HR Training & Development Programme
2017 – KTO Presentation
‘Helping staff and students with …
Industry Collaboration & Research Commercialisation
Angele PatiniottNicola Camilleri
Overview
� The Knowledge Transfer Office
Who we are (Key activities & Fit with UM structure)
� Areas of Support:
Industry Academia Collaboration, Research
Commercialisation & Protection of Intellectual Property
� Key milestones & examples of active UM projects
� How Support Staff can help Students & Staff
� Quiz
� Tour of Dar Guzeppi Zahra –
The University’s Knowledge Transfer Hub
Getting to Know the KTO &
Our Areas of Support
KTO Staff
� Director - Anton Bartolo
� Senior Executives - András Havasi, Michelle Cortis
� Executive - Nicola Camilleri (Part time)
� Administrative Officer - Angele Patiniott
� Senior Legal Executive – Ruth Vella Falzon (part-time with
Legal Office)
The Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) has a skilled and
experienced team that actively works to provide advice and
assistance in areas related to:
� Technology Transfer and Protecting Intellectual Property (IP)
� Collaborations with Industry, and
� Funding for Proof of Concept
and Commercialisation
How do we fit in?Rector
Knowledge
Transfer
Office
Legal
Office
TAKEOFF
Business
Incubator
Centre for
Entrepren-
eurship and
Business
Incubation
(CEBI)
Int
OfficeConsultancy
(MUHC)
Pre-
award
Post-
award
Project
SupportResearch
Commerci
alisation
(Tech
Transfer)
Industry-
Academia
Collaboration
Finance
OfficeERDF/
ESF
Degree
Plus
ACADEMIAADMINISTRATIONCOMMERCIAL
Proof of
Concept
Funding
(TOSFA/MaRSA
/FUSION)
Spin out
companies
TAKEOFF
Start-Ups
ZAAR
Crowd-
funding
Work
Placements
www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer
IP Unit
RSSD
Research
Funding
Tech Transfer & IP Protection
Technology Transfer …
… is about managing and commercialising
Intellectual Property (IP)
But what is Intellectual Property?
In a nutshell IP comprises …
Productions of the mind:
� Creations
� Ideas
� Inventions
� Knowledge
… owned by somebody
IP is an intangible asset to which one has rights and for which one may apply
for protection. Forms of protection:
– Patent - Design - Trade Secret
– Trademark - Copyright - Know-how
Copyright� Software� User manuals� Ringtones� Start-up tone� Images
One product - many IP rights
Designs� Form of overall phone� Arrangement and shape of buttons� Position and shape of screen
© Nokia Corporation
10
Trade secrets� Some technical know-how kept
"in-house" and not published
Trade marks� NOKIA� Product "208"� Start-up tone
Patents and utility models� Data-processing methods� Operating system� Operation of user interface
EPO/OHIM Intellectual Property Teaching Kit - IP Basics
IP Cont …
Knowledge, Creations, Ideas,
Inventions=
Intellectual
Property
Like physical property, IP can be can be:
� owned
� sold
� assigned (free or for a fee)
� shared (free or for a fee)
� rented (in the case of IP = licensed)
Over the years laws have been enacted to define the RIGHTS
associated with IP
IP in a University context
Universities are Centres of Knowledge:
� Lecturers exchange their knowledge with students
(lectures, notes, slides, know-how)
� Researchers (including students) create new knowledge
(knowledge factory)
� The library is a repository of knowledge (knowledge bank)
The Knowledge Transfer Office helps to transfer knowledge
outside University (e.g. to industry, to government, etc.)
Confidentiality
Often, commercially valuable IP must be kept confidential
Important to safeguard IP rights – PROTECT BEFORE YOU PUBLISH
� Students and staff are bound by confidentiality, but need to be made
aware
� External examiners or other third parties may be required to sign a
confidentiality agreement (template available KTO’s website)
� Keeping confidentiality may require embargo of dissertations (mark
dissertation as confidential)
� Good practice
o Notify recipients
o Notices in labs
o Notices in dissertations and other materials
Copyright Guidelines
� Copyright belongs to the author for up to 70 years after death/publication
� Cannot copy/use without permission with some exceptions
� Key question: are UM staff affecting the copyright owner’s economic benefit?
� A student would like to publish dissertation: Obtain Faculty Board approval
Library Copyright Guidelines and FAQ link: www.um.edu.mt/library/library_a-z
The KTOs Protecting University IP
� University staff and students may generate IP with commercial
value
� KTO mainly works to take commercially valuable IP to market
� The University’s IP Policy outlines academics’ and researchers’
rights, obligations and benefits
o University owns IP, with some exceptions
o University shares 50% of net profits with originators
o If not interested in pursuing commercialisation, can assign back
to originators
IP Policy: www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer/quicklinks/ippolicy
How Universities can exploit IP
IP management
R&D
Invention disclosure
Evaluation
IP protection
Exploitation
Licence agreement
Assignment
(sale)
Spin-out
Evaluation Process
� Understanding technology, how it is different from state of the art and what the benefits are
� Patent/IP search to assess whether it exists
� Market research
o Competing products
o Companies who could be interested in buying technology
o End users/customers
o Regulatory restrictions / reputational risks
o Size of market
� Type of protection and cost
� Freedom to operate search
Key Milestones
Tech Transfer – Key Milestones
– Key Figures
Examples of UM’s Active Projects
2009 – Launch of Corporate Research and Knowledge Transfer Office
2009 – First Maltese Patent Granted
“Method and system for resolving traffic conflicts in take-off and landing”
2011 – First University of Malta Intellectual Property Policy published
2011 – Funding obtained for European Structural Funds project
“Creating a Knowledge Transfer Framework and Technology Entrepreneurship
Training Programme”
2011 – First International Patent Granted (GB)
“Method and system for resolving traffic conflicts in take-off and landing”
2014 – TAKEOFF Business Incubator launched (now under CEBI)
2016 – First company spun out from UM by KTO - Biotech Innovations Ltd.
Key Milestones
Tech Transfer – Some Key Figures
Active Tech Transfer projects: 57
Number of disclosures in 2016: 22
Patents:
� Applications – 10 Malta, 39 International (16 families)
� Granted – 7 Malta, 8 International (5 families)
Designs:
� Registered – 1 Malta, 17 International (6 families)
� Granted – 1 Malta, 9 International
Most active projects listed on KTO portal: www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer/technology
Bilingual Assessment Tool• A speech and language assessment tool
targeting bilingual children in Malta who
speak Maltese and/or English.
• Consists of flashcards, an examination
sheet and a manual
• Collaborating with the FEMA and Faculty
of ICT to make the tools available on an
online platform
• Collection of data from clinicians for
further research
Solar Powered Catamaran
• Environmentally friendly –cleaner air and less noise pollution
• Reduction in maintenance costs
• Can sell electricity to the grid when the vessel is berthed
• Final sea trials planned for the coming months
• Licence the boat out
• Construction and demolition waste into building materials
• Customisable and improved features
• Available for licensing and co-development
Water-resistance Customised reinforcement
Weathering tests
Re-Stone
UltrawideBand Antenna
7/27/2017 www.um.edu.mt/knowl
edgetransfer
25
http://www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer/technology/uwbantenna
• Sensitive to an extremely wide range of frequencies
• Exceptional range, resolution and field of view
• May be printed on flexible material, low manufacturing cost
• Planar design, so compact and low profile
• UK Patent granted, S. Africa patent pending
• Applications in SKA, telecoms, military
7/27/2017 www.um.edu.mt/knowl
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26
www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer/technology/breastcancerdetection
• Improved testing for HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer
• Eliminates ambiguity, faster, smaller biopsy needed, price competitive
• Spin-out company (Biotech Innovations Ltd) created to develop testing kit
• Patent protection in process
• Other testing kits under development
Breast Cancer Detection Kits
Recap: KTO’s Role in Technology Transfer
• Manage UM’s Commercial Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio,
and register for new IP rights
• Commercialise IP, primarily through licensing and start-ups
• Promote the identification, protection and exploitation of
commercial IP amongst UM staff
• Provide support and advice with matters related to IP and
Commercialisation
• Maintain and update the University IP Policy
Industry Academia Collaboration
How UM Collaborates with Industry
� Collaborative R&D
� Joint applications for funding
� Licensing of existing UM technology
� Study and work placements (DegreePlus)
�Donations (RIDT)
� Consultancy / Laboratory Services (MUC/RSSD)
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Collaboration with Industry cont.
� KTO links academics to external organisations &
vice versa
� Encourages updating of academics’ Research
Interests & Personal Profile for match-making
�Assists in maximising benefit in relationships
with industry
� Sets up contacts & contracts
�Finding partners from industry
�Putting confidentiality agreements in place before holding discussions (depends on type of IP being brought to the table)
�Assisting to identify and apply for funds for proof-of-concept and industry collaboration
The KTO can assist academics with …
Some of our Collaborators
MUC manages the following Business Lines (amongst others) that link UOM to industry
and supports UOM Staff to offer:
• Consultancy Services
Academics offer their knowledge/expertise to work on R&D projects/studies/
tenders/EU projects for industry or public entities at an extra financial remuneration
• Laboratory Services
Lab officers/academics carry out chemical, physical, electrical, mechanical tests for
industry
• Professional Development Courses
Training Courses offered to the Professionals/Corporates/General Public by UOM staff
Contact:
Dr Ing. Alexia Pace Kiomall
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +356 2340 8903
Address: Room 212, Level 2, Dar Guzeppi Zahra, University of Malta
Website: www.muhc.com.mt
Placements Scheme
� Student Placement Scheme Webpage
� Internships (Inhouse & External)
o Inhouse: Faculties, Institutes, Centres, Schools etc, TAKEOFF startups
o Coordinate with KTO & Inform HR esp if internships are against remuneration
o External: Industry
� Not only summer placements
� Placements are advertised on our website and Degree+ Facebook page
� Support staff are instrumental in disseminating information to students
� Creating internal links between the KTO & Faculties, Institutes etc
Link to the UM student placement website: www.um.edu.mt/placements
Funding for Proof of Concept
and Commercialisation
The KTO can assist academics with:
� Proof-of-concept funding (TOSFA and MarSA)
� Funding for university-industry collaborative projects
(e.g. Malta Enterprise Feasibility and R&D Schemes)
Prospecting Pre-award Post-award Results
Obtaining Funds
What else goes on at
Dar Guzeppi Zahra?
Source: Google images
Our Neighbours
� TAKEOFF business incubator
o On-campus space, meeting rooms, internet
o Mentoring for growing business and raising funds
o Takeoff.org.mt
� CEBI offers support to TAKEOFF
entrepreneurs and various entrepreneurship
courses including the MEnt
� ZAAR Crowdfunding Platform
o Donation/reward-based way to raise funds
o Zaar.com.mt
How Support Staff can help
(Students & UoM Staff)
How Support Staff supports us
Company posts placement for
students
Students apply for placement
Students graduate with better skills,
more employable!
Academic and student develop IP
of commercial value
With help of KTO, IP is evaluated and
protected
IP is commercialised and results in a new
product/service
Scenario 1
FOs help to promote placements with their studentsFOs help to promote placements with their students
Scenario 2
FOs direct academic/student to KTOFOs direct academic/student to KTO FOs bind external examiners by
confidentiality (NDA) and guide student to
embargo dissertation
FOs bind external examiners by
confidentiality (NDA) and guide student to
embargo dissertation
How Support Staff Support us … cont
� Help spread the culture
� Refer new and existing staff & students to the KTO’s website
� Refer staff and students to the IP Policy
o www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer/academicstaff/ippolicy
� Encourage academics to keep their UoM profile updated
� Students are at a loss for a dissertation title: refer them to the KTO
For further assistance:
o www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer/supportstaff
www.um.edu.mt/knowledgetransfer