Technology Innovation International

STATE OF THE INNOVATION UNION

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:32:35 +0000

The European Commission has published a report on the progress made so far under its Innovation Union flagship initiative, which intends to ensure that innovative ideas are translated into new goods and services which create growth and jobs. Most of its 34 commitments underpinning this strategy are on schedule, and based on wide-ranging debates with stakeholders, legislative proposals have been tabled according to plan and pilot actions have been launched and tested. In particular the new Horizon 2020 proposal envisages bringing together current research and innovation programmes into a single strategic framework to fund the whole innovation cycle.

The full report can be downloaded at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/872

Filed under: Innovation, Policy

MAJOR NEW REPORT ON UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS COOPERATION

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:31:32 +0000

The Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre in Münster, Germany (S2BMRC) has just published the findings of a major study on University-Business Cooperation (UBC) in Europe. Commissioned by DG Education and Culture of the European Commission, the study investigated different forms of cooperation between HEIs and private and public organisations in Europe over a fifteen-and-a-half month period in 2010 and 2011. The study not only aims to measure the actual level of UBC (i.e. status quo) to provide a benchmark for European UBC, but also to outline potential reasons, influencing factors, drivers and barriers to UBC as well as to offer recommendations for the future.

The main components of the study were in-depth qualitative interviews with 10 recognised industry experts as well as a major quantitative survey. The survey was translated into 22 languages and sent to all registered European HEIs (numbering over 3,000) in 33 countries during March 2011. Through this, a final sample population of 6,280 academics and HEI representatives was achieved making the study the largest study into cooperation between HEIs and business yet completed in Europe. Furthermore, 30 good practice UBC case studies were written up to provide positive examples of European UBC.

The final report and case studies can be downloaded at http://www.ub-cooperation.eu/

Comments and feedback can be forwarded to one of the survey leaders, Todd Davey (BSc, MA), Manager, International Projects, Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre davey@fh-muenster.de

Filed under: Innovation, Policy, Project, Publication

GE INNOVATION BAROMETER: EUROPEANS MOST INNOVATIVE – BUT DOWNBEAT

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:30:44 +0000

European countries retain the best reputation amongst their global rivals as champions of innovation, according to the recently published GE Innovation Barometer 2012. It found that four of the five European countries included in the survey of 22 nations were classed in the top 10 when all respondents were asked to rate the leading innovation champions. Germany came in second – pipped by the US – while the UK, France and Sweden were classed in seventh, eighth and ninth places respectively. However, when businesses in the same survey countries were asked how satisfied they were with the innovation environment in their home countries, France, the UK and Germany were fourth, fifth and eighth most pessimistic.

The study polled 2,800 senior business executives in 22 countries, all with direct involvement in their company’s innovation strategy and decision making. The survey was conducted between 15 October and 15 November 2011. More information and downloads can be found at http://www.ge.com/innovationbarometer/

Filed under: Innovation, People

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OPEN FOR TII 2012 CONFERENCE

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:29:53 +0000

TII’s 2012 conference will be hosted by Aalborg University in the Danish capital Copenhagen from 25 to 27 April. The conference is also organised in collaboration with ProTon Europe as a first step to enhanced cooperation between the two associations. To all knowledge transfer and innovation support practitioners from around the world it offers a vibrant meeting place for sharing experience, exchanging ideas and building and strengthening the profession.

The conference theme for 2012 contains two buzz words – “sustainability” and “smart economy”. Sustainability has several meangings: durable, green and cost-effective/affordable. The conference will look at all these aspects. A smart economy combines the successful elements of the enterprise economy and the innovation or ideas economy while promoting a high-quality environment, improving energy security and promoting social cohesion. The smarter economies of the future will be those that can achieve this combination of attributes.

In this case, knowledge transfer and innovation support intermediaries have an essential role to play in the quest for sustainability and a smarter economy. And this is sure to spark some fascinating insights and lively debate during our conference.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Contributors interested in presenting in the speaking programme are invited to submit a short outline (approximately 10 lines) on their chosen topic and the insights they would like to present.

TII FEATURED IN JANUARY ISSUE OF GLOBAL BUSINESS MAGAZINE

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:27:06 +0000

TII was featured in a 2-page article as part of a special section on Technology Transfer in the January 2012 issue of the Global Business Magazine. Written by Dr. Costas Y. Konis, TII Board member for Cyprus, the article presents not just TII’s services to members but also reflects on the broader contribution of innovation and technology to addressing some of the world’s pressing problems.

Part of the article can be viewed online by non-subscribers at http://www.gbmonline.net/feature-contributors.cfm?theCID=AECF67DE-AA93-34DA-4BF63BA80A5A4476

Filed under: Innovation, Publication

FRONT END OF INNOVATION 2012

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:26:28 +0000

The Front End of Innovation EMEA takes place from 27 to 29 February 2012 in Zürich. The 2012 event is focused on Reprioritizing in the Face of Complexity. Now in its 6th year, FEI EMEA continues to connect hundreds of relevant change-makers responsible for trends, innovation, design, R&D, customer insights and user experience from all over the world. In addition to an impressive line-up of keynote addresses from leading industrialists, the conference programme includes best practice case studies on disruptive innovation, social media, innovation management, future trends, design integration and mass collaboration from top innovation executives.

TII members receive a 20% discount on the registratione fee. To take advantage of it mention priority code FEI12TII when registering for the conference. For further details concerning the conference programme and registration please consult the following site http://www.iirusa.com/feieurope/home.xml

Filed under: Event, Innovation

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON RULES FOR ASSESSING LICENSING AGREEMENTS FOR TT

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:25:53 +0000

The European Commission is inviting feedback from the business and innovation community on their experience of the rules governing the assessment of licensing agreements for the transfer of technology under EU competition law. The consultation period is open until 3 February 2012. The EU competition rules for licensing agreements are set out in Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Article 101 prohibits agreements between companies which lead to an appreciable restriction of competition. Enforcement of this primary rule is complemented by two instruments, the technology transfer block exemption regulation (TTBER) and accompanying Guidelines. The competition rules aim to strengthen the incentives for initial R&D, facilitate the diffusion of IP and generate market competition.

The current instruments are due to expire on 30 April 2014, hence the EC’s interest in consulting stakeholders in order to prepare the new regime and to ensure that it reflects current market realities and allows competitors and non-competitiors to conclude TT agreements which contribute to economic welfare without infringing competition.

Further information on submitting your contribution can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_technology_transfer/index_en.html

Filed under: Innovation, IPR, Policy

NEW PATENT HIGHS AT EPO IN 2011

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:25:22 +0000

Despite difficult economic and financial conditions in 2011, the European Patent Office registered a 3% increase in patent applications over the previous year and granted 7% more patents than in 2010.

A majority of the filings came from non-European countries with a rise in those originating from China and Japan, and a small drop in the US share to 24%. Europe’s share was virtually unchanged, with Germany filing most (14%), followed by France (5%) and then Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands (3% each). India, Russia and Brazil all registered substantial increases, albeit from a fairly low base.

The EPO plans to publish more detailed figures and trends in March. Figures for the 50 main countries filing European patent applications can be found at http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponet.nsf/0/5D89B207FACB5EAEC1257988003EBCB6/$File/top_countries_2011.pdf

Filed under: Innovation, IPR

NEW BOOK: LICENSING TRADE SECRETS

tiiasbl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:24:47 +0000

The passage of the America Invents Act has many IP experts in the USA fretting over provisions that could drive all but the largest businesses and universities to forgo the expense and risks associated with the patent process and opt instead for trade secret protection. New first-to-file rules and post-grant opposition procedures will give big corporations and their attorneys powerful weapons to stifle start-ups and smaller entities seeking patents, and the shift to trade secrets as a viable alternative is expected to skyrocket.

This new publication Licensing Trade Secrets gives an overview of what constitutes a trade secret and how it can affect the value of a technology, and features real-world license agreements that illustrate the importance of specific language used, the economic value trade secrets add, the industries where trade secrets are most desired, and the actual valuations and rates used for trade secret licenses. Critical topics covered in this important new resource include:

Trade Secret Value Sources
Trade Secret Floor Value
Factors that Prolong Trade Secret Value
Factors that Kill Trade Secrets
Inadvertent Disclosures
Trade Secret Agreement Terms

Copies, priced $299, can be ordered from http://www.technologytransfertactics.com/content/bvr/lts/

Filed under: Innovation, IPR, Publication

OVER 80 BILLION EURO FOR HORIZON 2020

tiiasbl — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:59 +0000

On 30 November, the European Commission published its proposals for establishing the new Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) with a budget of over 80 billion euro. A specific instrument is reserved for Innovation in SMEs in order to boost their capacity to innovate and to commercialise research results. The successor programme to FP7 focuses more than ever on turning scientific breakthroughs into innovative products and services that provide business opportunities and improve people’s lives. It also sets out to cut red tape, with simplification of rules and procedures to attract more top researchers and a broader range of innovative businesses.

Horizon 2020 will focus on three key objectives:

It will support the EU’s position as a world leader in science with a dedicated budget of €24.6 billion.
It will help secure industrial leadership in innovation with a budget of €17.9 billion.
Finally, €31.7 billion will go towards addressing major concerns shared by all Europeans, across six key themes: health, demographic change and well-being; food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the bio-economy; secure, clean and efficient energy; smart, green and integrated transport; climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials; and inclusive, innovative and secure societies.

The Commission’s proposal can be downloaded at http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/pdf/proposals/com(2011)_809_final.pdf#view%3Dfit%26pagemode%3Dnone

Filed under: Innovation, Policy, Publication