This Track is designed for those that are just entering the technology (or “tech”) transfer profession. This Track is useful for those with little to no experience with tech transfer or any of its component skills such intellectual property (IP) management, new technology assessment, or licensing. Track I is also helpful for the tech transfer professional (TTP) with some – but less than two years – experience in a Tech Transfer Office (TTO).

• Topic 1: What is Tech Transfer? What is the TTP’s Role?
• Topic 2: Understanding the Tech Transfer Process
• Topic 3: Working with Inventors: The Essential TTP/inventor Relationship
• Topic 4: Managing the Invention Disclosure
• Topic 5: Basic Tech Triage: Assessing and Selecting Disclosures
• Topic 6: The Ten-point Tech Scoring Template
• Topic 7: Intro to IP Management
• Topic 8: Business Development Approach to Tech Marketing and Licensing
• Topic 9: Tech Marketing and Finding, Contacting, Securing Potential Licensees
• Topic 10: Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
• Topic 11: Introduction to Agreements: NDAs, MTAs, JIAs, Licenses
• Topic 12: Negotiation
• Topic 13: Introduction to Licensing and Licensing Process
• Topic 14: Managing Your Time: The Art of Tech Portfolio Management (Part 1)
• Topic 15: Post-signing License Management: TTP’s Ombudsman Role
• Topic 16: Attitude is Key: The Successful TTP’s Mindset

This Track is intended for TTPs who have been in the profession for two to three years and have developed a basic familiarity with the key concepts, objectives and principles of Tech Transfer and want to move their skills to the next level.

• Topic 1: Technology Evaluation (Part 2)
• Topic 2: Patentability Analysis
• Topic 3: The Full Spectrum of IP Protection Tools
• Topic 4: Business Development and Marketing/Licensing
  (Part 1)
• Topic 5: Using a Business Model Canvas as Part of Business Development and Marketing/Licensing
• Topic 6: Working with Inventors on Tech Commercialization
• Topic 7: Discussions with Industry as Part of Tech Triage
• Topic 8: Technology Marketing (Part 2)
• Topic 9: Pre-negotiation Valuation
• Topic 10: Principles of Negotiation
• Topic 11: Agreements
• Topic 12: Orchestrating the License, SRA, Consulting Agreements
• Topic 13: Agreement Monitoring and Administration
• Topic 14: Ethical, Philanthropic and Humanitarian Concerns
• Topic 15: Sublicensing and Sublicense Income Sharing
• Topic 16: Managing Your Time: More Tech Portfolio Management (Part 2)
• Topic 17: The TTP’s Problem-solver Mindset
• Topic 18: Certification

This Track is intended for TTPs who have been in the profession for 5+ years and have significant experience with technology assessment, IP analysis and strategy, tech marketing, and license negotiations and drafting.

• Topic 1: Start-ups
• Topic 2: IP Management in a Research Consortium
• Topic 3: Easy Access/Express Licenses
• Topic 4: Commercializing/Licensing Copyright-protected Material
• Topic 5: Commercializing/Licensing Software
• Topic 6: Commercializing/Licensing Data
• Topic 7: Commercializing/Licensing Trade Secrets and Proprietary Information
• Topic 8: Sponsored Research (and Collaboration) Agreements
• Topic 9: Incubators, Accelerators and Research Parks
• Topic 10: Proof-of-Concept and Prototype Funds
• Topic 11: Accelerating Commercialization via Proof-of-Concept/Prototype Funds
• Topic 12: Tangible/Personal (Non-IP) Property
• Topic 13: Plant Breeding
• Topic 14: Managing Your Time: The Art of Tech Portfolio Management (Part 3)
• Topic 15: License Management: TTP Helping Licensees/Start-ups
• Topic 16: Bringing Vision and Creativity to the TTP’s Role
• Topic 17: Tricks of the Trade

This Track is intended for TTPs who are directors, managers, or any other management/executive capacity of a TTO.

• Topic 1: Institutional IP Policy
• Topic 2: Starting/Building/Operating a TTO
• Topic 3:  Building Institutional Support
• Topic 4: Signature Authority
• Topic 5: Working with IP/Patent Committees
• Topic 6: TTO Outreach and In-reach: Changing the Culture
• Topic 7: Overseeing and Facilitating the Tech Transfer Process
• Topic 8: Managing the TTP Team
• Topic 9: TTO Partnering in the Innovation Ecosystem
• Topic 10: Building a Start-up Pipeline
• Topic 11: Working with Outside Service Providers (Lawyers, etc.)
• Topic 12: Managing Contract Issues (Breaches, Litigation, etc.)
• Topic 13: Agreement Monitoring and Administration
• Topic 14: Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment:
  The TTO Role
• Topic 15: The Ethics of Tech Transfer
• Topic 16: The Role of the Director of the TTO as Educator
• Topic 17: Returning Inventions to Inventors

This Track is dedicated to professional Support Staff, the TTO staff who do not directly negotiate licensing transactions, but who keep the TTO on track to success and fulfilling expectations.

• Topic 1: The Role of TTO Administrative Staff in Tech Transfer
• Topic 2: Tech Transfer and the TTP’s Role
• Topic 3: Research
• Topic 4: Invention and Technology Disclosure
• Topic 5: Assessment
• Topic 6: IP Protection
• Topic 7: Marketing 
• Topic 8: Selecting the Best Licensee (Part 1)
• Topic 9: Selecting the Best Licensee (Part 2): A New Start-up Company
• Topic 10: The Licensing Process for Start-ups
• Topic 11: License Administration
• Topic 12: Royalties and Compensation

This Track is dedicated to institution executives and senior leadership, including presidents, vice presidents, vice chancellors, deans, directors, chairmen, and others directly involved in managing the institution.

• Topic 1: Tech Transfer and the Institutional Mission
• Topic 2: Essential Components of PSRI Tech Transfer Function
• Topic 3: Industrial Partnering
• Topic 4: Start-up and Long-term Funding of a TTO
• Topic 5: Senior Management’s Role in TTO Governance, Operations
• Topic 6: TTO Organizational Structure
• Topic 7: Signature Authority
• Topic 8: Expectations and Measuring Progress (Part 1)
• Topic 9: Expectations and Measuring Progress (Part 2)
• Topic 10: Critical Support Issues
• Topic 11: Communicating the TTO Value via Metrics and Stories
• Topic 12: Benefits of Tech Transfer-based Economic Development: Measuring the Impact
• Topic 13: Faculty Consulting and IP-based Tech Transfer
• Topic 14: Tenure and Promotion

This Track is for Government Officials / Business / Community Leaders and should be read in conjunction with Track VI: Institutional Leadership.

• Topic 1: The Innovation Ecosystem and Its Benefits
• Topic 2: Supporting the IP/Tech Transfer System
• Topic 3: The Unusual Economic Model of Tech Transfer
• Topic 4: Necessary Components of a Successful PSRI Tech Transfer System
• Topic 5: Importance of an Independent TTP Association
• Topic 6: Working with the TTO, Facilitating the Tech Transfer Process
• Topic 7: Creating Regional and National TTOs
• Topic 8: Metrics
• Topic 9: Translational Research Funding

Resources

A variety of other, relevant training manuals/resources useful to the TTP, to be used to supplement the resources provided in each of the above Tracks.

Tracks I to VII + ALL RESOURCES

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