Researchers asked to bridge tech-transfer gap

Researchers should be more aware of the economic potential of scientific advances and systematically trained to understand the process of commercialisation, argues France Biotech, the association of French biotechnology companies.

France Biotech published a White Paper on 7 December 2007 on how to professionalise and improve France’s performance in technology transfer to make better use of academic research.

Technology transfer is the process of developing practical applications for the results of scientific research. It is a term used to describe a formal transfer of rights to use and commercialise new discoveries and innovations resulting from scientific research to another party. 

The industry lists two major barriers to the better exploitation of work conducted in public research organisations: the multiplicity of interlocutors involved in the transfer process and structural weaknesses.

For every invention, enterprises have to deal with a multiplicity of interlocutors with diverging policies and varying levels of professionalism, argues the association. This is said to make the negotiation process far too long for SMEs, which represent the majority of all European biotech companies.

Structural weaknesses highlighted by France Biotech include poor knowledge of industrial property in the academic world in general, the lack of resources dedicated to technology transfer activities, the lack of appropriate training and professionalism of certain interlocutors as well as the lack of structured and systemic offering of technologies.

The White Paper outlined a number of recommendations regarding legislative and regulatory issues and best practice, as well as a proposal on how to professionalise and empower the existing technology transfer structures. One of the recommendations urges researchers to become more aware of the economic potential and value of research. 

To do this, the association proposes including – in the curricula of scientists and engineers – a systemic formation on intellectual property, the protection process for inventions, development and commercialisation. In addition, cultural aspects should be included in the curricula to bridge the business-academia gap.  

Whereas science and research have become increasingly important for innovation and competitiveness, the European Commission argues that in the EU “making better use of publicly-funded R&D is an significant problem.” A Communication on improving knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry across Europe, adopted in April 2007, urges better exploitation of research results, but also recognises that important cultural barriers to collaboration still exist between public and private sector actors, in particular regarding revenue sharing and costs.

An EU group of high-level industry and academic actors to further reflect and provide advice on possible actions to promote knowledge transfer in Europe will be announced before the end of 2007.

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