Fuentek’s Tech Transfer Blog
Fuentek’s technology transfer experts share their insights
about IP management, technology marketing, TTO operations,
strategic planning, best practices, and more.
about IP management, technology marketing, TTO operations,
strategic planning, best practices, and more.
A Forbes post from UCLA’s John Villasenor entitled “Intellectual Property Awareness at Universities: Why Ignorance Is Not Bliss” caught my eye. It discussed the importance of teaching the next generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators “what IP is and why it matters.” Having conducted an informal survey of engineering grad students, Villasensor discovered that their understanding of IP was woefully lacking. He rightfully raised the question:…
One of the items in my last “worth reading” post — Stefan Lindegaard’s blog post “Are Universities, Tech Transfer Units Open Innovation Losers?” — is getting a lot of attention, including a Technology Transfer Tactics blog post. Given the discussions in several tech transfer groups across LinkedIn (including AUTM, Techno-L, and Technology Transfer – Valorisation), I’d like to offer some further thoughts here. Open innovation refers to the spin-in as well as the spin-out of ideas, technology, etc. Approaching these two “directions” in concert and proactively — what we’ve called Symbiotic Innovation — is an essential component for revolutionizing technology transfer.
Is your new year’s resolution to better keep up with the latest in the technology transfer industry? Then consider this blog post a helping hand. And if you have opinions about these tech transfer “good reads” or fav articles/blogs of your own, share them by posting a comment below or sending me a private message.
Obviously we’re too close to Christmas for you to do so for this year (unless you’re a world-class procrastinator), but we at Fuentek wanted to take this day to remind our blog readers that LEGOs® are the perfect gift for any child… or playful adult. There’s a wide variety in terms of cost and level of difficulty, and no matter their interest, LEGO can match it. As a child, I loved playing with LEGOs. And I still do. I’m particularly fond of free-building (though when I was a kid, it was just plain old “building”) because of the creativity it allows, as compared to the kits with specified designs. Of course, the predefined sets are a…
I know lots of people are talking about the fiscal cliff. (Heck, I’ve been talking about it myself.) But as we head into this last month before we hit it (or not), my frustration is reaching a pinnacle. So brace yourself for a rant, albeit with a holiday spin. All I want for Christmas is for members of Congress to figure out how to work together and compromise. The sad thing is, this has been a Christmas wish for the past, oh, 15 years. (Santa? Santa, are you there?) Congress has not passed a budget in a timely manner since 1997. In fact, the last budget they passed at all was in April 2009. Worse than…
Over the holiday weekend, I caught up on some interesting technology transfer articles, papers, and blogs. Today, I share them with you. Bayh-Dole Supporting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Released by the Association of University Technology Managers® (AUTM®) and published on IPWatchdog.com®, this article provides preliminary data on a survey of nearly 100 academic institutions worldwide regarding their “acceptance and encouragement of students in the economic development of their ideas.” Well more than two-thirds reported that they provide a variety of programs and resources to help support student innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization. A single example of such a program was…
I gave two presentations at the Technology Transfer Integrated Planning Team of the Department of Defense (DoD) that I think our readers will find of interest. One focused on the Global Technology Portal (GTP) launched earlier this year by AUTM®, while in the other I discussed using social media to enhance tech transfer. The info and insights I’m sharing today definitely caught the attention of the DoD tech transfer professionals.
Like the Boy Scout mantra, there is no substitute for being prepared. Before you reach out to marketing prospects – or even place information about a technology on your Web site – be sure you have the resources to respond quickly. (Hint: If you’re going to be traveling, don’t begin a big email push just before you depart.) If someone makes an effort to inquire about a technology, the best time to hook that prospect is…
Today we have a special Halloween edition of our monthly “Worth Reading” post. In addition to our usual supply of news items and blogs related to technology transfer, Fuentek is spotlighting costumes related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics and professions. Consider them for your kids (or yourself!) next year.
Updated September 2016 • Even though next summer feels far away, now is the time to begin planning for next summer’s internship program, especially if you’re establishing a new one. Ideally, interns should begin working in the technology transfer office (TTO) at the beginning of the summer following the first year of their graduate program. If you start planning now, you can have the call for applicants go out in early March, interview and select candidates in April, and train them in May.
