Technology Transfer and Patent Law

What is Technology Transfer?

Technology transfer refers to the transfer of technology developed or initially discovered in the public sector (e.g. universities, government agencies) to private industry for further development and commercialization. Jobs in technology transfer may be found on either end of this transfer, i.e. in the institutions seeking to bring their technology to market or in the companies that will develop the technology. In addition, jobs are also found in go-between organizations such as non-profit technology transfer centers that facilitate the transfer of technology from public sector to private. To learn more about technology transfer and the sorts of careers in this area, visit the web sites of some organizations involved in tech transfer given below.

How to get started on a career in tech transfer

If you currently work at a university, government lab, or private research institute, go talk to the people in your institution’s technology transfer office. Ask about their careers and opportunities in your area, including possible internships.
Some universities or organization also offer degree programs or give fellowships in the tech transfer area. Several of these are listed below. Some degree programs may not be appropriate for someone who already has a Ph.D.

Resources

NIH Office of Technology Transfer. “Each year, hundreds of new inventions are made in Public Health Service (PHS) laboratories. The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) endeavors to transfer these inventions through licensing to the private sector for development that will benefit the public health.” Of particular interest to scientists contemplating a move to the transfer field is a listing of the staff at OTT which can be used to view their career histories via LinkedIn profiles.
Biotechnology Information Institute. Publisher of the Federal Bio-Technology Transfer Directory, a database of biomedical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical technology transfer opportunities. Also has lots of links for those with a particular interest in biomedical tech transfer.
National Technology Transfer Center. The NTTC is a NASA-sponsored technology commercialization center located in West Virginia. “NTTC’s task is to take technologies off laboratory shelves and put them to work in U.S. businesses and industries.”
Center of Technology Commercialization. Massachusetts-based non-profit company, one of six non-profit, regional technology transfer centers (RTTC) that act as gateways for transfer of federal technology to private industry. The RTTCs help private industry locate and acquire technologies developed in federal laboratories, particularly NASA. The mission of the RTTCs is to provide “a nationwide network devoted to the common mission of assisting American industry to improve worldwide competitiveness.”
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (formerly the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Technology Transition). Includes links to many related offices and an international tech transfer security handbook.
Washington Research Foundation. An example of a local, private tech transfer organization. “The mission of the Washington Research Foundation is to maximize the economic and community benefits of technologies resulting from research at Washington state institutions, especially by starting companies and investing earnings in further research, education, and local enterprise.”

Fellowships and Internships

Technology Transfer Fellowship Program. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute Technology Transfer Center, these fellowships are open to individuals who hold advanced degrees in a number of fields, including science, medicine, law, and communications. Applicants need have no background in technology transfer but should have an interest in the application of tech transfer to cancer research and treatment. Fellowships are for 1-2 years with possible renewal for up to 5 years.
Most companies, universities and governmental organizations now have an “Office of Technology Transfer” dedicated to identifying research which has potential commercial interest and strategies for how to exploit it. For instance, a research result may be of scientific and commercial interest, but patents are normally only issued for practical processes, and so someone — not necessarily the researchers — must come up with a specific practical process. The process to commercially exploit research varies widely. It can involve licensing agreements or setting up joint ventures and partnerships to share both the risks and rewards of bringing new technologies to market. Other corporate vehicles, e.g., spin-offs, are used where the host organization does not have the necessary will, resources or skills to develop a new technology. Often these approaches are associated with raising of venture capital (VC) as a means of funding the development process.
UNC’s Office of Technology Development hosts seminars in technology commercialization during the academic year and offers internships to work part-time in their office. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience and decide if this career is of interest.

Associations and Articles

Association of University Technology Managers
Science Careers Article: Breaking Into Technology Transfer
Science and Law: Swapping the lab for the law
Postdoc Opportunities: Transitioning to Tech Transfer
Technology Transfer: At the Crossroad of Business and Science
Harnessing Your Discovery: Tech Transfer at Universities
Transferring Skills to Tech Transfer
Careers for Scientists in the Patenting World
Content Collection: Careers in Patent Law
In Person: A Career in Biotech Patent Law

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