Innovation and Access to Technology
University – Industry Links
Dr. Eugene Sweeney, Iambic Innovation Ltd
[email protected]
www.iambicinnovation.com
Overview
• Innovation and IPR – why so important for SME’s?
• Accessing Technology from Universities
– Specific challenges getting research to market
– Enhancing products and innovating from research
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – a successful model
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
Intellectual Property
• IP is now the core component; the
main economic asset in the 21st
Century
• IP is the key to innovation
• Building a Knowledge Based
Economy is now a priority policy
objective for governments worldwide
• What does this mean in practice?
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IP - a valuable asset
• Like physical property IP is an asset which can be
traded.. it can bought, sold or leased…
• It also has financial value.
• .. and it is an information asset
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Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
The “Knowledge Contract” between the state and
the inventor to stimulate innovation
The state grants a limited monopoly
in return for
publishing the invention
• The state benefits by avoiding secrecy, thus stimulating further
development, and enriching society (i.e. innovation)
• The creator benefits by preventing unauthorised use by others
– unless they come to an agreement, usually financial!)
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A definition of “Innovation”
The successful commercialisation of new ideas
to produce tangible benefits
Idea
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Innovation
Intellectual Property
• Industry produces and supplies products and
services which are based on Intellectual Property
• Researchers produce Intellectual Property and
“knowledge” (including skilled people)
UNIVERSITIES
THE ENGINES OF INNOVATION!
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From Idea to Innovation
Post-deal management
Compliance/Royalty audits
Technical
assessment
Which territories to
seek IP protection in
IP
assessment
IPR defence &
enforcement
Patent Strategy
Commercialisation
Business & market
assessment
Development,
Marketing
Commercial
Strategy
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Improvements +
Renegotiations
Licensing or
Company formation
Different Business Models
Venture
fund
strategic
Licensing alliance
Joint
Catalyst venture
for a
start-up
Licence
Licence
to a spin
out
Spin out
or Startup
Sale
Increasing level of involvement
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What is special about
university research results?
• University research results are usually (very) early stage
• Usually curiosity, rather than needs driven
• Many research groups are working at the “leading edge”, so
often only a partial solution
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Need to add value for
industry/market acceptance
Invention value
Basic
invention
Lab demo
Proof of
Concept
Working
prototype/
Market
acceptance
Scale-up
validated
Regulatory
Approval
Development status
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Bamboo Bike Frame
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Market Acceptance?
• Perception in Europe that Bamboo was not strong enough.
• Theoretical and Practical Proof needed.
Invention value
Basic
invention
Lab demo
Proof of
Concept
Scale-up
Working
prototype/ validated
Market
acceptance
Regulatory
Approval
Development status
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
670km, over 21,000 metres in altitude
July 16 - 23, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
Licensed in Europe to Raw Bamboo Ltd.
http://www.bamboobike.co/
Still looking for partners outside Europe!
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
Build a better product
• Where are the gaps in
your product or service
offerings?
• Can these gaps be filled
by licensing-in or
acquiring IP?
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
IP - an “Information” Asset
The freely available information contained in
registered IP (e.g. patents) can help with:
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Finding new technologies
Positioning in the marketplace
Identify new markets or opportunities (territory or use)
Identify potential partners & customers
Gain competitor intelligence
The “intelligence” in this data is a strategic tool
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
HP Laser Printing
• The HP LaserJet was the first desktop laser printer, introduced
in 1984 at about $3,500.
• Nothing like it existed previously, and it created a totally new
printer market
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HP Laserjet
• The HP Laserjet was based on technology
licensed in from Canon Research.
• Canon tried to enter the page printing
market with the same technology – but
failed to catch HP who had established
their dominance
• 28 years later HP is still the market leader!
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
Knowledge Transfer
Partnerships (KTP)
Access to university knowledge (people and
technology) to support innovation which will
transform the business
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UK Government supported scheme
Established over 35 years
Partnership between a company and a university
Transfer/Embed university knowledge in the company
Defined project, 1 – 3 years long
Strategic for the company – leading to an “innovation”
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The Partnership
KTP Associate
(Graduate)
recruited worldwide
works in the company
employs and supervises
company
university
funds and supports
government
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Yasa Motors
To develop sustainable
joining technologies for
mass manufacture of
high reliability high
torque, low mass electric
motors.
one Associate, two years
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The hydrogen-powered, electric-driven
Morgan LIFECar
Architype
Post-occupancy studies
of buildings, in order to
achieve an industryleading design
methodology for
sustainable architecture
one Associate, two years
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Mankind
To generate growth in
online sales and profit by
integrating and exploiting
the latest internet and
consumer interface
technologies
one Associate, two years
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Ice Energy
Thermal modelling of
ground source heat
pump collector systems
for renewable energy
supply, to allow precise
equipment specification,
with modelling validated
by rig testing
one Associate, two years
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
What does it cost?
• Typical KTP budget = ₱4m ($110k) per year (approx)
• Covers the Associate, the academic input, and budgets for
equipment, training and travel
• For a smaller company (SME), government pays 67% of the
cost
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Does it work?
(after 35 years – YES!)
• For the Company
• brings ₱16million average increase in profit for the company
• Creates 3 new jobs
• 83% find KTP ‘significant to future performance’
• 81% ‘plan further collaboration’
• For the KTP Associate
• 70% recruited on completion of project
• For the UK
• Generating nearly ₱60billion per year in new sales for UK
business,
• ₱17.5billion in GVA (Gross Value Added) per year
• 1000 new jobs per year
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Lord Paul presents the award for the
UK’s Best Knowledge Transfer Partnership
to the team from
Oxford Brookes University and Vicon Motion Systems
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
From Idea to Innovation
Two-way Research–Industry Collaboration is key
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Industry & Reseach
must work together
• Important for “take-up” and “steering research”
• Industry can have a vision of what the future might bring –
identify opportunities that researchers cannot see.
• Researchers can get a idea of the needs and wants – which
may lead to new research and valuable IP
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd
Dr. Eugene Sweeney
Iambic Innovation Ltd
www.iambicinnovation.com
Identifying, Capturing and Extracting Value from Research and Intellectual Property
Copyright © 2011 Iambic Innovation Ltd