This document discusses opportunity identification in technology transfer from public research organizations. It defines technology transfer and opportunity detection as bringing research findings to public use through commercialization. Opportunity detection is the starting point of identifying technologies that could successfully be turned into commercial products. The challenges are increasing both the quantity and quality of invention disclosures by researchers. Success requires raising awareness of technology transfer, monitoring research, and evaluating projects for commercial potential. The document outlines existing processes used by European technology transfer offices to improve opportunity detection.

1. Opportunity Identification
FITT
– Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer –
www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu
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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.
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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?
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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
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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.
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6. Success factors
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7. Core components
Detection &
Monitoring
Creation of
Transfer
Awareness Evaluation
Detection of promising inventions for industrial applications
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8. Processes available in the toolbox
• Technology transfer offices in Europe have implemented processes and tools to
improve the detection of technologies with commercial potential. Some of the
processes target the increase of the number of invention disclosures 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 on the following topics:
• CREATION OF TRANSFER AWARENESS
• DETECTION AND MONITORING
• EVALUATION OF TRANSFER PROJECTS
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9. Processes available in the toolbox
• Creation of transfer awareness
• Technology transfer is not always clearly established in researcher’s and
manager’s mindset. Initiatives targeting the awareness of teams on TT support the
detection by disseminating the basic rules of technology transfer and explaining
the mission of the technology transfer office.
• Detection and Monitoring
• 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 of Transfer Projects
• 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.
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10. Practices available in the toolbox
CREATION OF TRANSFER AWARENESS DETECTION AND MONITORING
Invention disclosure
Technology Transfer Guide for Researchers’ consulting
Research teams activity
Network of Technology
Transfer Contacts Partnerships Agreement
Entrepreneurial skills training IPR guidelines
Recommendation letter Innovation meetings Partnership satisfaction &
for inventors impact survey
Valorisation Opportunity
Workshops
Quick assessment tool for business ideas
(NABC)
Technology transfer follow-up committee
EVALUATION
Evaluation criteria
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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, • Detection is the part of the technology transfer that
activity reports, grant applications) … is difficult to harmonise, because it relies a lot on
• Environment and cultural mindset are slowly human resources aspects (experience and
changing : young researchers are introduced to workforce)
technology transfer during their studies/ doctoral • Market watch is crucial for a pro-active detection
schools (“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.
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