Keynote presentation at the International Society for Professional Iinnovation Management in Singapore, December 2014. University technology transfer needs a total rethink.. a proposed model to put value creation at the heart of engagement rather than IP control. After all, if universities don't exist to faciltate knowledge diffusion why are we here??

1. Australian University Technology
Transfer – the need for a new
business model
Dr. Peter W. Beven
QUT Graduate School of Business
peter.beven@qut.edu.au

2. Network Effects predicated on collaboration on transactional TT
Lets look at the landscape

3. Is there a problem for Australia’s R&D
Performance?
Source: OECD Science, Technology & Industry
Scorecard 2013 v
Source: WIPO, INSEAD, Cornell Global Innovation
Index 2014

4. Pure basic
research
1%
Strategic
basic
research
5%
Applied
research
32%
Experimental
development
62%
Application of BERD $
Source: OECD Science, Technology & Industry
Scorecard 2013 v

5. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Funding Allocation of R&D by Field
HERD
GERD
BERD
Suggests NO –it’s a
performance issue
Is it just a
structural Issue?
Source: OECD Science, Technology & Industry Scorecard 2013 v

6. Commercial Value Created from
commercialisation of IP
Basic principles of technology observed and
reported
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
4
9
Technology concept and/or application
formulated
Analytical and laboratory studies to validate
analytical predictions
Component and/or basic subsystem
technology validated in a laboratory
environment
Component and/or basic subsystem
technology validated in a relevant
environment
System sub-system technology
model or prototype demonstration in
a relevant environment
System technology prototype
demonstration in an operational
environment
System technology qualified through
test and demonstration
System technology qualified through
successful mission operations
DEFENCE
INDUSTRY
NON-DEFENCE
INDUSTRY
VALUE VALUE
Technical Readiness Assessment
Virtually non-
existent

7. IP (TRA 1 – TRA 9)
License In License In License In
Industry NPD Process
TT licensing points

8. Increased focus on speed from lab to
market ..
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Number of Years it Took for Major
Technologies to Reach 50% of US Homes
Source: US Census Bureau, Consumer Electronics Assoc & National Cable and
Telom. Assoc (US) 2013
Greater focus
by companies
over time to
develop and
launch new
products faster

9. Understand that industry can use IP to
speed their NPD
BUT most
product
developments
take longer and
cost more than
originally
envisaged

10. Common issues in University TT
Largely (not exclusively) still a technology push model
Disconnect b/w TT office and research office
Poor understanding of commercial drivers of firms (NPD & Value Creation)
IP not market ready (or even close to)
Preoccupation with IP (patent) ownership (early disclosure impacts)
Driven by technologists rather than staff experienced in business
Bureaucratic organisation (time impact)
Essentially a
1990’s
business
model that
doesn’t work

11. One answer…
Shift the
paradigm ..
Turn TT Office
into an
“Engagement
Office” ..
Its all about
Value Creation
Adoption portfolio
management
approaches based
upon appropriateness
and value creation
Technology push the
exception not the
rule (breakthrough
research to make a
market) – usually
spin-outs
Become a facilitator
of Knowledge
Transfer (not just
technology)
Focus on
collaborations to
create company
value
• Relationship management
• Problem solving not
transactions
• Stop worrying about IP
CONTROL

12. The definition of
insanity is doing
the same thing
over and over
again and
expecting different
results…
Albert Einstein