France has established 14 new regional technology transfer offices called SATTs to improve technology transfer from public research organizations to companies. The SATTs aim to reduce fragmentation, improve efficiency, and foster technology absorption by companies through proof of concept funding. Each SATT is a private corporation fully owned by public research operators in its territory, with boards made up of researchers and government representatives. After three years of operation, the 14 SATTs have detected over 60,000 technologies, built IP portfolios of over 20,000, funded 991 maturation projects, invested nearly 200 million euros, and facilitated 373 license agreements and 115 startups.

1. Tech transfer current reforms in France:
a new breed of TTOs
2016 December

2. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr2
SATT: WHAT IS IT?
A new TTO model “Investing for the Future” program in 2012
aiming at improving the social and economic returns from
academic research outcomes.
WHY?
• Reduce fragmentation of French TT system undersized and
understaffed
• Improve operational efficiency
• Foster absorption of technologies by companies (SMEs)
through Proof of Concept funding
• invest in Intellectual property and proof of concept for public
research technologies and inventions.
• A visible gateway for TT 14 TTO for 185 PROs
• Create competitiveness, jobs and wealth of out public
research
 856M€

3. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr3
SATT: WHAT IS IT?
WHICH ACTIVITIES
Two main channels:
• partnerships with companies and other partners and
• Technology transfers through licensing and spin off
creation.
THE VEHICULE
A fully owned subsidiary of public research operators in a
given territory
• Private corporation, 1M€ capital
• Board with 12 members
 8 representing public research organisation (2/3 shares)
 4 representing central government (1/3 shares)
• External Investment Committee

4. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr4
Accelerating Technology Transfer Offices
National scope
Une dynamique nationale
www.satt.fr
14 REGIONAL
TECH TRANSFER
OFFICES

5. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr5
WHICH ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH FUNDING
Mandatory activities
• Exclusive IP management & licensing for shareholders on their
territory
• Investment in IP & Proof of Concept
• Services sold to research operators at market price
Non mandatory activities
• R&D contract management (signing, invoicing)
• Platform management
• Incubation
Investment capacity: from 36M€ to 78M€ per SATT
Funding is 95% focussed on the « Investment » activity
BUSINESS MODEL: BREAK EVEN WITHIN 10 YEARS

6. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr6
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SATT Performance of the 14 SATT in 3 operational
years
• Detection 60049
• IP portfolio 20397
• Projects maturation 991
• investments (k€) 1960498
• Licence agreements 373
• Start-up 115
PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES

7. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr7
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Size does not fit all
but
• strategic approach shared with board of universities
• Switch from “resources allocation driven” to “risk
management driven”
• Financial means for pre-seed investment in proof of concept
(not research)
• Sizeable IP Portfolio
• Simplify relationship between universities and companies
Make regular evaluation but not on annual base – tech
transfer needs time (every three years)
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS

8. • www.ouest-valorisation.fr8
info@ouest-valorisation.fr
Find out more on:
www.ouest-valorisation.fr
THANKS YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION