Cultivating expertise to empower local innovators
Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) Report 2023
Foreword
Technology and Innovation Support Centers play an important role in enabling local innovators to reach their innovation potential by supporting them in accessing and using technological information in patent documents and in scientific and technical publications and in bringing their inventions to market with an effective use of the intellectual property (IP) system.
This report highlights the main developments and milestones in 2023, with a focus on how TISCs in 93 countries and technology transfer structures continued to cultivate their expertise to meet the needs of local innovators, and how WIPO is supporting them with new resources.
South Africa started its TISC journey in 2014 with WIPO as our dedicated partner, leading us toward a future where we experience and think of innovation in our daily lives. Our TISC journey has not just been about accessing resources, it has been about inspiring everyone on the endless possibilities of IP, unlocking the potential of our people and ultimately playing a catalytic role in the transformation of ideas into tangible assets that will make an impact in our communities!
Key developments
Find out more about new resources and capacity-building programs implemented in 2023 to enable TISCs and technology transfer structures to better support local innovators, including:
- A pioneering on-the-job training program in South Africa for technology transfer professionals
- New resources in technology transfer such as a guide on incentives in technology transfer, an institutional IP policy template and an IP valuation toolkit for Southeast Asian Nations
- New initiatives to strengthen TISC networks worldwide and raise the quality and range of services they provide.
TISC/TTO network developments
Joined by three new countries (Sudan, Tajikistan, and Trinidad and Tobago) in 2023, the global TISC community continued to grow, delivering over 2.2 million innovation support services to local innovators including: assistance and advice on IP protection, patent searches, patent drafting, patent analytics, and support to IP management and commercialization. These services led to an increase in IP filings and the successful commercialization of IP assets in many countries.
With nearly 1,500 TISCs established in 93 countries, regional cooperation initiatives also continued to flourish. Examples include the development of a regional TISC network among Arab countries and the implementation of new initiatives to strengthen capacities of innovation support and technology transfer structures in Southeast Asia on IP management and valuation.
WIPO resources supporting TISCs and TTOs
From new training approaches to specialized tools and platforms, WIPO continued to develop resources to empower TISCs and technology transfer structures worldwide and strengthen their knowledge and skills in delivering targeted services to local innovators. Find out more about new resources for TISCs and TTOs accessible through the global knowledge platform WIPO INSPIRE and about new training approaches, topics, certification schemes, and publications that were launched during the year.
Incentives in Technology Transfer:
A practical guide on how to effectively encourage, recognize and reward researchers and tech transfer professionals.
Patent Landscape Report - COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics:
Insights into related patenting activity throughout the pandemic.
On-the-job training: technology transfer in action
A pioneering training program was launched by WIPO and the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association to provide technology transfer professionals from five countries in the Southern African region with on-the-job practical training and firsthand experience of the daily operations of six TTOs in South Africa. Find out more about this experiential learning program built on mentoring and hands-on assignments which provided participants with a transformative learning experience and paved the way to future collaborations in the region.
As a participant, I have gained greater insight into managing technology transfer and intellectual property ecosystems, which is crucial in establishing the TTO at my university
The biggest benefit for me was the networking that I made, the contacts that I’ve built up
Technology Transfer in Action in Southern Africa
Technology Transfer in Action in Southern Africa
Nadia Jansen, Namibia University of Science and Technology, and Leonard Imene, University of Namibia (Photo: William Mulders)
Nadia Jansen, Namibia University of Science and Technology, and Leonard Imene, University of Namibia (Photo: William Mulders)
Looking ahead: new resources to cultivate expertise
WIPO’s support for TISCs and technology transfer structures will continue to evolve to respond to the needs of local innovators. New resources and initiatives being developed to reinforce and expand the capabilities of TISCs and technology transfer structures include game-based learning on patent analytics, “mentoring programs on institutional IP policies and technology transfer in the Baltic States and Southeast Asia, new knowledge and training materials on IP commercialization, IP valuation, trademark and industrial design searches, and upgrading of existing platforms such as the Database of Institutional IP Policies and eTISC. See what’s in the pipeline for the year ahead!
Training seminar on Patent Analytics, Pretoria, January 23 to 25, 2024 (Photo: WIPO)
Training seminar on Patent Analytics, Pretoria, January 23 to 25, 2024 (Photo: WIPO)
TTO Network Mentoring Program for Spin-offs in the Baltic States, Riga, May 2 and 3, 2024 (Photo: Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia)
TTO Network Mentoring Program for Spin-offs in the Baltic States, Riga, May 2 and 3, 2024 (Photo: Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia)
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