TII Innovation Journal

Resource Guide: SSTI publishes new report

SSTI, the State Science Technology Institute in the US, a kind of "sister organization" of TII (but with more information distribution than networking and less business membership than TII), publishes interesting reports. Lately SSTI published its Resource Guide (download from their site) I have taken an excerpt of the introduction (read below) The report has an interesting Commercialization Roadmap, which is good to give an overview/checklist about the many processes and expressions used involved in "Commercialization" (for those who like Tabular knowledge ;-)

Introduction ... Technology-based economic development is the approach used to help create a climate where that new economic base can thrive. Based on the experience of tech-based economies like Silicon Valley, Research Triangle, and Route 128, it is generally acknowledged now that the following elements are required for a tech-based economy:

•An intellectual infrastructure, i.e. universities and public or private research laboratories that generate new knowledge and discoveries
•Mechanisms for transferring knowledge from one individual to another or from one company to another
•Physical infrastructure that includes high quality telecommunications systems and affordable high speed Internet connections
•Highly skilled technical workforce
•Sources of risk capital
•Quality of life, and
•Entrepreneurial culture

This resource guide focuses on three of the elements – intellectual infrastructure, capital, and entrepreneurial culture – and is intended to assist economic development practitioners in their efforts to accelerate transition to technology based economies. ....

Practitioners can use the guide to implement and update programs addressing these three critical elements required for a tech-based economy. The guide also begins to resolve one of the most challenging issues for the tech-based economic development community: the paucity of written information that captures the insights, wisdom and practical knowledge of people who have decades of experience in the field.

The report caught my attention for another reason: its reference to PriceWaterhouseCoopers and their MoneyTreeReports.

The MoneyTree Report is a quarterly study of venture capital investment activity in the United States. As a collaboration between PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association based upon data from Thomson Financial, it is the only industry-endorsed research of its kind. The MoneyTree Report is the definitive source of information on emerging companies that receive financing and the venture capital firms that provide it. The study is a staple of the financial community, entrepreneurs, government policymakers and the business press worldwide.

The interesting point here is the overall drop in venture capital investment since the "Bubble" burst in around 2000 and the trend to see business angels consolidate their activity to move downstream in the funding pipeline, ie. investing larger sums than usual. But it's also evident that the US now also realizes a widening gap between early stage and VC funding.

CUE: Cambridge University Enterprise

  CUE a Master of Commercialization
Cambridge University is an excellent university. Even more excellent in my view is their way of commercializing inventions coming out of CU. Obviously the "Cambridge Phenomenon", first studied by my old friends from now merged Segal Quince Wicksteed (Bill Wicksteed!), the region's history, presence of benevolent angels and so on are important for that success.

Some years ago CU merged all commercialization activities in CUE. Have a look at their recent Annual report and see how an already impressive record  improves by almost 50% over just 5 years. One would assume that the quality of the (basic) research is not very volatile. Such matters take generations to build up and seldom make quantum leaps. I interpret the growth in commercialization successes as a result of the (re-)organization, really good people (look at the CVs of CUE staff: impressive) and then access to own seed funding (and, of course, lots of VCs crowding around CUE). A minor, but perhaps not less important resource is the creation of "Enterprise Champions", faculty staff who advise CUE on different relevant matters.

PS: compare CUE's score with that of all Denmark, one of the most competitive countries and with the highest knowledge management score in the world: CUE (on the basis of 3,500 research FTE) creates almost half the results in terms of management of invention disclosures, patent filing and licensing and spin off more than 5 times the number of new companies (year 2004) - and with half the TO staff of all of Denmark!

Fascinating Story about Taxol invention and Innovation

Frank Stephenson  tells the fantastic story of how Holton invented the anti-cancer blockbuster drug at Florida State University's Tech Transfer Office site: Click Here

The tortured trail of the best-selling cancer drug in history began 40 years ago this summer. A thunder-clap of uncommon science and luck, it's a grand story still in the telling.

Also a story of how collaboration between industry and university may turn foul when big money enters. This is a "must read" for all tech transfer office staff.

Finland’s road to further innovation

The Finnish government has outlined a new national strategy for keeping its innovation agenda fresh; despite having the world's most competitive economy, many in Finland worry that its highly successful research and innovation agenda is not as competitive as it should be. CORDIS FINNISH ORIGINAL

Ireland’s Competitiveness Strategy

THE CELTIC TIGER MOVES ON

Ireland’s Competitiveness Strategy: "

Growing research capability is a core component of the European Union’s drive to become the most competitive and dynamic, knowledge-driven economy. Ireland has fully embraced that challenge by releasing its Strategy for ‘Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 – 2013’.

According to Micheal Martin T.D., Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the strategy is based on a shared vision of placing Ireland firmly on the global map in terms of the excellence of our research and its application for the benefit of society.

Our strategy encompasses the steps we need to take to develop a world class research system, building on the model of competitive excellence adopted by the PRTLI and SFI initiatives. It addresses key human capital investments across the education system and industry. It provides mechanisms to translate knowledge into jobs and growth and, in this context, it takes forward the recommendations of the Enterprise Strategy Group and the Small Business Forum. The strategy establishes agendas for public sector research in Agriculture, Health, Environment and Natural Resources. It also addresses the vital international and all island dimensions of research and innovation.

Sources

• Ireland’s Strategy for Science,Technology and Innovation 2006 - 2013
• Strategy for Science,Technology and Innovation 2006 - 2013 (1.5MB PDF)

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(Via URENIO Portal: Innovation, Environments of Innovation, Intelligent Cities and Regions.)

Redesigning Life to Make Ethanol

Another notch in the belt for innovation in "farming".

Redesigning Life to Make Ethanol: "Genetically engineered organisms can more efficiently produce ethanol from cheap and abundant sources of biomass, such as agricultural waste. It could make ethanol cost competitive."

(Via Technology Review Feed - BizTech Top Stories.)

China's Innovation System and the Move Toward Harmonious Growth and Endogenous Innovation

Another input to this blog's BRIC suite

China's Innovation System and the Move Toward Harmonious Growth and Endogenous Innovation: "Innovation: Management, Policy & Practice 8(1): 1-26"

(Via Innovation: Management, Policy Practice.)

Innovation Policy and Federalism: the German experience

Now we have got the analysis of why the German innovation POLICY suffers. That isn't to say that German innovation does...

Innovation Policy and Federalism: the German experience: "The German Innovation Policy is based on two strategic elements: innovation policy tries to build up innovation infrastructures mainly related to the generation of new knowledge with the help of big science associations. Simultaneously, innovation policy follows mission-oriented objectives (focusing on key technologies) and strives to improve knowledge diffusion (increasing the share of commercialised knowledge). Due to the German Federalism, both strategic elements are located on a federal and Lander level. Therefore, on regional and central level policymakers struggle with similar problems. In particular, the mission-oriented approach suffers from serious knowledge deficits and there is a political failure to pick the 'winners'. In addition, the mix of joint decision and finance schemes and autonomous decision structures on federal and regional levels cause inefficiencies, because not all responsibilities are efficiently allocated. A lack of transparency also exists, because the support schemes and instruments are too complex. Therefore, the division of labour between the federal state and the Lander beyond the infrastructure policy can be improved."

(Via Inderscience.)

SCIENCE MARKETING

TII normally stages an annual workshop called  Science Marketing Practitioners' Clinic. This year it's going be on 30-31 August 2006 in Brussels (B). The title is:

"Take Home a Marketing Action Plan for your Organisation that Really Works"
A two-day seminar for people who wish to apply them specifically to the needs and constraints of research and technology-based organisations.

Coach is Judy Marcure (guest editor on this site). CLICK TO READ MORE

TII Summer School

TII SUMMER SCHOOL
This year's summer school, will take place from 11 to 15 September in the south-eastern Hungarian city of Szeged. This is the association's flagship training event which brings together in a one-week programme 5 stand-alone training workshops covering different aspects of managing the innovation and research exploitation process, taught by practitioners for practitioners.

The subjects being covered this year are:

Day 1: An Introduction to Innovation Management
Day 2: Making the Business Case for Technology Opportunities
Day 3: The Commercialization of a Knowledge-Intensive Business Idea
Day 4: Building Success in International Project Management
Day 5: Marketing Scientific Results and Services in a Turbulent Environment - What is Really Working in Technology Marketing and Commercialization Today?

Our trainers, who come from Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia are all seasoned professionals who are well placed to share their in-depth, practical experience of their subject with the participants. The workshops offer a lively mix of theory and practice delivered via presentations, case studies and group work, all in a relaxed, multi-cultural training environment.

This year, we have chosen the beautiful spa city of Szeged in south-eastern Hungary as our venue; often referred to as the City of Sunshine. The city is the cultural and economic centre of the Great Plain region and a thriving university town.

Interested in participating? Read more Click to see the details