There is often a gap between the long term perspectives of academic research and the short term needs of industry. Traditional technology transfer processes begin once research is complete, but technologies from universities are often too early for industry. The presentation proposes an approach where researchers work closely with technology transfer professionals from the beginning to explore market opportunities, develop prototypes, establish intellectual property strategies, and engage with small and medium enterprises. This process aims to bridge the gap between research and commercialization.

1. Filling the Gap Between Industry and Academia
Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano
Sara Notargiacomo
Technology Transfer Manager @NECSTLab - Politecnico di Milano
05.29.2018
sara.notargiacomo@polimi.it
Stanford OTL, Da Vinci Conference Room - Palo Alto

2. 1

3. Scientific Research has generally a long term perspective
2

4. Industry short term necessities
3

5. Different expectations and award system
4

6. Which technology is available
5

7. How to value available technologies
6

8. Filling the Gap
7

9. 8
Traditional
Innovation Process
Technology
Exploration
Technology
Exploitation

10. 9
From Research to
Market
Technology
Exploration

11. 10
From Research to
Market
Technology
Exploration
Technology
Exploitation

12. 11
From Research to
Market
Technology
Exploration
Technology
Exploitation
Traditional Technology
Transfer Process

13. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
12

14. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
13
Traditional tech transfer
begins once the research
outcomes are complete

15. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
14Researchers are not
completely aware of when
is suitable to disclosure
their invention

16. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
15Hard for researchers to
understand
commercialisation
potential

17. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
16
Asymmetric information
between researchers and
companies

18. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
17
Difficult for companies to
know which technologies
are available

19. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
18Patenting and licensing
work only for a small
number of technology
categories

20. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
19
Unproven technologies
are not of interest to
corporations

21. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
20
Hard for sellers to know
what price would be
reasonable

22. Traditional
Technology
Transfer process
in Accademia
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
21
Hard for sellers to know
what price would be
reasonable
Inventions disclosures and patents are inputs, not
outputs of commercialization

23. 22
From Research to
Market
Technology
Exploration
Technology
Exploitation
Traditional Technology
Transfer Process

24. 23
From Research
to Market:
our approach
Technology
Exploration
Technology
Exploitation
Show Potential

25. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
24

26. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Disclosure
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
25
Researchers work in close
collaboration with
technology transfer
professional since the
beginning

27. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Evaluation
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
26
Understand scientific research
and market opportunity
Existing patent search

28. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
IP
Protection
Marketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
27Scientific publication goals and
timing
Patent application programming
according to research necessities

29. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentMarketing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
28● Design
● Milestones
● Step by step
implementation

30. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
29
A first prototype is
validated inside the lab

31. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
30
A first prototype is
validated inside the lab
Technological Readiness Level (TRL)
Basic Principles TRL 1
Technology Concept TRL 2 BASIC
Proof of Concept established TRL 3
Laboratory Testing of integrated system TRL 4
Laboratory Prototype Testing TRL 5 ADVANCED
Validation in relevant environment TRL 6
Integrated Pilot system demonstrated TRL 7 APPLIED
System incorporated in commercial design TRL 8
System ready TRL8
Source: nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/engineering/technology/txt_accordion1.html

32. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Licensing
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
31
A first prototype is
validated inside the lab
Technological Readiness Level (TRL)
Basic Principles TRL 1
Technology Concept TRL 2 BASIC
Proof of Concept established TRL 3
Laboratory Testing of integrated system TRL 4
Laboratory Prototype Testing TRL 5 ADVANCED
Validation in relevant environment TRL 6
Integrated Pilot system demonstrated TRL 7 APPLIED
System incorporated in commercial design TRL 8
System ready TRL8
Source: nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/engineering/technology/txt_accordion1.html

33. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Corporate
Relations
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
32
Technology do not have
value without a business
model

34. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Corporate
Relations
Product
Development
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
33
Technology do not have
value without a business
model
We’ll focus on Small & Medium Sized Companies
(SMEs)

35. 34
Why SMEs
SOURCES:SPITHOVEN 2013
99,8 % of non financial
companies are SMEs
They employ 67% of the
total employment
They Create the 58% of
sector value added
98 % of U.S.
companies exporters
are SMEs
They support
two-thirds of net new
private sector jobs

36. 35
Why SMEs
SOURCES:SPITHOVEN 2013
99,8 % of non financial
companies are SMEs
They employ 67% of the
total employment
They Create the 58% of
sector value added
98 % of U.S.
companies exporters
are SMEs
They support
two-thirds of net new
private sector jobs
SMEs are driving the economy

37. 36
Why SMEs
FLEXIBILITY
SOURCES:SPITHOVEN 2013

38. 37
Why SMEs
FLEXIBILITY LIMITED RESOURCES
SOURCES:SPITHOVEN 2013

39. 38
Why SMEs
LESS ABILITY TO
ACCESS EXTERNAL
RESOURCES
FLEXIBILITY LIMITED RESOURCES
SOURCES:SPITHOVEN 2013

40. 39
Why SMEs
LESS ABILITY TO
ACCESS EXTERNAL
RESOURCES
FLEXIBILITY LIMITED RESOURCES
GREATER
CONCENTRATION OF
OPEN INNOVATION
SOURCES:SPITHOVEN 2013

41. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Corporate
Relations
Company
testing
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
40
Show potential: the
business case

42. 41
OPPORTUNITY Current market gaps and limitations
Business Case

43. 42
TECH CHALLENGES
OPPORTUNITY Current market gaps and limitations
Technological challenges currently faced by companies in
the market
Business Case

44. 43
TECH CHALLENGES
TECH INNOVATION
OPPORTUNITY Current market gaps and limitations
Technological challenges currently faced by companies in
the market
Key elements of innovation
Business Case

45. 44
TECH CHALLENGES
TECH INNOVATION
MILESTONES AND
BENEFITS
OPPORTUNITY Current market gaps and limitations
Technological challenges currently faced by companies in
the market
Key elements of innovation
Improvements generated by the invention with respect
to tech challenges
Business Case

46. 45
TECH CHALLENGES
TECH INNOVATION
MILESTONES AND
BENEFITS
VALUE GENERATED
OPPORTUNITY Current market gaps and limitations
Technological challenges currently faced by companies in
the market
Key elements of innovation
Improvements generated by the invention with respect
to tech challenges
Reduced cost or increase revenue
Business Case

47. 46
TECH CHALLENGES
TECH INNOVATION
MILESTONES AND
BENEFITS
VALUE GENERATED
EXPERIENCE
OPPORTUNITY Current market gaps and limitations
Technological challenges currently faced by companies in
the market
Key elements of innovation
Improvements generated by the invention with respect
to tech challenges
Reduced cost or increase revenue
Which type of experience a potential user will have
Business Case

48. Technology
Transfer:
Our Approach
Market
potential &
Competitive
analysis
Research
& patent
application
plan
Prototype
Design
DocumentLab
Testing
Corporate
Relations
Company
testing
Final
Return
Research
Idea and
State of
the Art
47
Easier to set a price for
the technology and to
define a IP strategy

49. 48
Why Now

50. 49
Third Wave of the Internet

51. 50
Conclusions and
Final Remarks
• University technologies are generally too early to attract
industry investment

52. 51
Conclusions and
Final Remarks
• University technologies are generally too early to attract
industry investment
• Main factors that influence technology go to market:
I. technology stage;
II. type of market;
III. competing technologies;
IV. the amount of work needed to bring the
technology to the marketplace;
V. researcher’s commitment

53. 52
Conclusions and
Final Remarks
• University technologies are generally too early to attract
industry investment
• Main factors that influence technology go to market:
I. technology stage;
II. type of market;
III. competing technologies;
IV. the amount of work needed to bring the
technology to the marketplace;
V. researcher’s commitment

54. 53
Conclusions and
Final Remarks
• University technologies are generally too early to attract
industry investment
• Main factors that influence technology go to market:
I. technology stage;
II. type of market;
III. competing technologies;
IV. the amount of work needed to bring the
technology to the marketplace;
V. researcher’s commitment

55. 54
Conclusions and
Final Remarks
• University technologies are generally too early to attract
industry investment
• Main factors that influence technology go to market:
I. technology stage;
II. type of market;
III. competing technologies;
IV. the amount of work needed to bring the
technology to the marketplace;
V. researcher’s commitment
• IP is central to open collaborations as it represents the
contribution that each partner brings on the table

56. 55
Thanks for your attention
05/29/2018
Stanford OTL, Da Vinci Conference Room - Palo Alto
Sara Notargiacomo
Technology Transfer Manager @NECSTLab - Politecnico di Milano
sara.notargiacomo@polimi.it
Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano