Workstream 2: Professionalising Technology Transfer
Workstream 2 focussed on the problems that a lack of professional skills in a PRO’s technology transfer could cause (trans)-national collaboration. It was concluded in the CREST 1st Cycle that the professionalisation of technology transfer organisations plays a crucial role in reaching the 3% target.
Central to this workstream were the following questions:
- what skills/expertise should a person possess to be able to work as a professional in the field of Technology Transfer?
- if such skills/expertise are going to be taught through education programmes/courses, what should the main characteristics of such programmes/courses? (e.g. target audiences, levels, subjects, formats etc)
- what education programmes/courses are already available in the Member States/Europe and what do they offer?
The workstream gathered information through two separate channels: OMC-Crest IP-expert group survey; and, a workshop with national and European experts and stakeholders in the field of technology transfer. Appendix F details the results of the survey and full workshop report.
An overview and analysis of the courses to support the training and development of TT staff offered in each Member State was also carried out by the group. It revealed that the course availability, topics covered and format differ markedly across Europe (Table 1: Available International Courses). Features of the approach to professionalizing technology transfer staff in Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom are given in detail.
Following the analysis of these results, the expert group made three recommendations: