Another key factor in an innovation system is the commitment that public and private organizations make to funding research and development activities.  Many economists have pointed out that since private companies are ultimately the organizations that commercialize technology and bring advances to the market place, their participation in R&D is critical. Thus, in developed countries, public research takes on a supporting role in the overall research framework.  However, often a large part of a developing country's research capacity is in public research organizations like universities and government laboratories.  Thus, it is essential for developing countries to strength public-to-private technology transfer in order to boost national innovation.

Workshop on National Innovation Policy and Technology Transfer
November 20-21, 2006
Grand Palm Hotel
Gaborone, Botswana

The International Intellectual Property Institute in conjunction with the Botswana Ministry of Communication, Science & Technology and the Southern African Research & Innovation Management Association, arranged a two-day conference designed to strengthen the national innovation policy of Botswana.  This conference focused on how “technology transfer,” the process of transferring new technologies invented at universities and government-funded research laboratories to the private sector, can be a key ingredient to bolstering Botswana’s regional and global competitiveness.  Speakers at the conference include representatives from leading academic institutions, federally-funded laboratories, multilateral development agencies and the private sector. 

Agenda, Speaker Biographies and Conference Materials
Press Release

Jordan Intellectual Property Week - 2004
Amman, Jordan
August 23 - 25, 2004

Jordan Intellectual Property Week is an annual event that brings together international experts and a host of Jordanian business and government leaders to discuss a intellectual property business strategies and policies.  With the patronage of Jordan's King Abdullah, Jordan IP Week is the largest intellectual property event in Jordan.  Among the topics discussed at Jordan IP Week 2004 include, comparative patent claim scope for pharmaceutical products, effective adjudication of copyright and trademark cases, national innovation policy reform, negotiating franchising agreements, and patent search techniques.

Agenda, Biographies and Selected Presentations
Press Release
Jordan IP Week Website

Business Roundtable Discussion: IP Donations - A Policy Review
The Cosmos Club
Washington, DC
April 13, 2004

Continuing our work to draw attention to the changing rules pertaining to the donation of patents to non-profit organizations, this Business Roundtable Discussion brings together several experts who see the benefits and pitfalls of patent donations.

Business Roundtable Transcript  (PDF, 473KB)

Article: Rethinking TT Metrics for Developing Countries
By Eric Garduño
Published in: Innovation Matters
April 1, 2004

Public-to-private technology transfer has been an effective policy tool employed in the United States for many years, which according to available data has generate substantial licensing income for universities and other public research organizations.  Developing countries are just now considering ways to use technology transfer to harness the inventiveness of its scientists and researchers.  This article points out though, that fledgling technology transfer programs in developing countries should not be held to the same performance metrics that U.S. operations focus on.

Article (PDF, 360KB)

International Conference on Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property Rights and Business Policy
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Campinas, Brasil
March 25-26, 2004

Brazil's future economic growth depends not only on its vast supply of natural resources, but on the nation's collective ability to harness the innovation of its people. Intellectual property and technology transfer are economic tools that can more effectively tap into the innovative capacity of Brazil's scientific and technological sectors. IIPI's two-day event, The International Conference on Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property Rights, and Business Policy, will apply lessons learned from the legislative changes in the United States and OECD countries to Brazil's present economic and legal environment. Providing international examples of growth through intellectual property and technology transfer efforts, presenters opened a dialogue with conference delegates to explore how theories, case studies and experience in other countries can be used to fuel Brazil's quest for an expanded information economy.

Agenda
Conference Overview
Discussion Document: Technology Transfer and National Innovation  (PDF, 147KB)
Press Release
 

Article: Please Donate Patents on the Shelf; Tax Benefits can be Focused for Greater Good
By Ron Layton and Peter Bloch
Published in: Legal Times Magazine
March 15, 2004

In an effort to encourage innovation and development, the United States adopted the practice of allowing tax deductions for the donation of patents. These donations provide US corporations with a large base for tax deductibility, however this does place a burden on the taxpayers. Therefore, while this donation of patented products and technologies can be beneficial there needs to be a way to ensure that everyone is reaping the rewards.

Article  (PDF, 73KB)

IIPI Report: Intellectual Property Donations - A Policy Review
By: Ron Layton and Peter Bloch
January 2004

For approximately 50 years, the IRS has allowed for patents donated to charities to be deducted from companies’ taxes. In recent years, the number of donated patents has grown rapidly, due largely to the incentives of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 and increased R&D and improved licensing structures at universities. More recently, the practice has garnered attention because of abuses of the donated patents, namely highly over-valued patents resulting in huge financial benefits to several companies.

As the U.S. government examines this practice, this policy review examines the history of the regulations, catalogues issues and challenges in the current debate, and frames them in the context of a broader dialogue about the need for a national innovation strategy. This Policy Review will form the basis for an upcoming roundtable of experts to discuss these issues and determine appropriate next steps and recommendations for the U.S. government to consider.

Report (PDF, 435KB)
Press Release

IIPI Report:  South African University Technology Transfer: A Comparative Analysis
By:  Eric Garduño
January 2004

This report discusses how “technology transfer,” the process of transferring new technologies invented at universities and other public research organizations to the private sector, can be a key ingredient to strengthening South Africa’s industry and global competitiveness. The report urges the South African government and universities to clarify intellectual property ownership rights through policy changes, provide more services for the transfer of technology, encourage a stronger entrepreneurial spirit among South African university inventors and provide additional incentive for venture capital and other private investors to support university-based technology start-up companies. The study compares the technology transfer process in the United States and other countries to efforts being made in South Africa and outlines seven steps to prevent potentially economically useful research done in South African universities from slipping into an “innovation chasm.”

Report (PDF, 300k)
Press Release

Jordan Intellectual Property Week - 2003
Amman, Jordan
August 11 - 14, 2003

In its inaugural year, Jordan Intellectual Property Week provided over 300 participants several workshops on a wide range of intellectual property issues.  The event was organized by the Jordanian Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) and was kick-off by Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.  Among the topics discussed at Jordan IP Week 2003 include, IP Based Technology Strategies, Copyrights for Informational and Cultural Products, Technology Licensing Strategies at Universities, and Damages and Remedies in IP Cases.

Agenda and selected Biographies
Press Release
Jordan IP Week Website

Intellectual Asset Management: Going Beyond IP
Speech by Hon. Bruce Lehman
Singapore
March 12, 2003

Intellectual asset management is made up of three different elements; intellectual property, intellectual assets, and intangible assets. It is necessary to understand all three elements in order to grasp how economic growth can be encouraged and protected. Once a nation reached the level of developed it is vital for them to not only protect their own goods and technologies but also those of other nations in order to build the world economy and increase stability.

Speech (PDF, 222KB)

International Conference on Technology Transfer for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
George Washington University School of Law
Washington, DC
April 4-6, 2001

The application of technology transfer processes in the United States is dominated by the transfer of technological know-how developed in government or university laboratories to the private sector. The success of this form of public-private collaboration owes thanks in large part to an enabling environment provided by comprehensive technology transfer legislation passed by Congress.

What is most interesting about this enabling environment is that while some of the technological know-how developed by government and university laboratories is transferred to large, multinational corporations, the real beneficiaries of the U.S. technology transfer model are Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This conference was intended to discuss how the U.S. model works and how other countries, particularly developing countries, have handled technology transfer from government laboratories and universities and whether aspects of the U.S. model could further improve their systems.

Agenda, Biographies and Selected Presentations
Conference Overview
Press Release