Commercialising Research and Innovation

Samir HamidToni Barta

Nathan TilsleyAndrew Jolly

Orlando ZambranoAbeer Shahid

Overview

● Commercialisation Processes○ 3 Example Processes

○ Resources required, critical success factors, potential barriers

● Types of IP ○ Spin Out & Licensing

● Private sector comparison

● Suitability & Recommendations

Commercialisation Processes

Researched different universities:

● University of Sheffield

● University of Oxford

● Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

University of Sheffield

● 5 stages to commercialise

● Idea may be withdrawn / fail at any stage

● Commercialisation partner - Fusion IP - assists in the process

University of Oxford

● 6 steps to commercialise

● University owned company ‘ISIS’ assists after validation of commercial potential

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Common Resources Required

● Idea or Inventions ● IP protection strategy● Commercialisation strategy● Business plan● Investment & Funding

Common Critical Success Factors (CSFs)

● Originality and feasibility - Solve a problem better than current solutions

● Clarification of IP ownership

● Assessment of the IP position - e.g. state of development (Technology Readiness Level (TRL))

● Market research and potential

● Market research● Better solutions exist● Investment and partners

○ Cost of commercialising● License interest● Time commitment (Spin-out companies)

Common Potential Barriers

Differences

Resources Required- Commercialisation manager

Potential Barriers- Harder to find investment in UK than US- Experience in the US

Others- MIT reinvests back to fund additional research.

Types of IP

● Copyright - protects the idea

● Trademarks - defines a product name

● Patents - exclusive rights to an invention

● Design - protects physical appearance

Phase Focus - Spin Out

A Microscope without a Lens

● A University of Sheffield spin-out established in 2012 ● Raised £5.7m in an equity based funding

Why create a Spin Out?

● Completely new product● Investor interest and funding opportunity ● Create own brand● Potential new market

Sequenom - Licensing

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

● Technology patent rights developed in University of Oxford in 1997● Licensed out to Sequenom in 2005

Why use Licensing?

● Lack of experience and employees for spin-out● Faster return and less development required ● Limited market for the product● Cost to setup a spin-out would be high

Difference between Private & Public

● R&D is completed to obtain a profit

○ Ideas based on public demand

● Private sector acquire ideal companies - e.g. Facebook & WhatsApp

● Invest in other companies - e.g. Google & robot maker (Savioke)

● Invest heavily in marketing the product - e.g. Apple iPhone

● Focus on licenses and joint ventures - e.g . Microsoft & Windows OS

Suitability & Recommendations

● Join up with other university(s)

○ Combine skills to create a better product

● Protect your IP before publishing research

● Crowdfunding - e.g. Kickstarter

● IP Mentors for Inventors

● Research Open Days

Leo Kelion (2014) 'Google invests in Silicon Valley robot-maker Savioke', BBC News,9th April, p. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26958985.

Sheffield (2014) Commercialising research outputs, Available at:http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/commercialising (Accessed: 1st October 2014).

Isis Innovation (2014) PRE-NATAL TESTING - SEQUENOM, Available at:http://www.isis-innovation.com/news/successstories/Sequenom.html (Accessed: 1st October 2014).

Isis Innovation (2014) Spin-Out Companies, Available at: http://isis-innovation.com/spinout/index.html (Accessed: 1st October 2014).

Massachusetts Institution of Technology (2014) An Inventor’s Guide to Technology Transfer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Available at:http://web.mit.edu/tlo/www/downloads/pdf/inventors_guide.pdf (Accessed: 1st October 2014).

SEQUENOM (2014) SEQUENOM Secures Rights to Key Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnostic Intellectual Property, Available at: http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sequenom-secures-rights-to-key-non-invasive-prenatal-diagnostic-intellectual-property-155557505.html (Accessed: 05 October 2014).

BBC (2014) Google invests in Silicon Valley robot-maker Savioke, Available at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26958985 (Accessed: 05 October 2014).

References

Questions?