Technology Transfer (TT) is the process through which knowledge, technologies and production methodologies are made accessible and available to a wide range of people so that they can further develop and exploit them to create new products, services, processes and/or applications.

It’s an "open innovation" methodology, made up of activities that aim to transfer knowledge and make it public and accessible to end users.

A possible definition of Technology Transfer (TT): “The mechanism through which the competence developed by a specific subject is transferred entirely and / or in part to another subject who benefits from it”.

To support the activities of the main players involved in the transfer process, the Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) have recently been created, which represent the main transmission channel between the research world and the market and, in many cases, collaborate with top research management as regards relations with companies.

Specific initiatives of the MISE (Ministry of Economic Development) are also aimed at strengthening the Technology Transfer Offices, including, in particular, the support capacity building enhancement of the activities and resources involved in TTOs.

The most delicate moment of the technology transfer process is undoubtedly represented by the management and protection of Intellectual Property activities which can be summarized as follows:

1. Enhancement of research results

• Internal scouting activities aimed at the emergence of the scientific results achieved and at the mapping of the skills and technologies present;
• Support to researchers in verifying the existence of the requirements for patent protection of research results;
• Management of the procedures for the assignment of services for filing and maintaining national, European and/or international patent applications to the authorized companies accredited to UIBM, EPO, USPTO, etc…;
• Management, monitoring and evaluation of the patent portfolio;
• Matchmaking and networking activities between companies, investors and researchers;
• Support in the activities instrumental to the economic exploitation of inventions (licenses, transfers, collaborations, etc ...);
• Technical support in the stipulation of the following agreements: NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement); MTA (Material Transfer Agreement); IIA (Inter Institutional Agreement).

2. Support for the transfer of research results

• Promotion of an Intellectual Property culture with awareness-raising initiatives that also provide informations on patent law;
• Promotion and organization of training activities aimed at spreading an entrepreneurial spirit;
• External scouting activities aimed at the actors of the innovation ecosystem and the business system to favor a successful matching between research supply and demand and identify possible synergies and spaces for collaboration;
• Study and deepening of tenders and procedures for accessing new sources of funding.

3. Support for the creation of spin-off companies

• Planning of preliminary meetings with the proponents to provide information and evaluations on the Spin-Off proposal;
• Illustration of the mechanisms for participation in the company by the proponents;
• Evaluation of any conflicts of interest between proponents and public research body.

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) also supports the Scientific Directorates and the Patent Commission in the formal and merit assessment of new patent applications and actions aimed at the valorisation and economic exploitation of patents.

The primary tasks of the Patent Commission include:

• The evaluation of the invention proposal and the decision regarding the opportunity to proceed with the prior art search;
• The evaluation of the complete documentation of the research report, of the written opinion and of the merit examination to decide on the opportunity to proceed with the filing of the patent application;
• The evaluation, after the first filing, of the opportunity to extend the protection to other countries;
• The assessment, on an annual basis, of the appropriateness of the strategies undertaken for the management and enhancement of patents;
• Establish, in consideration of the documented prospects for enhancement existing at the end of each annuity, the acts of disposition of the patents (license, assignment, etc.) including the possible disposal of the patent.

Composition of the Patent Commission of the IFOs:

Prof. Gennaro Ciliberto - IRE Scientific Director

Prof. Aldo Morrone - ISG Scientific Director

Dr. Paola Nistico - UOSD Immunology and Immunotherapy

Dr. Giulia Piaggio - UOSD SAFU

Ing. Giuseppe Navanteri - UOSD Clinical Engineering, Technologies and Information Systems

Dr. Gianluca Moretti - UOC Acquisition of Goods and Services