The main function of a technology transfer office (TTO) with respect to
collaborative research is to facilitate the transfer of technology from
academia to industry. TTOs do this by providing a variety of services,
including:
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Identifying and evaluating collaborative research opportunities. TTOs
work with faculty researchers to identify and evaluate potential
collaborative research opportunities with industry partners.
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Negotiating and drafting research agreements. TTOs negotiate and
draft research agreements between academia and industry partners. These
agreements typically outline the terms of the collaboration, such as the
intellectual property rights and funding arrangements.
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Managing intellectual property. TTOs manage the intellectual property
generated from collaborative research projects. This includes filing
patents, licensing technology, and marketing startups.
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Providing support for commercialization. TTOs provide support for the
commercialization of technology from collaborative research projects. This
can include providing funding, business development assistance, and access
to resources and networks.
TTOs play an important role in collaborative research by bridging the gap
between academia and industry. By providing a variety of services, TTOs help
to facilitate the transfer of technology from academia to industry, which can
lead to the development of new products and services, the creation of jobs,
and the economic growth of our society.
Here are some specific examples of how TTOs support collaborative
research:
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A TTO can help a faculty researcher find an industry partner who is
interested in collaborating on a research project.
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A TTO can help a faculty researcher negotiate and draft a research agreement
with an industry partner.
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A TTO can help a faculty researcher file a patent on a new invention that
was developed from a collaborative research project.
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A TTO can help a faculty researcher to license a new technology to an
industry partner.
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A TTO can help a faculty researcher start a startup company to commercialize
a new technology that was developed from a collaborative research project.
TTOs are an essential resource for faculty researchers who are interested in
collaborating with industry partners. By providing a variety of services, TTOs
help to make collaborative research more successful and to bring the benefits
of academic research to the marketplace.
