A number of TTOs in the U.S. have gotten their feet wet in the world of social networking, but what Brian McCaul, ICT, director of commercialization & exploitation in the Enterprise & Innovation Office at the University of Leeds (UK), proposed recently is well beyond what any have attempted and perhaps what many have imagined: A new world of tech transfer — or knowledge transfer in common European parlance — in which social networking forms the foundation for a revolution in the way innovation makes its way into the marketplace. McCaul recently set out six propositions to distinguish today’s tech transfer and knowledge transfer (KT) from what he is calling ‘KT 2.0.’ The propositions don’t focus on social networking per se, but rather describe the key differences he sees between the ‘old school’ tech transfer operating style and the TTO/KTO as it should be operated in today’s environment — and in the future:
- KT used to be about assembling and employing the most able team. KT 2.0 is about assembling the right network.
- KT used to be primarily about ‘Tech-Push.’ KT 2.0 is about maximizing Market Pull.
- KT was about driving as much resource into a project as possible, to maximize its likelihood of success. KT 2.0 is about learning to ‘fail early’ and cheaply.
- KT was primarily about legal, technical/regulatory and commercial matters – in that order. KT 2.0 understands that there are continually new innovation drivers emerging, be that the need for ‘business model innovation’ or ‘design innovation’ or the need to engage ‘user innovation,’ or some other emerging factor.
- KT was about research excellence in groups or individuals. KT 2.0 is premised on the notion that innovation is a social process, and that the most interesting opportunities are likely to arise from cross-disciplinary collaborations.
- KT was, primarily, focused on the large VC deal, and avoidance of the ‘living dead’ spinout or ‘small’ license deals. KT 2.0 understands that the funding environment is very different, and even if the ‘IPO model’ and VC investment comes back to full vigor, alternative funding/exit strategies will become an increasingly important part of the mix. (The complete weblog can be found here).
A detailed article on the proposals and the practical aspects of implementing them in TTOs appears in the October issue of Technology Transfer Tactics. For subscription information, CLICK HERE.