Technology Transfer and Commercialization
“Technology transfer is a contact sport.”
The transfer of technology between organizations -- academia to industry, federal laboratory to business, or business to business -- is often fraught with unanticipated difficulties. Some of the more obvious ones concern assessing the market, valuing the technology, and negotiating the technology transfer mechanism or “the deal.” Too often, however, insufficient attention is devoted, especially by the noncommercial partners in the deal, to the difficulties that will be encountered by the commercial partner in productizing an immature technology. Technology transfer is more than just licensing. You can transfer the technology, but do you transfer the skill? Moreover, taking technology from a research environment to a production environment can easily consume more resources than did the original research effort.
The transfer of technology between organizations -- academia to industry, federal laboratory to business, or business to business -- is often fraught with unanticipated difficulties. Some of the more obvious ones concern assessing the market, valuing the technology, and negotiating the technology transfer mechanism or “the deal.” Too often, however, insufficient attention is devoted, especially by the noncommercial partners in the deal, to the difficulties that will be encountered by the commercial partner in productizing an immature technology. Technology transfer is more than just licensing. You can transfer the technology, but do you transfer the skill? Moreover, taking technology from a research environment to a production environment can easily consume more resources than did the original research effort.
What Is Your Perspective?
Clearly, an organization’s principal concerns in technology transfer stem from its role in the process -- technology provider or acquirer -- and its organizational type and culture, i.e. academic institution, government laboratory, or profit-motivated business. Nonetheless, it is dangerous to assume that your apparent concerns are the only issues you will face, for a technology transfer agreement is a business partnership and, to be successful, both parties’ needs must be met. To enhance the likelihood of success, be certain that you understand the issues and concerns facing your partner in the commercialization process?
Issues facing the laboratory, academic institution, or other provider of technology include:
Those confronting the commercial acquirer include:
Issues facing the laboratory, academic institution, or other provider of technology include:
- market assessment,
- valuing the raw technology,
- identifying potential licensees or commercial partners, and
- negotiating royalties and license agreements.
Those confronting the commercial acquirer include:
- market assessment (size, competition, substitute products),
- pricing,
- product design and development (productization),
- design for manufacturability,
- production and distribution,
- promotion and sales, and
- training and customer support
How TEMI Can Help
TEMI understands both sides of the T equation and, regardless 2 of which side you’re on, we can draw upon our expertise in competitive intelligence, technology and market assessment, and other areas of technology management (such as innovation adoption and diffusion) to ensure a successful result. If you are a provider of technology, we can help you assess the market for your technology, locate potential commercial partners or licensees, and manage your technology portfolio to achieve the optimum return on your research investment. For acquirers of technology, we can assist with the evaluation of a potential technology acquisition from due diligence through market assessment and product development.
TEMI’s breadth of expertise and industry experience allows us to cross industry boundaries in a wide variety of technical fields. Our principals have project and technology transfer experience in the following industries:
Our business partners and associates can provide additional expertise in:
With experience managing the technology transfer and commercialization effort for a national laboratory, you can be sure that we know our way around the tech transfer arena.
Technology transfer is indeed a contact sport. Make certain that you have the right coach on your team!
TEMI’s breadth of expertise and industry experience allows us to cross industry boundaries in a wide variety of technical fields. Our principals have project and technology transfer experience in the following industries:
- Manufacturing, production, and inventory systems
- Geology and geological exploration
- Mining and minerals exploration and development
- Underground excavation and geotechnics
- Meteorological instruments
- Aviation weather systems
- Weather radar systems
- Scientific computing and visualization
- Laboratory instruments
- Operations research and mathematical programming
Our business partners and associates can provide additional expertise in:
- Telecommunications
- Advanced materials
- Petroleum engineering (oil and natural gas)
With experience managing the technology transfer and commercialization effort for a national laboratory, you can be sure that we know our way around the tech transfer arena.
Technology transfer is indeed a contact sport. Make certain that you have the right coach on your team!