Berytech, under EU-funded THE NEXT SOCIETY and in partnership with iPARK – Royal Scientific Society in Jordan, recently launched the Research to Innovation Lab: A Go To-Market Coaching for Technology Transfer Officers program.
The Research to Innovation Lab (R2I Lab) is intended for managers of Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) in universities and other similar organizations, or those providing services in facilitating the interface between research with industry.
The aim is to empower TTOs in managing commercialization processes for applied research and facilitate the interface and exchange between research and industry players.
Moreover, the program provides opportunities to get local and international exposure and exchange of expertise with international key players in order to promote technology portfolios and establish collaborations.
Berytech, through THE NEXT SOCIETY Advocacy Panel, has been leading on setting a national innovation strategy for Lebanon since 2017, as part of THE NEXT SOCIETY action plan initiated by ANIMA Investment Network and implemented in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia with the financial support of the European Union.
Actionable Recommendations
A roadmap of 29 actionable recommendations for universities and other key ecosystem players to boost the technology transfer dynamics in Lebanon, was shared by Berytech recently. Accordingly, an advocacy committee, made of university members, IP Agents, government representatives, accelerators, incubators, and industry players, selected key initiatives that they would implement.
One of the initiatives that was strongly recommended is titled Building the Capacity of Technology Transfer Offices Personnel and Establishing Sustainability Models, which aims at increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of TTO activities.
“We built on this recommendation and developed the Research to Innovation Lab Program in partnership with experts from Jordan’s iPARK – Royal Scientific Society. The objective is to support technology transfers and applied research projects, in order to create commercialization opportunities,” explains Krystel Khalil, Programs Director at Berytech.
Research to Innovation Lab: Program Details
The program provides tailor-made guidance from experts and opportunities to get local and international exposure to promote technology portfolios. Led by Dr. Mohammed Jafari – Director of IP Commercialization Office at iPARK and Eng. Mohammad Diab – IP Manager at iPARK, the program includes group sessions with up to 6 participants, one-to-one sessions, and off-line work. Three TTO managers will be awarded the opportunity of a soft-landing mission in a fellow technology transfer office or knowledge transfer office in Europe or in the MENA region in 2021 to establish technology partnerships.
Participating universities from Lebanon include the American University of Beirut, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanese University, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, and University of Balamand.
Extract Recommendation from the Report
R22. Title: Building Capacity of TTO Personnel and Establishing Sustainability Models
Objective: Increasing effectiveness and efficiency of TTO activities
Target Groups: TTOs and their employees
Description: TTOs take around 8 to 10 years before they can breakeven and start generating revenues to sustain themselves. It may possibly become progressively more time consuming, until they set up their office structure and processes, build the skills and capacity of their staff, build their IP portfolio, establish contacts with the industry and other stakeholders, and commercialize their inventions. TTOs need to develop their own sustainability models, which includes but are not limited to applying for local and international innovation funds, generating revenues from services like helping researchers write funding proposals, and others. This requires the TTO staff to receive training that enables them to do that.
Recommended Implementing Bodies: Management of TTOs, Universities’ administrations.
THE NEXT SOCIETY is an open community of changemakers, entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, NGOs, public and private innovation, research and economic development hubs from Europe and 7 Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia.
It aims at mobilizing, promoting and reinforcing innovation ecosystems and economic development in the MENA region. To reach these goals, THE NEXT SOCIETY launched a four-year action plan (2017-2020), co-funded by the EU up to 90% for a global amount of EUR 7.8 million budget. It supports the emergence of talents and innovative leaders who will drive the next trends and usages by targeting startups, clusters and technology transfer offices to accompany their development. www.thenextsociety.co
ANIMA Investment Network is an international economic development network that aims to work to the promotion and development of the Mediterranean. The ANIMA network brings together 80 members from 18 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area, including national and regional investment promotion and economic development agencies, business federations, innovation centres, international investors and research institutes. ANIMA’s objective is to contribute to the continued improvement of the business and investment climate, as well as encourage shared and sustainable economic development in the Mediterranean. To know more about ANIMA Investment Network, please visit www.anima.coop.
