Promoting innovation and valorization of research results from the faculties and research institutions of Universidade do Porto

Objectives

The University of Porto (UP) aimed to promote sustainable forms of technology and knowledge transfer generated from the R&D results and to develop an integrated approach to its innovation policy. The experts of the INI-GraphicsNet Foundation and INI-Novation GmbH have been invited to contribute with their expertise in implementing well established integrated technology transfer processes. The aim of this project was to analyse the technology transfer processes of the UP, to recommend improvements and finally to help establishing a supportive innovative climate among the university members. Thus, in the course of the project, the existing processes were reviewed, discussed and enhanced. Two especially organized workshops with university leaders on the one hand and with scientists of the university’s institutes on the other, aimed to generate a supportive climate for the implementation of technology exploitation measures and commercialization processes among the target groups. In a second step customized support for university entrepreneurs were offered. This support comprised technology screening activities, mentoring programs, commercialization support and business plan concepts in order to successfully commercialize research results.

Activities

Preparation of a Technology-Transfer Process to be established at the University of Porto and to be performed by UPIN:

• Delivery of awareness workshops in the faculties;
• Set up of questionnaires for technology screening;
• Definition of key performance indicators;
• Set up evaluation manuals;
• Prepare and deliver workshops for technology presentations.

Assist university in setting up an internal management to sustain the process:

• Define contact persons;
• Define further qualification measures;
• Assist decision and ranking of technologies to be fostered.

Results

Implementation of the Technology-Transfer Process in collaboration with UPIN. This included:

• Early scanning of RTD results with international market expertise: scan commercialization option for patenting, licensing or business cases;
• Market analysis: study size, competition, costumer buying power, supplier adequacy etc. to estimate commercialization success and related costs;
• Entrepreneurship training: “elevator pitch concept” for short precise presentation of technology driven business cases;
• Spin-off support (Preparing business plans, seeking funds, seeking partners, further RTD).