UUTech Commercialisation Process

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UUTech Commercialisation Process

• Derek Weir
• UUTech Limited

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Patent or Publish?
Are these mutually exclusive?
Patent AND Publish
BUT! - Get the sequence right!
Patent THEN Publish
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Two S reactions to IPR
Scream
Sleep
We are here to help!
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University of Ulster

• How does UU support Technology Transfer
• UUTech
• To facilitate and promote technology and
  knowledge transfer and to manage consultancy,
  patenting, licensing and royalties
• UUSRP Science parks / Innovation Centres
• Available at each campus
• To facilitate spin out and spin in ventures
• University resources
• Personnel, facilities and equipment
• Funding
• UCF, INI,

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Technology and Knowledge Transfer

• What is it?
• The commercialisation of innovative university
  research activity
• How does it work at UU?
• UUTech manages and facilitates commercialisation
  of IP leading to any one of the following
  outcomes
• Consultancy/Contract Research
• Licensing
• Assignment
• Start up company
• Joint ventures with industry

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IP Policy

• Policy Statement
• The University owns all intellectual property
  created during the performance of the contracted
  duties of academic and academic-related
  employees, or assigned to the University by
  students or other individuals. The University
  will undertake to protect commercially important
  intellectual property and seek its commercial
  exploitation for the benefit of the region and
  university. Net proceeds from commercialisation
  will be distributed between the
  inventors/creators and the University on a fair
  and equitable basis.
• Law
• 1977 Patents Act

Available _at_ http//www.uutech.co.uk/innovating/doc
uments-and-downloads.aspx
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Intellectual Property

• With intellectual property licensing revenues
  globally exceeding US150 billion, intellectual
  property is growing in financial importance.
• www.derwent.co.uk

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UUTech Limited

• 100 UU Wholly Owned Subsidiary
• Commercial focus
• Mandate - to commercialise UU IP
• Manage UU Consultancy
• 17 associated companies
• 4 priority spinouts/start-ups
• Portfolio of patented technologies
• 30-40 technology disclosures per annum

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UUTech Technology Transfer Role

• Encourage Disclosure
• Identification IP or commercial opportunity
• Evaluate and Review IP
• Protection of IP - Patents, CDA, MTA
• Raise Awareness of IP and commercial
  opportunities
• Exploitation - Consultancy, License, Spin-out,
  Joint Venture
• Review of Research Contract - IP clauses
• IPR Agreements- INI (PoC, Start etc), KTP, Fusion
• Advise on Funding

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Technology Transfer Process

• Generate ideas / technology disclosures
• Screen/assess/evaluate
• identify those with greatest potential
• Prove concept technical/market
• INI and Internal UUTech
• Commercialise
• Licence
• Spin out
• Assign

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Technology Transfer Process
Research Life Health Sciences Engineering Arts
Social Sciences Business Management
Technology Disclosure Form
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Phase 1
Screening Assessment IP Technology Market
Technology Disclosure Form
Research LH Sciences Engineering Arts Social
Sciences Bus Man
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Patenting Decisions

• Decide whether to file, and if so when
• Take into account any deadlines
• Publication (e.g. talk, web presentation)
• Grant application
• Patent strategy
• Claims
• Countries
• Inventorship
• Applicant(s)

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Patenting Decisions (2)

• Consider research/researchers aims, future
  development
• Think about costs
• Patenting
• Development
• Commercialisation
• Exploitation routes

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PHASE 1 - Technology Screening and Assessment
Concept Analysis
Technology Assessment
Technical Activities

• Assumptions
• Barriers
• Applicability
• Technology

• Working Model?
• Technical
• Dev. Plan
• Early Trials?

INI Proof of Concept Submission?
Detailed Market Study
Market Assessment
Internal UUTech Support?

• Unmet, unserved customer needs?
• Competition
• Barriers
• Trends

• Size/growth
• Early adapters
• Initial ROI
• Pricing
• Competition
• Distribution
• Barriers to entry

Marketing Activities
FAIL?
Licence? or New Venture?

• Internal IP Assessment
• Professional Patent Opinion

Business Activities
Est. 1 - 3 Months
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Phase 2
Screening Assessment IP Technology Market
Proof of Concept Technology Market Validation
Research LH Sciences Engineering Arts Social
Sciences Bus Man
TDF
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PHASE 2 - Proof of Concept
Engineer Prototype
Prototype
Est. 318 Months
Technical Activities

• Implement Development Plan
• Determine Manufacturability
• Engineers/Technicians
• Materials/Processes
• Tests
• Manufacturing Methods

• Prod Processes
• Mfg Processes
• Early Tests/Trials
• Prod Features

LICENCE?
Strategic Marketing
Market Validation
INCUBATE?
Marketing Activities

• ID Team
• Target Mkt
• C.S.F
• Mkt Channels
• Tests/Trials

• Establish Relationships
• Limited Sales
• C.S.F Review
• Sales Plan
• Detailed ROI

FAIL?
Business Plan?
Business Activities
Licence Agreement?
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Phase 3
Proof of Concept Technology Market Validation
Commercialise Licence Spin out Assignment
Research LH Sciences Engineering Arts Social
Sciences Bus Man
Screening Assessment IP Technology Market
TDF
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Phase 3 - Venture or Licence?

• Case by case
• Opportunity beyond POC
• Timeframe? - months / years
• Trials/Phases? - long term/expensive
• Can value be identified in timeline?
• UUTech role? - investor/facilitator/both
• Partnership/leverage investment
• Investable CEO/Mgt Team
• Exit strategy?
• Licence/Incubate/Reject?

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Spin out - Commercial Considerations

• Is there a Market - Who are customers, Which
  countries, ID competitors, Features and Benefits
  of the new technology
• Experienced Management
• Is There a Business?
• Secure IP?
• New Product(s)/Platform Technology
• Who is likely to be able to best exploit the
  technology
• Cost of entry ie Product Development, Marketing
  budgets etc
• Business Plan
• Funding to exploit technology government grants,
  proof of concept funds, seed capital, UCFNI,
  venture capital, Invest NI

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Technology Transfer Process
Research LH Sciences Engineering Arts Social
Sciences Bus Man
Screening Assessment IP Technology Market
Proof of Concept Technology Market Validation
Commercialisation Licence Spin out Assignment
TDF
Fail Or Recycle
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Activity Assumptions
c30-40 new concepts per annum
IP/Idea Funnel
Phase 1 Screening/Assessment
Phase 2 Proof of Concept
Licences / New Ventures
2/3 p.a.
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Exploitation Risk and Reward

• Alternative Routes to Commercialisation
• Increasing Risk Increasing
  Reward
• Contract RD
• Consultancy
• Licensing
• Spin out

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Staff Incentives and Benefits

• Revenue generation from technology licences
• Inventors Research Inst UUTech Ltd
• 33 1/3 33 1/3 33 1/3
• Can lead to further collaborative research
  projects
• Equity Participation in joint ventures and
  spin-outs
• Career progression

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Research Institutes / Schools Incentives and
Benefits

• Raise profile within UU
• May form part of future assessment exercises
• Impact on HEIF funding
• Lead to more industrially relevant research
• Increased Revenue

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UUTech priority companies

• Causeway Data Communications Limited
• Datactics Limited
• Diabetica Limited
• Sensor Technologies Devices Limited

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Remember!Patent THEN Publish
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Relax!
Scream
Sleep
We are here to help!
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Thank you

• http//www.uutech.co.uk