Role Of University Technology Transfer Offices In University Technology Commercialization: Case Study Of The Carleton University Foundry Program | Manu Sharma, Uma Kumar & Luc Lalande

Universities have been considered to be more adept at development of technology rather than moving it into commercial applications. However, during the last two decades, universities across North America (US and Canada in this context) have exhibited tremendous success in licensing their research results for commercial application. An increasing number of universities are defining their institutional objectives in terms of identifying, creating and commercializing intellectual property (IP) being created on their campuses. Fuelled by the notion that smooth interactions between universities and industry are important for the success of innovation activities and ultimate economic growth, university industry linkages (UIL) have become a central concern for government policy across the globe. Universities have attempted to formalize university industry technology transfer (UITT) by establishing technology transfer offices (TTOs). Traditionally, TTOs have facilitated university technology commercialization (UTC) through the licensing to industry of inventions or IP resulting from university research and (more recently) by supporting the creation of university spin offs (USOs). Creation of a TTO within the university is often viewed as instrumental to secure a sufficient level of autonomy for developing relations with industry. A higher degree of financial and managerial independence further facilitates relations with third parties, such as venture capitalists, investment bankers and patent attorneys. A dedicated TTO also allows for specialization in supporting services, most notably management of IP and business development. In this paper, we take a look at the established UTC process, the benefits of UTC, the role of TTOs in UTC and the state of research on UTC in North America. A debate about the role of the TTOs is also initiated. Through a case study of the Carleton University Foundry program, this paper discusses the model for a non traditional university technology transfer program developed in Carleton University and highlights how this program, through its unique structure and its support for innovation has been highly successful in stimulating the transfer of research and technologies from Carleton University into commercial applications.