Evaluation of Transfer Projects FITT (Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer)

2 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects 46% of resources are allocated to the conception, development and launch of products which will never reach the market or fail after the release. Robert G. Cooper, 2000, Ivey Business Journal  How to reduce the risk of spending time, money and efforts of the technology transfer officers on non- valuable projects? The context

3 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects  Need for a first assessment of the disclosed inventions on:  technical & commercial potential  the interest of the research organisation to allocate resources to the transfer. Need  Necessity to be quick and simple. Usually followed by a more in-depth analysis later.  Always performed internally whereas further investigation for protection/exploitation of the invention can be outsourced (patent attorney, marketing studies...) Credit: Microsoft Office

4 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects Objectives  In the context of public R&D, this first-level assessment has the following objectives:  To provide a first view on the possibility of transferring the research results, making the best use of all kind of transfer  With a “return on research” i.e. financial returns that will reinforce the research capacity  Responsibility to ensure the dissemination of the research results in order to optimize their socio-economic impact (including employment creation) aside from a strictly financial, return-on-investment perspective  Given the transversal nature of ICT, commitment to a broad perspective and to consider all possible fields of application in order to ensure the widest possible dissemination.

5 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects  Methodology  Stakeholders  Outcome of the assessment Elements of the process

6 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects Practices available in the toolbox AWARENESS CREATION MONITORING OF ACTIVITIES EVALUATION DETECTION of technology transfer opportunities  ‘Quick assessment tool for business ideas’  ‘Evaluation criteria’  ‘Technology transfer follow-up committee’

7 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects  Easy method to quickly analyse and develop value propositions for projects  Useful for researchers :  Guides them to write down a compelling, pitchy Value Proposition showing their distinctive advantage  Makes them aware that the greatest technology is not enough, but needs to be combined with great positioning and a great team  Useful for technology transfer officers  Good fit in organisations with large deal flow of ‘wild’ business ideas, emanating from people with few entrepreneurial skills  Easy framework for dissemination/awareness creation Quick assessment tool for business ideas: ‘NABC’ N Customer/Market Needs A Compelling Approach B Customer Benefits/cost C Worldwide Competition

8 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects  Review of evaluation criteria used in research organisations for technology transfer  Focus on Digiteo’s set of criteria for maturation projects & their condition of use Evaluation criteria Incubation entry eval Pre-incubation Incubation Research Market Early-stage eval Preincubation entry eval Development Proof-of-concept Licensing

9 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects Technology transfer follow-up committee (1)  Focus on INRIA’s committee in charge of:  Startup creation projects  Industrial partnerships with transfer of assets (license or assignment)  Industrial partnerships with transfer of competences (expertise)  Participation to standardisation actions within a transfer action  An open source diffusion of an important code base  Composition: 3 internal persons (including representative from TTO) 3 senior private experts  When: one meeting every two months Credit: Microsoft Office

10 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects  Committee is advisory for the INRIA Transfer department. It gives recommendations on:  go/no go (TT initialisation and follow-up)  transfer strategy adoption  asking for an opportunity/feasibility study  means allocation for maturation if needed  Process:  Template description of the project built by the researcher, TT officer and Sectorial TT Associate  Submission sent a few days before the meeting (no late submission)  A collaborative tool allows the follow-up by all the staff concerned Technology transfer follow-up committee (2)

11 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects Pros & Cons CONs PROs  Early analysis allowing the adoption of transfer strategy.  Increased formalisation of the process, leading to the diminution of oral tradition.  More visibility for the projects that go through the first-level assessment. Even if the result of the assessment is negative, the TT officers/ experts of the jury are aware of it, leading to possible developments in the future.  Difficult to choose the experts, who must be legitimate to “kill” the projects.  Risk of excessive formalisation of the process. Some flexibility should remain, to support great, “out of scope” projects.

12 | Evaluation of technology transfer projects Suggested Readings  Link to code book Invention inventor Invention disclosure Opportunity assessment Proof of concept Technology development maturation Technology transfer Valuation Value proposition  Link to relevant websites 