Prabhu Ram at the KCA Conference

Prabhu Ram, Manager-Technology Management Advisory Group at Sathguru Management Consultants, was an invited speaker at the Knowledge Commercialization Australasia (KCA) annual conference held at Hilton on the Park, Melbourne from November 23-25, 2009. KCA is the peak body representing organizations and individuals associated with knowledge transfer from the public sector in Australia. This year’s conference focused on “Excellence in Knowledge Transfer” and drew participation of over 100 delegates from the academic and private technology transfer community in Australia, USA and Europe.

Prabhu Ram was a key speaker in a session on International technology transfer roundup, alongside speakers from US and UK. While the US and UK speakers focused on technology transfer in their respective countries, Prabhu spoke about the vibrant technology transfer scenario in Asia, with emphasis on India. He dwelt at length on the potential collaborative opportunities for Australian enterprises in India. He highlighted the strides taken by India in developing a good IP policy framework, in incentivizing public research, in developing world class research infrastructure, and in capacity building for enabling rapid technology transfer from the public sector. Over the past decade, India is moving up the value chain, and emerging as a global hub for high end translational R&D research, and for global partnerships in new life sciences, health and agribio.

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Prabhu Ram at the Technology Commercialization Forum (TCF08), November 17-23, 2008, Singapore

The Technology Commercialization Forum 2008: Innovations for a Better World (TCF08), Asia’s premier technology transfer event, brought together academia, researchers, industry professionals, investors and entrepreneurs from November 17-23, 2008 at Singapore. The TCF08 was jointly organized by NUS Enterprise and Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Prabhu Ram, STEM Program Manager, participated in the event. As part of a panel on Mining Intellectual Assets in Asia, Prabhu joined senior professionals from Australia, Taiwan and the United States to consider the opportunities and pitfalls for technology transfer in Asia, and in particular, India. He highlighted the rapidly changing focus of public sector research, and discussed in-depth, how India is emerging as a global hub for high end translational R&D research, and for global partnerships in health, biotechnology and agriculture.  He also discussed some recent developments in India- policy initiatives for incentivizing research, the efforts taken by public sector for technology showcasing, and the increasing public-private partnership models.

Akshat Medakker at the International Licensing Practice Workshop, November 14-15, 2008, Taiwan

The National Chengchi University (NCCU) organized the International Licensing Practice workshop from November 14-15, 2008 for patent professionals from South East Asia at Taipei City, Taiwan. The workshop was held in association with the Association of the Technology Managers of Taiwan (ATMT), AUTM and other bodies; and focused on commercialization of Biotechnology R&D results, and strategies for Intellectual Property Protection and Licensing in High-tech Industries.

Akshat Medakker, STEM Coordinator, participated in the deliberations at this workshop. In his presentation, Akshat highlighted the current technology transfer scenario in India, and the ongoing transition in the focus of public sector research in biotechnology. He gave an overview of the policy changes since the achievement of TRIPS compliant patent regime in 2005. He discussed the approaches adopted by the key federal organizations for promoting greater public-private collaborations for high end research. As part of a discussion panel, Akshat shared his thoughts on patent prosecution and licensing issues in India, and sensitized the audience about the options available before them.

India, Germany start partnership on technological innovation

Seeking to address challenges faced by the two countries in several areas, India and Germany on Tuesday launched a 20 million euro strategic partnership on innovation in skill development, industrial growth and life sciences.

The new partnership in research and technology would see an investment 10 million euro each from India and Germany. Both countries would start a Indo-German Science and Technology Center which will strengthen collaboration in the field and accelerate translation of research into new products, processes and services.

India and Germany have already started a joint research project on infectious diseases since 2006. Systemic biology, drug development and clinical trials are the focus areas of the project.

The new partnership in research and technology would see an investment of 10 million euro each from India and Germany.

"The partnership would address the challenges faced by both the countries in various areas. It will look forward to technological solution to the local problems," Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said.

He said India is planning to set up 50,000 development centers where people would be provided skill-oriented training.

Germany, which is much advanced in skill development, can be of help to India in this regard, he said.

The centers will come up on public-private partnership basis with involvement of industry bodies like Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), ASSOCHAM and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The major issues in India include energy security, climate change and health related problems, Sibal said the government has launched scheme under which scholarships are being provided to students to pursue further studies and research.

The government is also bringing a bill which envisages a share for scientists in the wealth created by the technology developed by them.

This would encourage them go for more research and innovation, Sibal said.

Germany's Federal Minister of Education and Research Annette Schavan said the cooperation has potential for both sides.

Source: German Information Centre

1. New York University, $210 million in research expenditures, $157 million in research related income, 75% yield

2. Wake Forest University, $146.3 million in research expenditures, $60.5 million in research related income, 41% yield

3. Stevens Institute of Technology, $28 million in research expenditures, $4.56 million in research related income, 16% yield

4. Ohio University, $24 million in research expenditures, $3.26 million in research related income, 13% yield

5. Brigham Young University, $26 million in research expenditures, $3.07 million in research related income, 11.7% yield

6.  University of Rochester, $355 million in research expenditures, $38 million in research related income, 11% yield

7.  University of Minnesota, $596 million in research expenditures, $56 million in research related income, 9.4% yield

8. University of Florida, $459 million in research expenditures, $42.9 million in research related income, 9.3% yield

9. Stanford University, $699 million in research expenditures, $61.3 million in research related income, 8.7% yield

10. Northwest University, $348 million in research expenditures, $29.9 million in research related income, 8.6%

11. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, $269 million in research expenditures, $20.1 million resarch related income, 7.5%

12. University of Massachusetts, $409.9 million in research expenditures, $27.2 million in research related income, 6.7% yield

13.  University of Utah, $246.5 million in research expenditures, $16.3 million in research related income, 6.6% yield

14.  University of California System, $3.04 billion in research expenditures, $193.4 billion in research related income, 6.4 % yield

15.  University of South Alabama, $20.6 million in research expenditures, $1.2 million in research releated income, 5.9% yield      

Source: Forbes

Airtel Innovation Fund is aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of telecommunications.

Airtel Innovation Fund is aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of telecommunications.The objective of the Fund is to give opportunities to budding entrepreneurs with a vision to build businesses
based on innovation ideas.

 “The Airtel Innovation Fund’s intent is to provide seed money to entrepreneurs who may not otherwise be able to access funds, and to serve as a vehicle to promote developments in technology, content and software applications in the area of telecommunications,” said Manoj Kohli, CEO and Joint Managing Director, Bharti Airtel.

 The Fund will have an initial corpus of Rs 200 crores and will be led and administered by Bharti Airtel.

 “We are confident that this initiative will co-build the twin pillars of innovation and entrepreneurship to usher in a new wave of entrepreneurs in India,” said Sunil Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti Airtel.

 The Airtel Innovation Fund shall provide seed money to entrepreneurs who may not otherwise be able to
access funds to realize their dreams.

 British Telecom (BT)-led consortium drives tech transfer between India and UK

British Telecom (BT) is leading a consortium of 22 industry and academic partners from India and UK to launch the India-UK Advanced Technology Centre (IU-ATC). BT believes that the consortium will drive collaborative research and technology transfer between the United Kingdom and India, with a strong focus on new fixed and wireless networking technologies.

BT is joined in the consortium by UK IT consultancy firm, Intergence Systems and more than 10 UK universities including Cambridge, St Andrews and University College London, while the Indian academic and industrial partners comprises names like IIT - Madras, IIT - Delhi, IISc -Bangalore, IIT - Mumbai, Infosys, BT India, Wipro, Sasken Technologies and Midas Communications.

Outputs from this consortium will include:

• the development of new services and technology solutions and
• the filing of viable patents, as well as
• the commercial exploitation of research through licensing and spinning out start-up companies.

This research and innovation centre will drive collaborative research programmes and technology transfer between the UK and India. The consortium has already secured over $3 million to establish the first ever India-UK virtual graduate research school, which will support collaborative PhD and Post doctorate projects and a programme of exchange visits within the IU-ATC consortium.

Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT believes that the global connectivity of this virtual consortium will ensure rapid transfer of ideas and technology with the aim of creating breakthrough next generation network (NGN) and ICT research.

According to Matt Bross, Chief Technology Officer of the BT Group, the IU-ATC will accelerate competitive technology and knowledge transfer between the UK and India, as well as ensuring stronger collaborations between industry and academic institutions in both countries.

The Rockefeller Foundation has supported a collaborative effort between MIHR and Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture (PIPRA) to develop a unique and comprehensive instructional guide entitled “Intellectual Property Management in Health and Agricultural Innovation: A Handbook of Best Practices” to be published in spring 2007.

Prepared for policy makers, leaders of public sector research establishments, technology transfer professionals, licensing executives, and scientists, this book offers information and strategies for utilizing the power of both IP and the public domain. It illustrates how IP can be judiciously leveraged to forge stronger partnerships and usher in a new age of collaboration and sharing. The book puts aside ideological debates to focus on pragmatic considerations and practical opportunities. Written by practitioners in the field, its ~135 chapters are a comprehensive resource on current IP management issues and approaches. While the authors always keep their eye on the big picture, the Handbook eschews general proclamations. Instead, it puts forward thoughtful dialogue aimed at real-world problems faced by those who want to put IP to work for the public sector and public interest.

Successful Commercialization of Insect-Resistant Eggplant by a Public–Private Partnership: Reaching and Benefiting Resource-Poor Farmers is a chapter from the book authored by Akshat Medakker, Associate Consultant-Technology Management and Vijay Vijayaraghavan, Founder and Director, Sathguru Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd., India.

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Workshop on IPR and Technology Transfer at Dhaka

With the perspective of mobilizing ideas, discussing alternatives and understanding the tech-transfer policies in some of the renowned scientific laboratories, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Cornell University and ABSPII have jointly organized a workshop on ‘Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer’ on August 10, 2005 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka... more>>

STEM launched to steer a new era.

Steering tech transfer towards a brighter future of better tech transfer management, the Society of Technology Management (STEM) was launched at the international workshop on `Intellectual Property Rights, Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization’ convened by Cornell-in-India and Sathguru Management Consultant on April 17th, 2005. The Society was conceptualized by a group of visionary professionals to promote the best practices among technology management professionals in South Asia. ... more>>

Global tech transfer experts congregate to discuss IPR issues.

Scientists, tech transfer managers, policy planners and corporate- from public and private institutions across India and seven other nations including Ghana, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, Uganda, USA and South Africa -congregated to discuss the IPR issues at the workshop on “Intellectual Property Rights, Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization ” organized at Mussoorie, India, from April 17 to 22. ... more>>

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Society set up for managing technology
G. Chandrashekhar
Mussoorie, April 24

WITH technology moving center-stage in the theatre of global economic growth, management of technology including its transfer has begun to assume an increasingly important role, especially in developed and rapidly developing economies.

To enable Indian researchers and technology experts to network with global technology managers and follow global best practices, India's first `Society for Technology Management' (STEM) has been set up.

Go here for full article….
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/25/stories/2005042501221300.htm