This EPO Technology Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of innovation trends in plastic waste recovery, recycling, and alternative materials. Based on five decades of patent data, the report identifies key technological developments, highlights the role of startups and universities,…
The ASTP 3rd Directors’ Forum, held on 6–7 February 2025 in Lille, France, gathered 31 KTO leaders from 12 countries to discuss AI’s impact on knowledge transfer. Key topics included AI tools, balancing automation with expertise, best practices, and policy strategies.
The newly launched Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Toolkit – Adapted for Europe, is an essential resource designed to empower Knowledge and Technology Transfer Offices (K/TTOs) across Europe with actionable strategies to promote equity, celebrate diversity, and foster inclusion.
IMPAC3T-IP is an ambitious Coordination and Support Action that aims to develop, pilot and support the sustainable adoption of a scenario based licensing ToolBox through a certified user and trainer programme, for efficient IP licensing for market uptake and societal value creation. This document…
A new study from the European Patent Office (EPO) explores how innovation ecosystems are shaping the future of oncology, with knowledge transfer playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between research and market-ready solutions. New Frontiers in Oncology: An Evolving Innovation Ecosystem…
The INNOV-8-2-CREATE Toolkit is designed to enable universities, innovation hubs, and stakeholders across Europe to replicate the pre-accelerator programme effectively. In addition to providing step-by-step guidance, templates, and examples, the toolkit ensures the programme's sustainability,…
Discover how the Technology Investor Score (TIS) identifies key investors for European innovators, bridging funding gaps and enhancing support for technology-driven startups. Explore public-private collaboration, scaling challenges, and actionable insights for growth.
The WIPO Guide to Trade Secrets and Innovation highlights the strategic value of trade secrets in driving innovation and protecting confidential information. It provides an overview of trade secret systems, management practices, and their role in modern economies, offering insights for businesses,…
Explore ASTP's White Paper, endorsed by NAAC, “Catalysing Change: Exploring trends and strategies to enhance the spin-off process in Europe”. Learn strategies for innovation, knowledge transfer, and robust support systems to enhance research institutes' impact on competitiveness and development.
The 2022 handbook offers insights into city-university collaboration, developed through EUniverCities workshops (2019–2021). It highlights models, challenges, and benefits of partnerships, aiming to inspire European practitioners. This resource synthesises academic and municipal experiences into…
Explore the connection between mental and physical health in this primer by Becca Switzer. Learn about diagnosis, treatment, and how embracing neurodiversity and mental health management can enhance quality of life and creativity.
This report contains data of 674 KTOs from 21 European countries. It includes 97 aggregated KTO datasets from one National Association and 577 datasets from responding KTOs. The aggregated data was included in the summary overview and excluded from the detailed analysis in the remainder of the…
The EPO-IEA report reveals a sevenfold increase in grid-related patents since 2005, driven by innovations in smart grids, AI, and sustainability. Highlighting Europe’s leadership, it identifies challenges in expanding connections, enhancing flexibility, and ensuring cybersecurity, emphasising…
The 2022-2024 European Research Area Policy Agenda outlines 20 voluntary actions to enhance innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in research. It prioritises open science, green and digital transitions, and global collaboration, aiming to foster excellence, protect academic freedom, and…
The European Competence Framework for Researchers outlines key skills across seven domains, including cognitive abilities, self-management, and research management. It promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical practices, and societal engagement, aiming to enhance researchers' capabilities…
Enhancing Knowledge Transfer Offices: Addressing Information Needs and Challenges in Reporting to Stakeholders
The Annual Survey Executive Data Report presents data from 565 Knowledge Transfer Offices across 24 countries for Financial Year 2020, offering key insights into their activities and impact.
The European Patent Office’s 2022 study highlights progress and persistent gaps in women’s participation in patenting. While women inventor rates have steadily risen, they remain below parity, with notable disparities across countries, technologies, and organisational types. The study…
The ASTP Survey Report on FY2019 highlights knowledge transfer activities across Europe, analysing data from respondents to identify trends, challenges, and impacts. The report provides insights into intellectual property management, industry collaborations, and innovation outputs, supporting the…
The Towards a Reform of the Research Assessment System report highlights the need for systemic change in assessing research quality and impact. It proposes a European coalition to prioritise qualitative assessment, reduce reliance on metrics like journal impact factors, and promote open science,…
The EUA Innovation Ecosystems report highlights universities’ critical role in Europe’s sustainable and digital transitions. It emphasises collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and innovation capacity, while recommending enhanced funding, governance, and entrepreneurship training to maximise…
The Stakeholder Consultation on the Guiding Principles for Knowledge Valorisation (2021) highlights the need to include all actors, tools, and channels in knowledge valorisation. It identifies key obstacles, such as limited skills and funding, and emphasises fostering collaboration, improving…
ASTP, AUTM, KCA, and PraxisAuril propose a global definition of the knowledge transfer profession, managed by ATTP. The definition highlights its purpose: a collaborative endeavour translating knowledge and research into societal and economic impact, supporting new activities, education programmes,…
The Doing Business in the United States guide provides non-U.S. companies with key insights into establishing operations in the U.S. It covers legal, regulatory, and cultural considerations, entity formation, taxation, intellectual property, and employment laws to help companies navigate the…
The ASTP Annual Survey provides an unique view of the European knowledge transfer landscape. We are pleased to share the results of the survey conducted on financial year 2018 data.
The ASTP Annual Survey provides an unique view of the European knowledge transfer landscape. We are pleased to share the results of the survey conducted on financial year 2017 data.
The results provided in this report are based on the largest European dataset so far, offering a valuable insight into knowledge transfer offices, their activities and outputs.
We are pleased to provide our members, contributors and stakeholders with the results of our fiscal year 2015 (FY2015) Survey which provides insights of the FY2015 European Knowledge Transfer landscape.
The ASTP survey is the result of the hard work and commitment of volunteers who have collected and analysed information from an increasing number of universities and research institutions from across all Europe.
This report has been prepared by an Expert Group on Knowledge Transfer Metrics appointed by the Competence Centre on Technology Transfer of the EC's Joint Research Centre in partnership with ASTP.
The ASTP-Proton Impact Report for Europe 2015 highlights success stories of knowledge transfer in health research. It showcases innovations transforming research into impactful products and services, promoting collaboration between academia and industry. The report underscores the societal and…
The 2020 white paper Embedding Knowledge Transfer Offices in Horizon Europe Projects, published by ASTP's National Associations Advisory Committee, advocates integrating KTOs into EU-funded projects. It highlights their role in fostering innovation, improving industry-academia collaboration, and…
Art Bos (2017) in his masterclass on delivering the KT/TT function, explores innovation ecosystems, the evolving role of TTOs, and models like the Triple Helix. He highlights key mandates, resource needs, and entrepreneurial strategies, emphasising adaptability, collaboration, and fostering…
Andrea Schmoll (2015) explores strategies to optimise licensing agreements, covering preparation, key provisions, and compliance with antitrust laws. Highlighting commercial and financial considerations, the presentation emphasises aligning agreements with IP protection, partner evaluation, and…
Robert Marshall (2015) presents a masterclass on negotiating with difficult individuals, outlining a five-point plan: don’t react, disarm them, change the rules, make it easy to say “yes,” and hard to say “no.” Drawing on the Harvard Negotiation Project, he emphasises reframing tactics,…
Jeff Skinner, in his 2014 masterclass, explores effective allocation of scarce PoC funds. He stresses targeting investment to maximise commercial value and minimise risk, addressing investor concerns, and avoiding pitfalls like funding "second-guessing" or unnecessary scientific extensions.
Raja Sengupta, in his 2014 ASTP masterclass Post-Licensing Management, emphasises disciplined oversight of IP agreements to secure rightful returns. He advocates proactive systems, robust audits, and collaboration to address challenges like underreporting and ensure alignment with financial and…
Jeff Skinner, in his 2014 masterclass Valuation of Early Spin-outs, examines methods for valuing nascent tech businesses. He highlights balancing optimism with caution, understanding investor perspectives, and using valuation models critically to manage risks and expectations, illustrated through…
Robert Marshall, in his 2012 masterclass Conflict Resolution Part 1, explores causes of conflict and strategies for resolution. He emphasises understanding behaviour, distinguishing healthy and unhealthy conflict, fostering empathy, and applying structured negotiation techniques to achieve positive…
Robert Marshall, in his 2012 masterclass Conflict Resolution Part 2, explores negotiation strategies, emphasising principled negotiation over positional bargaining. He advocates separating people from problems, focusing on mutual interests, and employing constructive techniques like BATNA to…
Mark Anderson (2012) provides guidance on structuring and drafting licence agreements. He addresses key clauses, risk allocation, performance obligations, and financial terms, emphasising precision in defining rights, responsibilities, and liabilities to ensure clarity and mitigate disputes.
Cath Whitaker (2012) outlines practical strategies for technology transfer offices. She emphasises effective market research, identifying applications, engaging stakeholders, and leveraging data-driven insights to support licensing, spin-outs, and investment decisions while addressing market…
Sean Fielding (2011) focuses on effective relationship-building in research and knowledge transfer. He discusses customer relationship management, leveraging networks, and strategic account management, emphasising proactive engagement and tailored approaches to foster partnerships and maximise…
Mark Anderson (2012) examines the drafting and negotiation of CTAs. He addresses key issues like regulatory compliance, intellectual property rights, liability, and indemnities, providing practical guidance on balancing stakeholder interests, ensuring clarity, and managing risks in clinical trial…
Mark Anderson (2009) provides detailed guidance on drafting and negotiating CTAs. He covers regulatory compliance, intellectual property, liability, and indemnities, emphasising clear contractual terms to balance stakeholder interests and navigate legal complexities effectively.
Jeremy Philpott (2012) discusses intellectual property strategies, focusing on patents and alternative protections. He explores when to use patents, strategic application considerations, and unregistered IP. Philpott emphasises commercial intentions, timing, and defensibility to maximise IP value…
Jeremy Philpott (2010) discusses leveraging intellectual property to support innovation. He covers strategic use of patents, trademarks, and unregistered IP, stressing the importance of aligning IP decisions with business goals, market timing, and effective resource management for competitive…
George Fildes (2010) explores financial principles tailored for tech-focused businesses. He addresses funding sources, budgeting, cost management, and investment analysis, emphasising strategic financial planning, cash flow control, and aligning financial decisions with business objectives to…
Robert Marshall (2011) focuses on creating high-performing technology transfer offices. He discusses mission clarity, resource allocation, policy frameworks, marketing, and performance metrics, emphasising strategic alignment and professional development to enhance innovation management and…
Robert Marshall (2011) focuses on team building, motivation, and management within technology transfer offices. He highlights recruitment strategies, performance improvement, mentoring, and fostering strong academic relationships to enhance operational effectiveness and support innovation-driven…
Robert Marshall (2011) introduces the fundamentals of negotiation. He contrasts hard, soft, and principled negotiation approaches, emphasising understanding interests over positions, building mutual benefit, and employing strategies like BATNA to achieve fair and effective outcomes while preserving…
Robert Marshall (2011) explores handling difficult negotiations. He introduces a five-point plan focusing on disarming adversaries, reframing tactics, and fostering collaboration. Marshall emphasises maintaining composure, leveraging BATNA, and using principled negotiation strategies to achieve…
Robert Marshall (2011) delves into non-verbal communication's role in negotiation. He emphasises understanding body language, building empathy through mirroring behaviours, and interpreting cues like gestures and tone to enhance influence, trust, and collaborative problem-solving.
Robert Marshall (2011) summarises key negotiation strategies. He advocates principled negotiation, understanding non-verbal cues, and building empathy through mirroring. Marshall emphasises adapting communication styles, focusing on mutual benefits, and using BATNA effectively to achieve optimal…
Peter Nissen Jørgensen and Christian Schmock (2011) provide strategies for commercialising inventions. They cover evaluating market potential, partnering, deal negotiation, and valuation. The session emphasises building value propositions, managing relationships, and ensuring agreements align with…
Mark Anderson (2010) provides detailed guidance on creating effective agreements. He addresses key issues like funding, intellectual property, liability, and governance structures, emphasising clarity, compliance, and balancing stakeholder interests to optimise collaborative research and…
Amanda Zeffman (2017) outlines strategies to promote consultancy within universities. She discusses its benefits, operational models, financial structures, and challenges, emphasising its role in knowledge transfer, academic development, and university-industry collaboration, supported by practical…
Arnaud Gasnier (2016) introduces a toolkit for knowledge transfer professionals. He emphasises strategic IP management, mapping IP portfolios, and planning exploitation to maximise commercial value, using case studies and practical methodologies to align innovation with market opportunities.
The 2013 white paper Drivers and Bottlenecks in the European Knowledge Transfer Process, developed under the EU FP7 Entente project, examines challenges and recommendations for improving knowledge transfer in health. It highlights IP management, TTO professionalisation, and funding gaps, urging…
The 2007 white paper Drug Discovery and Development: Understanding the R&D Process by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America outlines the complex and costly journey of developing new drugs. It emphasises collaboration, rigorous testing, and technological advancements required for…
The Responsible Partnering Guidelines (2009), developed by European institutional organisations, outline principles for effective collaboration and knowledge transfer between public research organisations and industry. It emphasises strategic alignment, IP management, mutual benefit, and…
The OECD Guidelines on Human Biobanks and Genetic Research Databases (2009) provide ethical, legal, and operational principles for managing biobanks. They address governance, participant rights, data protection, and benefit sharing, aiming to balance scientific progress with respect for individual…
The 2004 handbook Guidelines for Teaching Hospitals for Entering into Research Agreements by Danish teaching hospitals and universities provides frameworks for partnerships with private entities. It addresses IP rights, ethical considerations, confidentiality, and publication policies, promoting…
The OECD Guidelines for the Licensing of Genetic Inventions (2006) provide principles and best practices for managing genetic IP in healthcare. The document focuses on innovation promotion, equitable access, IP balance, and collaboration between public and private sectors to optimise healthcare and…
At the moment an invention is disclosed to the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the totality of information needed for assessing the invention and possibly filing a patent is often distributed over several persons.
Joris Swennen and Sander Van Loock (2013) analyse key challenges in forming consortia. They address IP ownership, co-ownership, background access, and publication, emphasising clear communication, legal certainty, and tailored agreements to balance academic and industry interests effectively.
This free IP Teaching Kit of the EPO provides academic teaching staff with a unique collection of PowerPoint slides, speaking notes and background information on all the main types of intellectual property (IP).
The Lambert Toolkit has been prepared by the Lambert Working Group on Intellectual Property for universities and companies that wish to undertake collaborative research projects with each other.
Joint ownership often arises in connection with collaborative innovation and is of particular relevance to EU-funded programmes, joint ventures and more generally to any research project involving the co-development of intellectual property (IP).
More and more innovation is driven by research collaborations between different entities. Within the context of globalized economy, these research and innovation collaborations are becoming increasingly internationalised.
Though the scale and substance of collaborations varies, a basic understanding of intellectual property rights (IPR) within the Chinese context may help to maximize the success of joint cooperation.
Samples of human biological material are used for many purposes and are of increasing importance as the funders of research, whether public, charitable or commercial, prioritise areas which rely upon access to human biological samples.
PROvendis has its origins in the innovation consulting firm Zenit GmbH. Founded in 1984, ZENIT is a Public Private Partnership owned by the State of North Rhine- Westphalia, a consortium of banks and an association comprising some 180 enterprises.
The IOCB Technology Transfer Office s.r.o (IOCB TTO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of IOCB and a leading technology transfer office in the Czech Republic in the field of pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology research and development.
Founded in 2001 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the LifeScience Foundation, Ascenion is a technology transfer company focusing on the field of life sciences. It currently serves a total of 23 research institutes and university hospitals all over Germany.
In order to assist its researchers in providing this information, KU Leuven Research & Development (technology transfer office of KU Leuven) has developed a mandatory Patent Inventor Form.
This document starts from the observation that in tandem with rapid advances in biotechnology research having valuable applications for use in healthcare the Canadian technology transfer activity has grown significantly.
This UNICO Practical Guide covers a selection of topics that are relevant to the management of technology transfer (TT) agreements and relationships.
The development of life science technologies typically involve long timelines and stringent regulatory hurdles, which in combination result in a high investment capital need. In contrast, the financial and societal reward can be tremendous in case of success.
The TTO of Polytechnic of Milan is one of the first technology transfer offices established in Italy and is among the founding members of the Netval (TTO Network of the Italian universities).
Many universities have rushed to create technology transfer offices (TTOs) without proper structures, funding or expertise. Disappointed, after four or five years, they give up before the benefits start to flow.
The document titled "Checklist for Revising and Amending Material Transfer Agreements" (2020) provides guidelines for reviewing MTAs. It outlines key principles, definitions, and clauses to safeguard intellectual property, ensure compliance with ethical standards, and balance the interests of…
The 2020 document, "Checklist for Revising and Amending Non-Disclosure Agreements," provides detailed guidelines for drafting NDAs. It covers key aspects such as confidentiality scope, usage, governing law, and termination, aiming to safeguard intellectual property and clarify obligations for…
Authored by ASTP-Proton (2017), this handbook provides guidance for establishing and managing National Associations in Knowledge Transfer. It offers strategies for fostering innovation, supporting regional ecosystems, and enhancing collaboration between academia and industry. The document is aimed…
ASTP, AUTM, KCA and PraxisAuril have proposed a definition of the profession and discussed it with ATTP. It is our ambition that further development of this should be managed through the custodianship of ATTP.
The 2020 presentation "Defining the Profession" by ASTP, delivered in Brussels, examines the need for a global definition and accreditation of the knowledge transfer profession. It underscores universities' roles in impact creation, professional certification, and collaboration with organisations…
The Innovation Exchange Amsterdam is a collaborative technology transfer office formed in 2014 with around 40 employees for the AMC, UvA, HvA, VU, VUmc.
UGent TechTransfer is the central Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of Ghent University. It was established in 1998. The UGent TechTransfer has a team of about 30 people with broad industry experience.
The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at SDU was established in 2006 as an internal unit within the university to manage and drive the commercialisation of novel research results.
Cambridge Enterprise was established as an external Technology Transfer Office (TTO) by the University of Cambridge in 2006 to help students and academics form and fund spin-out companies, bring new ideas to market, and transfer university expertise to industry and government.
University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland’s largest university with over 30,000 students and around 1,500 academic employers. It has its origins in the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854. The university consists of seven colleges which represent the full spectrum of academic sciences.
Cracow University of Economics is a public university of economics in Poland founded 1925 with 20,000 students enrolled. The Science and Economy Project started in October 2008 and ended in the end of 2011.
Established in 1870, RWTH Aachen University is the largest university of technology in Germany. The University’s 9 faculties are composed of 260 institutes. RWTH Aachen has more than 42,000 students registered for 144 course programmes.
Imperial Innovations was founded in 1986 as the technology transfer office for Imperial College London. In 1997, the group became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Imperial College London.
TecMinho was established in 1990 as a private non- profit association to promote the University’s connection to society and contribute to regional development by supporting the transfer of knowledge and technologies created at the University into application.
TU/e Innovation Lab is the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) for TU/e, Eindhoven University of Technology founded in 1956 - a research university specializing in engineering science & technology.
Max Planck Innovation brings patents and technologies to the market and assists founders in setting up new companies based on the research results of the Max Planck Society.
The BTO team consists of 30 highly skilled and experienced people covering the full range of technology transfer services from securing IP to commercialization activities. A particular focus is on business development and start-up support.
Since its inception in 2003, NTNU-TT has brought together a diverse team of 30 professionals with various backgrounds and expertise in different disciplines including engineering, medicine, natural sciences, social sciences, finance and law.
One of the main challenges faced by the TTO was to organize the partnership between Cardiff University and VC firms in an optimal way.
VSB Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) was founded 1849. It has an academic staff of 670 and 24.000 enrolled students and is a university specialized in mining, engineering, environmental sciences and nano technology.
Established in 1827, KTH Royal Institute of Technology is the largest and oldest technical university in Sweden. KTH has more than 18,000 students and about 5,000 employees, including nearly 300 professors.
One of the main challenges faced by Unitectra from the moment of its establishment was to effectively manage the provision of technology commercialization services and proof-of-concept funding to multiple universities, hospitals and research institutions.
Founded in 1989, UCL Business plc is the technology transfer company of University College London and several hospitals of the National Hospital System in the UK and has more than 40 employees.
The Technical University Munich (TUM) is one of the biggest Universities of Technology in Germany with 40,000 students enrolled and a staff of 10,000. Core research areas are engineering, natural sciences and medicine but many areas are covered too.
Copenhagen University Hospital is a conglomerate of several hospitals in the region, together with the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Hospital has 5 strategic research areas, and a clinical research centre.
The NMBU Technology Transfer (NMBU TTO) was established in 2004 to create value from good ideas and research results from Norwegian Institute of Life Sciences. Unlike many other TTOs in Norway, the TTO at NMBU is an internal unit that belongs to the Research Department.
Linköping University is one of the biggest universities in Sweden with 27,000 students and 3,200 staff, founded in 1975. It provides teaching and research in all major areas.
Part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, The University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK, with a student community of nearly 40,000.
The Polytechnic University of Valencia is a Spanish University focused on Science and Technology. As a University, it was founded in 1971. Nowadays, it has 40,000 students enrolled and an academic staff of 2,600.
The High-Tech Gründerfonds (henceforth HTGF) is a public-private venture capital investment company founded in 2005 and based in Bonn. HTGF is an early stage seed investor that primarily focuses on high potential high-technology start-ups.
Founded in 2001 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the LifeScience Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research, Ascenion is a technology transfer company focusing on the field of life sciences.
Lund University is the second oldest university in Sweden, founded in 1666. With nearly 50,000 students and a staff of 7,500 it is also the biggest, covering every field of academic research.
The University of Manchester Intellectual Property (UMIP) was established in 2004 as the University’s agent for intellectual property management and commercialisation.
Explore this guide on how you develop a trademark protection strategy and safeguard your brand.
The Otaniemi International Innovation Centre was primarily focused on patenting activities and licensing technologies to medium and large companies, and not very much to smaller companies.
UU Innovation (UUI) is Uppsala University’s technology transfer office with a staff of 27 and founded in 2008. The activities of UU Innovation are largely based on the work of the university´s holding company, UUAB Holding.
The University of Liege ranks among the 10% best universities in the world, considering the World University QS Ranking and among the 20% best universities according to the Academic Ranking of World universities.
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