While incentive and bonus plans have become more commonplace in TTOs, they are still the exception rather than the rule, and those who have implemented such plans have looked to Emory University for guidance and best practice advice.

Emory’s plan was designed to further motivate the OTT staff to support faculty development of marketable technology with the goal of increased licensing revenue. The metrics and weighting have been adjusted some over the years to ensure performance milestones are met before a pay-out can occur, but the results have been, and continue to be, a slam-dunk winner for the staff and the university.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central, in partnership with Todd Sherer, PhD, Emory’s Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director for the Office of Technology, has scheduled this insightful and detailed webinar: Creating Win-Win Incentive Plans for Tech Transfer Staff: The Emory University Model, scheduled for September 12th. For complete program details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• Taking Legal Action Against Your Licensee: What TTOs Need to Know ~ Tuesday, August 27, 2019
• Licensing Know-How: Capture the Full Value of Your Technologies and Foster Supportive Relationships with Licensees ~ Wednesday, September 18, 2019
• Standard Operating Procedures for TTOs: How Consistency Can Improve TTO Performance and Productivity ~ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

All TTOs strive for efficiency and consistency when triaging technologies or moving an innovation through the commercialization process, yet few actually take the time to map out their procedures. But without Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), your office is prone to splintered communication among staff, less than optimal quality of work, decreased productivity, and a generalized perception of disorganization.  

Well-drafted SOPs document exactly what your office does, who does what, and how it is done most effectively. Though time-consuming to develop, the reward for investing in SOPs is a higher performing and more efficient operation, consistency in recordkeeping, and faster integration of new staff — all of which will lead to higher morale and ultimately more licenses and start-ups.

To help you and your staff make the most of SOPs while avoiding potential pitfalls, Tech Transfer Central is sponsoring this detailed, how-to webinar led by the experts at Fuentek, LLC: Standard Operating Procedures for TTOs: How Consistency Can Improve TTO Performance and Productivity, scheduled for September 25th. For complete program details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• Taking Legal Action Against Your Licensee: What TTOs Need to Know ~ Tuesday, August 27, 2019
• Creating Win-Win Incentive Plans for Tech Transfer Staff: The Emory University Model ~ Thursday, September 12, 2019
• Licensing Know-How: Capture the Full Value of Your Technologies and Foster Supportive Relationships with Licensees ~ Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Every so often, there comes a time when tensions arise between a university TTO and its licensee. Whether it’s due to a communication snafu, license compliance, payment issues, or performance problems, most of the time these disputes can be resolved quickly with little impact to the relationship — particularly for TTOs with an effective enforcement plan in place. However, when discussions fail to bear fruit, there are times when the university’s investment, reputation and the future of the technology demands that a dispute escalate to the point of litigation. Will you be prepared?   

Many TTOs try to avoid conflict with their licensees believing that pressing a dispute will harm the university’s reputation or the relationship between the licensee and the university researcher/inventor. Unfortunately, the result is usually lost revenue for the university and diminished respect for the university’s IP. In fact, as you’ll discover in this eye-opening program, raising a legitimate dispute with the licensee’s decision makers can result in the recovery of unpaid royalties and often lead to an improved and expanded relationship between the university and its licensees and potential licensees.  

Taking Legal Action Against Your Licensee: What TTOs Need to Know, scheduled for August 6th, will explore real-world strategies for addressing disputes with licensees and infringers alike. Proven best practices for navigating the complexities of enforcement — from identifying problems to negotiating solutions to full-blown litigation — will be discussed. Please join Technology Transfer Central’s Distance Learning Division and its team of expert attorneys from Fish and Richardson for this important webinar. For complete program details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Managing conflicts of interest (COIs) between funding sources and faculty researchers is always a tough challenge for tech transfer, sponsored research, and compliance offices that requires much coordination and careful handling. Although tech transfer and research managers recognize that conflicts are a given during the process of transferring IP either through a license agreement, spinout, or partnership, managing and mitigating those COIs is a seemingly never ending battle — and it’s fraught with danger not only for the university, but also for its faculty.

That’s why we’re created the three-session distance learning collection Managing Conflicts of Interest in the Commercialization of University Research, to provide a solid set of guidelines and proven strategies to ensure COI issues related to commercialization activity are addressed effectively. These three programs are included in the collection:

• Blurred Lines and Gray Areas: Managing Conflicts of Interest in University Tech Transfer and Sponsored Research
• Ensuring Compliance with Financial Conflict of Interest Regs
• Best Practices for Managing Conflicts of Interest in Faculty Start Ups

For complete program and faculty details, or to order, CLICK HERE.

While many universities today offer some type of funds designed to advance faculty inventions, there is often still a gap — an untouched area of the Valley of Death. That’s where a well-managed asset development program can help.

Tech Launch Arizona’s Asset Development Program (AD) is a best practice example of how to fill that gap. The program validates the inventions for market potential, completing project work that includes proof of concept, feasibility study, scalability test, research to improve patent claims, and more. If a technology merits AD funding, staff and their extensive network of experts work with the inventors to shape a full proposal, including activities, budget and timeline. The end result is a portfolio of IP assets that are better prepared for the marketplace, and which gain a bridge over the funding gap where too many promising projects go to die. 

Technology Transfer Tactics has invited Doug Hockstad, TLA’s Assistant Vice President of Technology Transfer, to present this webinar designed to provide a roadmap for creating an effective asset development program at your university: Tech Launch Arizona’s Asset Development Program: A Case Study Webinar,scheduled for August 6. For complete details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• Taking Legal Action Against Your Licensee: What TTOs Need to Know ~ Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Establishing, reviewing, and revising policies and practices that govern sensitive issues surrounding the commercialization of faculty research is no easy task. From IP ownership and conflicts of interest to faculty incentives and disclosure management challenges, the policies and strategies you use form the foundation of your faculty relationships while also serving as a firewall against compliance problems, legal disputes, and public relations nightmares.

Policy and Practice Governing Faculty Inventors: Protecting Your University While Building Solid Relationships for Lasting Success is a four-hour collection of distance learning programs that identifies best practices and proven strategies from your peers across the country who have successfully tackled policy issues and implemented key practices to protect the university while also building solid relationships with inventive faculty. The four programs included in the collection are:

• Blurred Lines and Gray Areas: Managing Conflicts of Interest in University Tech Transfer and Sponsored Research
• Departing Faculty: How to Protect University IP, Avoid Legal Disputes, and Preserve Funding
• Amending University IP Ownership Policies to Boost Disclosures and Corporate Interest
• Incentivizing University Faculty for Commercialization Activity

For complete details or to order, CLICK HERE.

Reporting inventions in iEdison can be a clunky, time-sucking task that is riddled with compliance hurdles, error notifications and reporting requirements. Many universities have made it policy and procedure to report all inventions into iEdison upon disclosure to the TTO. But that’s not necessary or even wise to do. Not all inventions are backed by federal funds, and not all disclosures can be fully vetted to meet the subject invention requirement. This causes major strife for the reporting officer or patent coordinator because — as research office and tech transfer staff know all too well — correcting reporting errors is an absolute nightmare in iEdison.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central, in partnership with iEdison expert Tyson Benson, associate with Harness Dickey, has scheduled this critically important compliance webinar: Saving Time and Increasing Productivity with iEdison: Reassessing the Subject Invention Requirement and Minimizing Reporting Errors. Join us on July 30 when Mr. Benson will discuss how to save time and reduce errors with iEdison, including an in-depth review of what a subject invention is and what really needs to be reported. For complete details or to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• THIS THURSDAY, July 25: Mitigating Risks Associated with Foreign Research Collaborators
• Tech Launch Arizona’s Asset Development Program: A Case Study Webinar ~ Tuesday, August 6, 2019
• Taking Legal Action Against Your Licensee: What TTOs Need to Know ~ Tuesday, August 27, 2019

In light of recent security threats and allegations of IP theft, foreign research collaborators, industry partners, students, and even faculty have been placed in the crosshairs of international disputes that have sparked intense scrutiny among administrators and restrictive action by the U.S. government. Heightened concern about foreign scholars exploiting the research environment for their own or their nations’ benefit has caused government agencies — and in turn university leaders — to act strongly, and their actions have shaken the academic research community.

This is an issue that’s not going away, and it’s why Tech Transfer Central, in partnership with export control and trade compliance expert Wendy Epley, President of Epley Consulting LLC, has scheduled this critically important webinar: Mitigating Risks Associated with Foreign Research Collaborators. Join us on July 25th when Ms. Epley will discuss how to comply with the added security measures being required by federal agencies, identify red flags and subtle clues of inappropriate foreign influence, and implement best practices for mitigating risks associated with foreign research collaborators. For complete details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• Saving Time and Increasing Productivity with iEdison: Reassessing the Subject Invention Requirement and Minimizing Reporting Errors ~ Tuesday, July 30, 2019
• Tech Launch Arizona’s Asset Development Program: A Case Study Webinar ~ Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Reporting inventions in iEdison can be a clunky, time-sucking task that is riddled with compliance hurdles, error notifications and reporting requirements. Many universities have made it policy and procedure to report all inventions into iEdison upon disclosure to the TTO. But that’s not necessary or even wise to do. Not all inventions are backed by federal funds, and not all disclosures can be fully vetted to meet the subject invention requirement. This causes major strife for the reporting officer or patent coordinator because — as research office and tech transfer staff know all too well — correcting reporting errors is an absolute nightmare in iEdison.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central, in partnership with iEdison expert Tyson Benson, associate with Harness Dickey, has scheduled this critically important compliance webinar: Saving Time and Increasing Productivity with iEdison: Reassessing the Subject Invention Requirement and Minimizing Reporting Errors. Join us on July 30 when Mr. Benson will discuss how to save time and reduce errors with iEdison, including an in-depth review of what a subject invention is and what really needs to be reported. For complete details or to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• IP Audit Checklist: Best Practices to Identify, Protect, Monetize and Enforce University IP Assets ~ Wednesday, July 17, 2019
• Mitigating Risks Associated with Foreign Research Collaborators ~ Thursday, July 25, 2019
• Tech Launch Arizona’s Asset Development Program: A Case Study Webinar ~ Tuesday, August 6, 2019

In light of recent security threats and allegations of IP theft, foreign research collaborators, industry partners, students, and even faculty have been placed in the crosshairs of international disputes that have sparked intense scrutiny among administrators and restrictive action by the U.S. government. Heightened concern about foreign scholars exploiting the research environment for their own or their nations’ benefit has caused government agencies — and in turn university leaders — to act strongly, and their actions have shaken the academic research community.

In light of these growing concerns, the National Institutes of Health last year distributed letters to more than 10,000 institutions that receive NIH grants, raising concerns of inappropriate influence by foreign entities — and more than 50 universities have now been asked to investigate specific threats. Several labs have fired researchers over failure to disclose foreign relationships and funding, and the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies are looking into potential security risks associated with foreign talent recruitment programs. 

This is an issue that’s not going away, and it’s why Tech Transfer Central, in partnership with export control and trade compliance expert Wendy Epley, President of Epley Consulting LLC, has scheduled this critically important webinar: Mitigating Risks Associated with Foreign Research Collaborators. Join us on July 25th when Ms. Epley will discuss how to comply with the added security measures being required by federal agencies, identify red flags and subtle clues of inappropriate foreign influence, and implement best practices for mitigating risks associated with foreign research collaborators. For complete details and to register, CLICK HERE.

ALSO COMING SOON:

• IP Audit Checklist: Best Practices to Identify, Protect, Monetize and Enforce University IP Assets ~ Wednesday, July 17, 2019
• Saving Time and Increasing Productivity with iEdison: Reassessing the Subject Invention Requirement and Minimizing Reporting Errors ~ Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Reporting inventions in iEdison can be a clunky, time-sucking task that is riddled with compliance hurdles, error notifications and reporting requirements. Many universities have made it policy and procedure to report all inventions into iEdison upon disclosure to the TTO. But that’s not necessary or even wise to do. Not all inventions are backed by federal funds, and not all disclosures can be fully vetted to meet the subject invention requirement. This causes major strife for the reporting officer or patent coordinator because — as research office and tech transfer staff know all too well — correcting reporting errors is an absolute nightmare in iEdison.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central, in partnership with iEdison expert Tyson Benson, associate with Harness Dickey, has scheduled this critically important compliance webinar: Saving Time and Increasing Productivity with iEdison: Reassessing the Subject Invention Requirement and Minimizing Reporting Errors. Join us on July 30 when Mr. Benson will discuss how to save time and reduce errors with iEdison, including an in-depth review of what a subject invention is and what really needs to be reported. For complete details or to register, CLICK HERE.

ALSO COMING SOON:

• THIS THURSDAY, June 20: Inside the VC Industry’s View of University Spinouts: Critical Insights for TTOs
• SBIR/STTR Policy Changes: New Challenges and New Opportunities ~ Wednesday, June 26, 2019
• IP Audit Checklist: Best Practices to Identify, Protect, Monetize and Enforce University IP Assets ~ Wednesday, July 17, 2019
• Mitigating Risks Associated with Foreign Research Collaborators ~ Thursday, July 25, 2019

Your university spends untold dollars and hours on negotiating terms and processing hundreds, maybe even thousands of MTAs every year. And since MTAs can have serious ramifications in terms of rights to resulting inventions, for future licensing agreements, and for publication rights, it’s not a process you should be taking lightly or rushing through.

That’s why we’ve created Best Practices in Material Transfer Agreement Management. This highly-rated distance learning collection includes two practical programs that deliver specific strategies to help you manage your agreements, your time, and your IP. Here are more details on the two-program collection:

1. Material Transfer Agreement Management: Negotiation Strategies to Strengthen Legal Protection and Gain Efficiency — The way MTAs are negotiated and managed can have a huge impact on your organization’s productivity, since the volume and processing time can combine to overwhelm an already overworked staff. You gain solid guidance from two experts at the University of Iowa who have successfully addressed the MTA challenge, and are ready to share their strategies with you.

2. Managing Material Transfer Agreements: Key Practices for Saving Time and Money — The Vanderbilt University TTO’s home-grown MTAShare automated MTA management system enables an extremely streamlined process, slashing both paperwork and many hours of staff time associated with processing material transfer agreements. Alan Bentley, assistant vice chancellor for technology transfer in the Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC), leads this session and shares exactly how the university tackled its MTA workload, culminating in this time- and money-saving automated solution.

For complete details on this valuable collection or to order, CLICK HERE.