Effective Technology Transfer in Biotechnology

Best Practice Case Studies in Europe

Biotechnology is referred to as one of the key enabling technologies of the 21st century. It has the potential to offer solutions for a number of health and resource-based problems the world is facing, such as unmet medical needs and fossil fuel dependency. Considerable effort and investment has been expended in recent years to try and improve the outcomes of technology transfer in order to fulfill this potential.

This book presents seventeen best-practice case studies on the topic of effective technology transfer in biotechnology. The selected case studies focus on technology transfer offices, funding models, incubators, education and clusters. Each presents an overview of an initiative that was deployed in Europe with the aim of supporting and stimulating the transfer of biotechnology discoveries and technologies from research laboratories to society. Readers are provided with a critical assessment of each initiative and policy makers, entrepreneurs, cluster managers and research institute managers will find inspiring lessons they can draw on when developing and implementing similar initiatives elsewhere.

These cases are the product of research undertaken as part of the ETTBio (Effective Technology Transfer in Biotechnology) project, co-financed by the European Union (ERDF — European Regional Development Fund) and made possible by the INTERREG IVC Programme. ETTBio commenced in January 2012 and concluded in December 2014.

Contents:

• Technology Transfer Office (TTO):

  • Case Study 1: A Look Inside Imperial College's TTO
  • Case Study 2: Technology Transfer at VIB
  • Case Study 3: The Creation of a New Technology Transfer Office
  • Case Study 4: A Model for IP Transfer and Shareholding for University Spin-Offs: The "Dresden Model"

• Funding:

  • Case Study 5: Environmental Success Factors of Imperial College's TTO
  • Case Study 6: The Industrial Research Fund
  • Case Study 7: Regional Innovation Vouchers as an Effective Tool for Supporting Technology Transfer
  • Case Study 8: Public Funds for Patenting, Valorization and Science-Industry Collaboration

• Incubators:

  • Case Study 9: The Imperial Bioincubator
  • Case Study 10: Idea Lab — A Platform for Students to Develop New Ideas

• Education:

  • Case Study 11: Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer Education at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • Case Study 12: BioEmprenedor XXI: Guidance Program for Starting Up and Growing Companies in the Life Sciences Arena
  • Case Study 13: Education for Scientists

• Clusters:

  • Case Study 14: The Biocat Model: Managing the Bioregion of Catalonia
  • Case Study 15: The Effects of a Cluster on a Spin-Off — The Foundation of Ablynx
  • Case Study 16: Brokerage Event: Matching International R&D projects
  • Case Study 17: The DRESDEN-concept: A Focus on Shared Services and Facilities

Readership: Policy makers, entrepreneurs, cluster managers and research institute managers in biotechnology.
Key Features:

• Focuses on effective technology transfer in the European context
• Technology specific focus on biotechnology
• Identifies and provides a detailed examination of best practice case studies in technology transfer across Europe. These include both highly experienced regions such as London and Flanders as well as "newcomers" such as Poland and Estonia