follow-up committee
Evaluation criteria EVALUATION
10 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification

11. Pros & Cons
PROs CONs
 A lot of information is available to do a  … But no system/tools for systematic analysis.
“screening” of the projects (lab notebooks,
activity reports, grant applications) …  Detection is the part of the technology transfer
that is difficult to harmonise, because it relies a
 Environment and cultural mindset are slowly lot on Human Resources aspects (experience
changing : young researchers are introduced to and workforce)
technology transfer during their studies/
doctoral schools  Market watch is crucial for a pro-active detection
(“market pull” ) but it is often underestimated (lack
 Efficient detection is useful to all stakeholders. of time, information or resources)
When technology transfer officers are involved
early in the process, they are able to provide
researchers with the appropriate counseling.
Their activity is facilitated if all options remain
open.
11 | March 2010 Opportunity Identification