26th International Association for Management of Technology Conference - IAMOT 2017

This talk will give a comprehensive overview about the first fundamental and holistic training for knowledge & technology transfer experts (brokers) and institutional intermediaries. It will describe in detail the new ISO 17024 certified training program and the reflections (and evaluations) of the trainees from five Austrian Universities. The training program was carried out for the first time as a pilot at Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria. The qualified education program was developed to cover the needs of experts to deepen the knowledge and expertise in technology transfer, since there haven’t been any adequate vocational training opportunities before. The program is structured in 15 different modules comprising basic and in-depth knowledge of professional technology transfer. The training program foresees a studying period of about one year with 21 training days. The program includes methods and know-how for knowledge- and innovation management. Also trained are methods and tools for project work as well as for the management of events. Further, a closer consideration is done on the management of co-operations, on methods of problem analysis as well as on communication. Deep insights and workshops are given to futurology and its methods, to the evaluation of knowledge and technology. Searching methods are taught to be able to make technology monitoring as well as searching the state-of-the art (prior art) or the freedom-to-operate within web based patent- and literature databases. The dealing of the knowledge and technology (especially within academic publications or by protecting via patents) and the “cooperation model” are further issues that are considered in the training program, beyond methods for national and international development of transfer strategies. Last but not least, principles for entrepreneurship in sight of a university (potential. Start-ups and Spin-offs, advantages of incubator centres) are taught. The participants taking part in the training program have to demonstrate their improved competences by performing a project work. The results of that project have to be presented to an examination committee which is authorized by the certification. The vocational characteristic of the program allows the combination and interaction of daily required application and learning. Trainees of this program get the basics and improve their competences, skills and expertise for the transfer or exploitation of scientific results. These competences enhance the dissemination of knowledge to the market or into the society and increase the speed of transfer of technology to new and fascinating social compliant and environmental compatible products or processes. Main tasks of Knowledge & Technology Brokers are the institutional support of tasks connected with the exploitation and expansion of commercial opportunities, particularly with regard to university-based inventions, and the dissemination of knowledge in order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to industry and society The program will be reflected and regularly improved according to the needs of the market players and the scientific institutions. The certificated program will be offered by Montanuniversität Leoben on a regular basis. The development during 2015/2016 and the pilot training program Q1/2016 till Q1/2017 was supported by funding of the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy within the co-operative projects Knowledge Transfer Centres, IPR exploitation and by the aws Austria Wirtschaftsservice(1). (1)See http://www.awsg.at/Content.Node/innovation-investition/patentservice/foerderungen/98017.php