Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer

Technology transfer supports the life cycle of technology, from inception to market diffusion and commercialization.

What is technology transfer?

Technology transfer (TT) is a collaborative process that allows scientific findings, knowledge and intellectual property to flow from creators, such as universities and research institutions, to public and private users. Its goal is to transform inventions and scientific outcomes into new products and services that benefit society. Technology transfer is closely related to knowledge transfer.

Why is intellectual property (IP) important for technology transfer?

Intellectual property (IP) is an important instrument at the research and development level. It helps assure the ownership over intellectual findings and the capacity to control the use of IP in line with an institution's mission and core values.

IP is also a powerful business tool to gain position on the market and exclusivity over a new product or process. This makes it an important instrument to attract partners and potentially obtain return on research investment through development collaboration or licensing deals.

Understanding how IP serves technology transfer is the first step towards managing your technology transfer processes effectively.