TTO Hand book

 

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) Handbook

Developed under the FLCTD project of UNIDO-BEE-GEF. This handbook is designed as a concise and practical guide for both aspiring and experienced technology transfer professionals working in academic and research institutions. It also functions as a helpful primer for institutional leaders who are planning to establish or strengthen their own TTOs.

The handbook compiles insights from seasoned TTO practitioners with years of experience in building and running successful tech transfer operations. Its primary focus is the core mission of TTOs: translating research into real-world impact. To support this mission, the resource includes:
• Practical guidance and workflows.
• Myth busting and case studies.
• Essential primers for beginners

Download-https://www.techtransfer.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TTO-Handbook-PDF-website_.pdf

Opportunities and Challenges for Technology Transfer

 

Chapter 8: Opportunities and Challenges for Technology Transfer
• In Technology Transfer, artificial intelligence tools provide a promise of
efficiency to Technology Transfer Offices, but with some obstacles.
• As digital platforms and data become central to innovation ecosystems,
their evolving use and governance present both strategic advances and
ethical challenges for Technology Transfer.
• Open Innovation is transforming Technology Transfer by replacing
traditional linear IP licensing models with collaborative, cross-boundary
approaches that accelerate the flow of knowledge from research to market.

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science that
focuses on creating systems and algorithms capable of performing tasks
typically requiring human intelligence.
• In the context of Technology Transfer, AI can be used to: estimate market
potential, estimate technology readiness level, draft legal agreements,
evaluate for patentability.
• Case Study: In 2020, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office began
incorporating AI into processes for conducting prior art searches. It
remains to be seen how patent offices worldwide balance the growing
number of applications with their metrics to evaluate such applications
thoroughly and efficiently.

Read-  https://cldp.doc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/CLDP%20Technology%20Transfer%20Handbook.pdf

 

Technology Transfer Evolution

The vision statement of Technology Transfer office now includes `University Economic Engagement'.
University leaders are increasingly responding to the needs of the innovation economy—and in particular their local economies—by including innovation, entrepreneurship, and “economic engagement” programming in their strategic planning processes. As part of this response, university technology transfer offices are evolving, and must continue to evolve, toward participation in a broader scope of efforts—with patents and licensing as one emphasis, and also connecting with and engaging in other efforts that support the learning and discovery missions of the university. In evolving toward broader participation in university economic engagement, technology transfer offices will develop deeper relationships with industry and other community partners; broaden their reach to areas such as education, technology development, and entrepreneurship; and integrate more closely with other supportive administrative functions such as industry contracting. While budget and resource threats to the university research enterprise are creating increased pressure to generate revenue from licensing and innovation activities, university leaders must recognize that successful economic engagement will not be focused on short-term income, but rather on longer-term work on relationship development and ecosystem building. 
Read:http://www.aplu.org/library/technology-transfer-evolution-driving-economic-prosperity/file

Technologies from NaMET

Several technologies are on offer from NaMPET ( National Mission on Power Electronics Technology), an initiative of TK Sarkar ,implemented at CDAC Trivendrum.

• Medical Electrical Safety Analyser
• Grid interactive Solar Photo Voltaic System
• Power Assisted Bicycle
• Grid Connected PV Inverter
• ON Line Double conversion UPS System for Medium / High Capacity range
• Three phase STATCOM
• Single Phase STATCOM
• Unified Power Quality Controller.

Position of TTO in The Universities for Research and Innovation Bill 2012

US is presently debating on doing away with a mandatory TTO in universities. Prior to Bayh-Dole, the invention rights vested with the federal government. The Bayh-Dole Act, allowed universities and small companies to own and manage inventions they make with federal funds. University Technology Transfer Offices played a pivotal role in commercializing the patents. Now, Kauffman Foundation proposed Start-up Act says TTO had become bottleneck and recommends that decisions  to commercialize technologies should be taken by faculty inventors and not university bureaucracies (TTO).

The bill in parliament is silent on structure of this relationship between faculty innovators- TTO-licensees. Is it left to universities to decide as part of autonomy?

Next Wave of Technology Partnering

India has not adopted the import-innovate-export paradigm of ASEAN countries, yet the
gains in absorption capacity of Indian firms seem impressive. As India has not followed the
trajectory of ASEAN neighbors, it is interesting to examine the future scenarios of technology
partnering. 


Would large Indian firms form strategic alliances or scale-up sponsored research
projects? 
Will there be more joint ventures with European SMEs? 


This paper looks at the work of several authors on Indian technological capabilities and state of university Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs). Taking into account the move away from joint ventures to specialists for disembodied knowledge and need for TTOs to capitalize long tail of low revenue technologies, a scenario is projected for next wave of technology partnering. 
Scenario:
It is envisaged there would be a pipe, choke full of technologies, connecting knowledge clusters with production clusters, cutting across nations. IT tools reducing transaction costs and national
measures enforcing IP rights could be the key enablers.


Read the paper at: ASCI Journal of Management 41(1): 46–52
or write for complementary copy.

Opportunity for professionals to work on world bank funded Technology Commercialization Project in Kazakahstan

A global consortium led Skyquest has been shortlisted in phase-1 of  this TCO project (RFP № KZ/TCP/QCBS-01) and is in the process of identifying professionals.
For professionals willing to spend 3 years (2012-2015) in beautiful Kazakhstan, here is the opportunity to join the team at this bidding stage. Check your suitability for the following positions:
1.IP Analyst: Minimum 5 years experience in a TTO of university or corporation.
2.Business Information Officer: MBA with 5 years experience working in an incubator or investors.
3.Licensing officer: MBA or PhD with 5 years experience in negotiating licensing and skilled in using technology transfer software.
4.Business Development Officer: MBA or PhD with 5 years experience in business development projects in university like entrepreneurship, mentoring.
5.Marketing .& Industry partnership officer: MBA or PhD with experience in licensing to large commercial firms locally and globally.


Interested- send your brief resume to Neha Jhala, neha.jhala@skyquestt.com
Last date: 12/11/2011