Successfully moving technology from research to the marketplace by unifying and educating technology transfer professionals

around the world.

February 2013 Issue No. 11

The next RTTP registration deadline is April 18, 2013

RTTP – raising the standards of the TTO-production

The Technology-Transfer Office of Aarhus University (AU-TTO) are proud to employ 5 people (28% of total) holding the Regis-tered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) title – with 2 more people expected to be accredited in 2013.

Thomas Tscherning, RTTP, states, that “Quality in any enter-prise was earlier primarily based on end-product Quality Con-trol (QC). Lately, process Quality Assurance (QA) has gained support as a more efficient means of securing goal achieve-ment – especially where quality-by-design can improve proc-esses involving long-term development timelines and compli-cated causes of product variance. We believe that the RTTP accreditation shows the outside world just that: The focus on the competencies and historic track record of the TTO-employee as an intricate part of process QA!”

Tscherning outlines that in the technology-transfer value-chain, there are numerous points of potential value-addition, where an RTTP can make a crucial difference. Aspects that are not mentioned in the official list of RTTP criteria, he cites ex-amples such as:

“Governance: Including both internal (university and re-searcher) and external (investor and community) stakeholders interests in the negotiation.

Covenants: Reading the “small print” preventing future block-ing or dragging of minority stakeholders into a non-preferred scenario.

Exclusivity: Digging deep into the possible future activity of research sites, as not to block their future strategic research plans.

End-product: What is it exactly (in the mind of the licensor/acquirer, and above and beyond that)– and what resources (e.g. finance, people) must be recruited to attain the end-goal?

Valuation: Securing arms-length, market-based transactions.

Implementation: It does not end with the signature! How will we implement and enforce the agreement? What support organizations and actions must be built now … and later?”

Tscherning adds, that “The success of this industry does not depend only on individual insights or efforts, but also realizing the larger picture of a tech-transfer challenge, and subse-quently undergo a process of give-and-take interaction with all stakeholders. There are never enough resources available, but by educating yourself and your collaborators, the “pie” (= tech asset) may be enlarged for all instead of just fighting to get your part of the up-front payment.”

Tscherning concludes, “In short, the RTTP thinks longer-term and broader in scope, than just concluding the deal and get-ting on to the next technology-transfer case on the agenda. We are in this game for the long-term, and the things we do today – both good and bad – affects how our stakeholders (such as researchers, university leadership, early-stage inves-tors, acquirers and licensors) along the development chain, will perceive and interact with us in the future. Without trust built over the long-run, we would not func-tion efficiently as an organization in the short-run.”

Individual AU-TTO staff can be contacted at:

http://tto.au.dk/en/about-tto/staff/ .

Photo: Thomas Tscherning, RTTP

Check out the latest video on ATTPworld channel Jeff Skinner, RTTP Review Panel Member presents

part 2 “How to Apply”

Successfully moving technology from research to the marketplace by unifying and educating technology transfer professionals

around the world.

US tech transfer professional going AUS This edition we interviewed Jim Henderson, Chief Operating Officer at NewSouth Innovations, at the University of New South Wales technology transfer company in Sydney, Australia. He has worked in the tech transfer profession for over 10 years and worked for UTAH in Salt Lake City and UCSF in California.

We asked Jim how he started in technology transfer, what it was like being an American coming to Australia as a technol-ogy transfer professional, and how being an RTTP makes a dif-ference for him.

How did you get into tech transfer?

I realized half way through my degree that being a researcher and writing and fighting for grants to survive wasn’t quite what I would find satisfying. I have a passion for science, which is why I began with a science degree in molecular biology. However, I didn’t want to lose the experience and skills learnt that I had built from grad school.

There was a guy a few years ahead of me that worked in tech transfer office, who gave me the run down on what his job entailed. It was clear that science was a big part of the role, in being able to understand context, as well as negotiation and marketing. I had some experience working in business, and the skills I had looked to be transferable to negotiation and mar-keting. I enjoyed working and meeting people, as well as man-aging projects.

A job was opening up in the local office, as the same guy pro-viding me with career advice was leaving. He helped place me in the role. This first job in tech transfer gave me the chance to assess if I would enjoy this type of job.

I started in tech transfer in 2001 at UTAH, soon after defend-ing my thesis in molecular biology. I was thrown into the deep end, and it was a steep learning curve.

Did you have a mentor?

At first I didn’t, as the person most suitable in life science left to be the director an office in New York, and we were a small office. It consisted of myself and another graduate only 6 months into the job, and really good contracts attorney. The attorney was really helpful with contracts in licensing and was able to provide some mentorship. However, this entry into technology was definitely a ‘learn on the job’.

Later, I met and started working for Joel Kirschbaum, director at UCSF in California. I really liked his approach to the job and he became a tremendous mentor.

Joel has a tremendous amount of experience doing bio-tech

deals, for example UCSF have 17 licensed products in clinical trials right now, which is tremendous. I think it was Joel’s lead-ership and philosophy that drove the team down the path and allowed the deal flow. The philosophy of being a partner that industry wants to work with, a partner that is easy to do busi-ness with.

Within 4 years at UCSF I was able to do 40 deals; it was a re-markable volume, I think due to Joel’s support and leadership.

What’s has been the biggest challenge being an American moving to Australia?

The biggest challenge was coming to understand the differ-ence in Australian culture and how they do business. Austra-lians are more subtle. Australia is generally more risk adverse than the US. Companies are a bit more focused on due dili-gence and minimizing risk and so Australians have a natural tendency to ask questions and challenge the information they’re given.

Since I arrived here in 2007, I’ve learnt the best way to work with this is communicate more of the information upfront and be more patient and let people ask their questions. However, I’m still learning new things each day.

Are there major differences in Australian inventors and Ameri-can inventors?

There are no fundamental differences. There are the same categories of people. For example people who have focused on research and research alone, and those who are commer-cially minded who focus on innovation.

How do you keep connected with other technology transfer professionals?

Internationally through meeting and conferences like those hosted by AUTM, also through their online discussion forums. I like to follow one in particular which is their directors’ forum.

Photo: Jim Henderson, RTTP

Successfully moving technology from research to the marketplace by unifying and educating technology transfer professionals

around the world.

After 9 years of sterling service by Andy Sierakowski, Rob Chalmers took up the role of Chair of Knowledge Commer-cialisation Australasia Inc (KCA) on 8 November. Rob has worked in technology development and commercialisation for 2 decades and has been Managing Director of Adelaide Re-search & Innovation Pty Ltd (University of Adelaide) since 2007.

He is honoured to take on a lead role in advancing the cause of the sector, but is even more pleased at the quality of the other Executive members, who now include: Jan Bingley (General Manager, IP and Licensing, CSIRO Operations), Kevin Cullen (CEO New South Innovations), Alastair Hick (Director Commercialisation, Industry Engagement and Commercialisa-tion, Monash University), Duncan Mackintosh (Chief Execu-tive, WaikatoLink Limited), Rohan McDougall (Director, IP Commercialisation, Curtin University), David Henderson (Managing Director, UniQuest).

Best of all KCA Executive has decided to appoint a full time Executive Officer to help grow its reach and the value it deliv-ers to its members and the broader community. Mel Geue will take up this role in January and brings both a solid back-ground in the sector and great marketing and communica-tions flair to the role.

"We have a great opportunity to build on the work of the past and advance a better understanding of the significant benefits that flow from research into the economy and the broader community. With increasing focus on productivity and innova-tion and with a range of economic, social and environmental challenges facing us the time is right to make a renewed push to advocate on these issues. We also need to reach out more to our partners in public, private and not for profit sectors and develop a better understanding of their needs so that we can understand better how to work together and to translate what we can bring to real impact locally and internationally. Working in conjunction with our counterparts around the world (including ATTP) we are excited about the potential of the next few years to see a step change in what we do and how that is perceived"

Rob Chalmers, RTTP Chair of KCA Managing Director of Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd

For more information about KCA go to http://www.kca.asn.au/

Update from New Chair of KCA

Locally, there are the KCA conferences and separate to this there is a quarterly meeting where Sydney ‘commercializers’ come to together to work out what we can do to achieve the better good. Other than this I keep in in contact with old col-leagues from UTAH and UCSF via email.

What value do you see in being an RTTP?

My immediate experience has been that the letters behind my name added credibility when coming in cold with connecting to other tech transfer offices overseas. It meant that when they received my email, they instantly recognized that I’ve gone through the process and know what’s going on. It gives some confidence that whatever you bring to the table is worthwhile and will happen in a best practice manner.

As more people come on board with this recognized profes-sional qualification, it gives you a place in the community and provides certainty that you are coming from a point of view that is best practice.

And lastly, craziest invention you’ve seen?

This question reminds me of the cold fusion reactor they had on display in UTAH’s trophy cabinet. For a while in the 80s they believed they had invented cold fusion. The display was a humble reminder that not everything is as first as you see it.

We are showcasing RTTP across the world, we would love to hear your story.

Please contact us at office@attp.info for an interview .

Meet Recent RTTPs

Timothy Boyle

Monya Dunlap

Knut Jorgen Egelie

Simon Firth

Frieder Kern

Kristine Howe Kjer

Conny Lund Tegtmeier

James Pohlman

Malcolm Skingle

Cengiz Tarhan

Arlene Yee

Photo Rt side—Andy Sierakowski RTTP, Lt side – Rob Chalmers RTTP

International Events for Continuing Education credits As an early career technology transfer professional, 60 continuing education (CE) credits are required for your reg-istration. This is approximately equivalent to 60 hours of training which may also include a maximum of 30 hours at association conferences and workshops. This may be provided by one or more of the member associations: ASTP, AUTM, KCA, PraxisUnico, SNITTS or SARIMA.

The AUTM 2013 Annual Meeting February 27 – March 2, 2013, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas A networking and professional development conference drawing from the global community of technology trans-fer professionals from academia and industry, venture investors and other intellectual property experts. The meeting, a four-day educational and networking event, features special interest groups, educational tracks and interactive workshops developed for seasoned technology transfer professionals and newcomers to the field. To learn more, visit www.autm.net/2013. The AUTM Annual Meeting will offer 14 hours of credit toward RTTP. In addition, attendees can choose to register for additional add-on courses that offer more credit, though these have additional registration fees.

Follow the @ATTPmedia twitter feed during the week for live information.

PraxisUnico Annual Conference 2013: Inspiring Futures (10 CE points) June 13-14, 2013 East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham Registration is now open for this year’s PraxisUnico conference. To learn more, visit www.praxisunico.org.uk

Research Contracts (20 CE points) March 5-8, 2013 Orchad Hotel, Nottingham

Negotiation Skills March 22, 2013 City University, London

Fundamentals of Technology Transfer April 16-19, 2013 Burleigh Court, Loughborough

Master classes (7 CE points each) March 21-22, 2013, Schiphol airport, Amsterdam Business Finance for Technology Transfer Professionals Tactics of License Negotiation Building strategic relationships with Business To learn more, visit www.astp.net

To learn about upcoming training opportunities, click our member associations’ logos below.

AUTM|

Become an RTTP Now!

RTTP Applicants Can Now Pay with Paypal

Application Deadline: April 18, 2013 www.attp.info

“Like” us

Join us

Follow us

PraxisUnico|

ATTP are inviting vocal existing RTTP and aspir-ing RTTP to a reception at AUTM. Join us for some bubbly refresh-ments whilst voicing your advice on how ATTP can serve you.

Date: Wednesday, Feb-ruary 27th Time: 5:00 - 6:00pm Location: Alamo Ball-room, Salon E-F, San Antonio Marriott

Highlights include a roaming pink cowboy hat. If you would like to join, please register via email with subject line ATTP AUTM Reception to office@attp.info

ASTP|