As cannabis becomes big business and has become legalized in many states across the U.S., a growing number of universities have opened research units dedicated to the study of cannabis and hemp. Research and commercialization activity is booming around medical applications, agricultural advances, and consumer product development. But many legal experts warn that the industry‘s rapid growth is outpacing legal protections for the IP involved and can complicate matters for the research itself.

Universities face unique challenges in protecting intellectual property surrounding cannabis created by its conflicting legal status between state and federal law. The continued criminalization of cannabis at the federal level obstructs strong trademark protection. It has the effect of simultaneously making the demonstration of novelty easier under patent law while making compliance with the written description requirement more difficult. In other words, protecting the IP that stems from cannabis research is tricky, but not impossible.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central’s Distance Learning Division has scheduled this important webinar: Cannabis Research and Commercialization: Best Practices for University IP Protection, scheduled for October 29th. For complete program details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• Financial Audits of Industry-Sponsored Research: What to Expect and How to Manage the Process ~ Wednesday, November 13, 2019   
• Improving Data Integrity: Boost TTO Operations and Gain Reliability in Your Invention Management Database ~ Thursday, November 21, 2019

With millions of dollars invested in research, industry sponsors need to ensure that all aspects of their projects are being managed with utmost care. In addition to scope of work, budgeting, and payment obligations, each project’s research agreement dictates specific requirements regarding financial management and reporting obligations. 

During the lifespan of the research, there may be times where a financial “health check” or audit is requested. It could come by way of routine request, or the sponsor may be observing red flags warranting further investigation. In either case, an audit doesn’t have to be a frightening or adversarial exercise. In fact, audits provide an opportunity for both parties to uncover issues, concerns and challenges encountered in the execution of a project. It affords the project manager, project sponsor and research administration team an interim view of what has gone well and what needs to be improved with the project to ensure it is successfully completed.

University-Industry Engagement Advisor has tapped a team of experts from the accounting firm Baker Tilly to lead this program, scheduled for November 13th, that will demystify the audit process so that both parties can come away with valuable insight into the financial well-being of a research project: Financial Audits of Industry-Sponsored Research: What to Expect and How to Manage the Process. For complete program and faculty details and to register, CLICK HERE. 

Also coming soon:

• Social Media For TTOs: Best Practices for Branding, Relationship-Building and Marketing Innovations ~ Friday, October 11, 2019
• Cannabis Research and Commercialization: Best Practices for University IP Protection ~ Tuesday, October 29, 2019
• Improving Data Integrity: Boost TTO Operations and Gain Reliability in Your Invention Management Database ~ Thursday, November 21, 2019

As part of its mission to support holistic industry engagement and assist universities in attracting more corporate partners, University-Industry Engagement Advisor has produced a distance learning collection featuring four leading universities that have used innovative strategies and proven programs to achieve robust relationships with corporate partners. Kansas State University, Brown University, the University of Georgia, and the University at Buffalo are prime examples of how to foster welcoming and comprehensive industry engagement initiatives that result in research funding, job creation, philanthropic funding, talent pipeline development, and economic development.

Effective Models of University-Industry Engagement: Case Studies in Success features the details behind each of these program in four in-depth presentations. The collection comes complete with the original program materials and in three formats — DVD, online video, and transcript — so you can listen and share them with your entire staff at your convenience in any format. For complete details on this valuable collection, CLICK HERE.

Social media offers tech transfer and industry engagement offices a potentially powerful array of tools for increasing your brand recognition, forging strong relationships with faculty, students and the business community, and as a vehicle to market your innovations. But maximizing the impact of your social media marketing requires know-how that most offices don’t yet have — and as a result those efforts in many cases are scattershot, poorly targeted, and ineffective.

Success and impact lie in the planning and execution of your messages, and having a solid understanding of the various social media platforms and how to best employ them in the context of research commercialization and in targeting its various stakeholders.

To help you master these tools and techniques, Technology Transfer Tactics and University-Industry Engagement Advisor have partnered with two social media experts working in leading university TTOs to present this detailed, how-to webinar: Social Media For TTOs: Best Practices for Branding, Relationship-Building and Marketing Innovations. This session, scheduled for October 11th, will delve into best practices for crafting creative, clear messages using your TTO’s persona, voice and identity.

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

Also coming soon:

• THIS THURSDAY, October 3: Crafting Attractive, Sustainable Compensation Packages for University Start-Up Leadership
• Cannabis Research and Commercialization: Best Practices for University IP Protection ~ Tuesday, October 29, 2019

As cannabis becomes big business and has become legalized in many states across the U.S., a growing number of universities have opened research units dedicated to the study of cannabis and hemp. Research and commercialization activity is booming around medical applications, agricultural advances, and consumer product development. But many legal experts warn that the industry‘s rapid growth is outpacing legal protections for the IP involved and can complicate matters for the research itself.

Universities face unique challenges in protecting intellectual property surrounding cannabis created by its conflicting legal status between state and federal law. The continued criminalization of cannabis at the federal level obstructs strong trademark protection. It has the effect of simultaneously making the demonstration of novelty easier under patent law while making compliance with the written description requirement more difficult. In other words, protecting the IP that stems from cannabis research is tricky, but not impossible.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central’s Distance Learning Division has scheduled this critically important webinar: Cannabis Research and Commercialization: Best Practices for University IP Protection, scheduled for October 29th. For complete program details and to register, CLICK HERE.

Also coming soon:

• TOMORROW, September 25: Standard Operating Procedures for TTOs: How Consistency Can Improve TTO Performance and Productivity
• Crafting Attractive, Sustainable Compensation Packages for University Start-Up Leadership ~ Thursday, October 3, 2019
• Social Media For TTOs: Best Practices for Branding, Relationship-Building and Marketing Innovations ~ Friday, October 11, 2019

Effectively triaging and prioritizing your IP assets is one of your most critical tasks. You need expert strategies designed to get more files handled, thin the herd, and focus your resources on inventions with real commercial potential. That’s why Tech Transfer Central is introducing the six-session distance learning collection IP Portfolio Management for University Technology Transfer Offices: Assessing, Identifying, and Nurturing the Winners.

This resource contains over six hours of practical, immediately useful, how-to advice for improving your assessment process and applying your limited resources to the technologies with the most potential. You’ll learn from the industry’s best and most respected IP professionals, attorneys and consultants as they provide you with practical guidance on your top portfolio management challenges. These six recorded programs come in three formats — DVD, online video, and transcript — so you can share them with your entire staff at your convenience in any format.

The six programs included in this outstanding collection are:

• Best Practices for Performing Provisional Patent Conversion Evaluations.
• IP Audit Checklist: Best Practices to Identify, Protect, Monetize and Enforce University IP Assets.
• Tech Launch Arizona’s Asset Development Program: A Case Study Webinar.
• The “Need to Knowledge” Stage Gate Model for Objective Assessment and Efficient Advancement of University Innovations.
• Using Customer Discovery Techniques to Validate Your University IP’s Commercial Viability.
• Successful Transition of University IP From Discovery to Market: Case Study of the Johns Hopkins D2M Project.

For complete details and to order, CLICK HERE.

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:

• TOMORROW, September 18: Licensing Know-How: Capture the Full Value of Your Technologies and Foster Supportive Relationships with Licensees
• Crafting Attractive, Sustainable Compensation Packages for University Start-Up Leadership ~ Thursday, October 3, 2019
• Social Media For TTOs: Best Practices for Branding, Relationship-Building and Marketing Innovations ~ Friday, October 11, 2019
• Cannabis Research and Commercialization: Best Practices for University IP Protection ~ Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Corporate affiliate programs are designed to provide members an exclusive view into the research and activities of specific departments or programs within a university and foster dynamic collaborations between the university and the affiliate program members. They also allow university researchers to better understand, appreciate and meet the needs of industry. The benefits to each party can be profound, from new revenue, new partnerships, and licensing opportunities for the university to talent acquisition, a ready source of valuable innovations, and a competitive advantage for corporate affiliates. In short, these programs have proven to be an outstanding funnel for long-term value and growth in industry engagement.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central’s Distance Learning Division is teamed up with Todd Cleland, PhD, Senior Director of Corporate Relations for the University of Washington, to discuss how to structure, manage and grow various types of corporate affiliate programs. Cultivate Winning University-Industry Relationships Through Corporate Affiliate Programs is a recorded distance learning resource filled with details of UW’s success with affiliates and how to develop your own program. You can choose from three formats — DVD, online video, or transcript — and share it with your staff whenever you wish. For complete program details and to order, CLICK HERE.

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:

• 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
• Crafting Attractive, Sustainable Compensation Packages for University Start-Up Leadership ~ Thursday, October 3, 2019
• Social Media For TTOs: Best Practices for Branding, Relationship-Building and Marketing Innovations ~ Friday, October 11, 2019

In a perfect world, universities would enjoy collaborating on research projects with a myriad of partners, costs would be shared fairly among partners, everyone would agree on IP ownership, and they would live happily ever after. But the real world is far from perfect, and it’s critical that your university’s IP rights are carefully defined and protected when working with other schools, corporations, and other partners. The cost of inadequate preparation and contractual protection can be huge, from hefty litigation costs to invalid patents or loss of IP, not to mention damage to important relationships.

That’s why Tech Transfer Central’s Distance Learning Division teamed up with Rodney Sparks, JD, PhD, from the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group, to discuss how to protect your ownership stake, remain a good research partner, and deal with conflicts when they arise in Overcoming Joint IP Ownership Challenges in University Research Partnerships. This highly rated, recorded program is available on DVD, on-demand video, and PDF transcript. For complete details and to order, CLICK HERE.

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:

• 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
• Crafting Attractive, Sustainable Compensation Packages for University Start-Up Leadership ~ Thursday, October 3, 2019

When it comes to matters of regulatory compliance in research, there is no room for error. Fortunately, strong education and airtight monitoring systems can prevent the damaging consequences of non-compliance that can result in a black mark on your university’s reputation – as well as its future research funding.

That’s why we’ve created the Best Practices in University Research and Tech Transfer Compliance distance learning collection. The collection consists of three distance learning programs, complete with all original program materials, filled with expert compliance guidance related to the Bayh-Dole Act, reporting guidelines for iEdison, and SBIR/STTR funding regulations.

You’ll receive the recorded programs in three formats — DVD, online video, and transcript — so you can listen and share them with staff at your convenience in whatever format you choose. It’s a great addition to your training library you can use over and over again.

The three programs included are:

• Bayh-Dole Compliance Check-up: Effectively Address the Challenge of Complacency
• Maintaining Compliance with iEdison: A Practical Guide for Universities
• Avoid SBIR/STTR Fraud and Abuse Allegations in University Research

For complete details, CLICK HERE.