Fundamentals of Technology Transfer

09:00 - 09:45    Course introduction

In this opening session the Course Directors, shall outline what to expect from the days ahead and answer any queries you may have before starting out on three days of intense learning.

09:45 - 10:45    Finding and evaluating technology opportunities and exploitation strategies

Very few of the disclosures we receive are likely to form the basis of a good patent: fewer still, maybe 1 in 10, have any commercial potential. Moreover, we simply do not have the time to simultaneously manage too many projects.

How then should we: scout, screen, evaluate, and rank the disclosures and opportunities we receive?

What exploitation scenario and strategy are most suitable?

How should we reject the ones that we decide not to pursue?

10:45 - 11:15    Coffee Break

11:15 - 12:15    Introduction to Licensing

This session offers a general introduction to the what, why and how of licensing and addresses some of the common matters you need to take into consideration when negotiating a licensing deal.

12:15 - 13:15    Patenting: what you should know

An introduction to the what and when of patenting academic findings and the key decision points along the way.

13:15 - 14:15    Lunch

14:15 - 14:30    Licensing exercise: presentation

14:15 - 15:30    Licensing exercise: group work

15:30 - 16:00    Coffee Break

16:00 - 17:00    Licensing exercise: debriefing

17:00 - 17:15    Wrap up of day 1

What did we learn today?

09:00 - 10:00    Introduction to academic spin-offs

This session will provide a basic overview of the different steps needed to create an academic spin-out, covering topics such as: bringing the right team together, valuing the technology, and writing a business plan.

10:00 - 11:00    Basics of spin-off financing

This session will focus in on early-stage financing of academic spin-offs covering business model development, financing stages, equity, valuation and attached rights.

11:00 - 12:30    Real life spin-off stories: KU Leuven

Starting a business, based on an academic finding, from the KTO perspective: the dos and don’ts for a KTO in the spin-out process.

12:30 - 13:30    Lunch

13:30 - 15:00    Group work: spin-off case study

Defining an acceptable and fair proposal for all involved: direct and indirect, internally and with partners, including distribution between university, inventors and investors.

15:00 - 15:30    Coffee Break

15:30 - 16:15    Technology transfer through research collaborations

More than 95% of the knowledge transfer from academia to industry takes place in your day-to-day research collaborations. In this exercise, learn more about the expectations of industry and academia when setting up a research collaboration and about the expectations of industry.

16:15 - 17:00    Case study debriefing: academic spin-off

17:00 - 17:15    Question and Answer session

09:00 - 10:00    Introduction to negotiation theory and tools

This session first introduces the concept of principled negotiation aimed at achieving “win-win” deals. Real live negotiations however include both cooperative and competitive elements. The session will then explore the tension between value-creating and value-claiming strategies. The session will end with some guidelines on how to prepare negotiations.

10:00 - 10:15    Introduction to the role-play session

Presentation of the role-play, a two-party, scored, integrative negotiation.

10:15 - 10:45    Break

10:45 - 11:45    Negotiation role-play: debriefing

Results presented on the integrative zone of possible agreements.

12:00 - 12:45    Introduction to the power in negotiations

There are different sources of power in negotiations. This session first discusses the different elements of power. The second part describes some techniques and dirty tricks that are used to shape perception during negotiations.

12:45 - 13:00    Course wrap up

13:00 - 14:00    Lunch and farewell