Where we stand today…

where we should go tomorrow.

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Regional Workshop

Activating a Tech Transfer capability

The Tunisian

Case,

Presented by

Mondher KhanfirC.E.O at Wiki Start Up

mk@wikistartup.tnTunis, July 17th 2017

Agenda

• National Innovation System,

• Technological Capability and Industry

absorption capacity

• Where is Tunisia now?

• Potential & perspectives for Tunisia

• Recommendations for a more efficient

Governance of the NIS

Regional Workshop

Activating a Tech Transfer capability

What NIS is not?

NIS is not a Research focused entity but Knowledge

and Information flows platform enabling Innovation.

The flow of knowledge and information among people, enterprises and

institutions which is key to the innovative process.

NIS is not infrastructure but an Ecosystem supporting

Technology Transfer (In & Out)

It is a META Network of interconnected institutions to create, store and

transfer the knowledge, skills and artefacts which define new

technologies.

What NIS is not?

NIS is not a traditional « Public Service » but a high level

policy maker and a strategic provider of information on

innovation.

Gathering all actors whose interactions and linkages determine the

innovative performance of national firms. Government’s role is to to

promote and activate trust among the different innovation actors

NIS is not only applying rules but formulating strategies,

anticipating changes and updating rules for a better

global innovation flows.

Changing rules to make a better interaction between knowledge producers

and users, and providing the framework within which governments form

and implement policies to influence the innovation process.

So what’s a NIS?

The National Innovation System (NIS) is a

pillar of the Knowledge Based Economy

NIS is a “Tech Transfer Turbine”, which capacity

is resulting from a complex set of relationships

among actors within a specific environment….

.. the network of institutions in the public and

private sectors whose activities and interactions

initiate, import, modify and diffuse new

technologies.

• Transferring research results to economic sectors

is one of the missions of NIS.

• - Three main ways to transfer research findings co-

exist:

✓ Assignment of rights through licensing or collaborative

research projects

✓ through spin-out (or spin-off)

✓ By technological integration (or spin-in)

So what’s a NIS?

Matching betweenOffer and Demand in Tunisia

It’s mainly the

Government that

determine the main

axes of R & D (the

offer)

The process of

technology transfer relies

on Big Companies which

usually prefer

international

collaboration (the

demand)

A highly decisive role of universities and

research laboratories for the production and

dissemination of knowledge.

Technological Capability

Technological Capability is composed of a variety of

sources of knowledge and experiences. Some are

subtle and intangible, such as new ideas and

inventions. Others are embodied in equipment,

machinery or infrastructure, and are more and more

carried out by artificial intelligence.

The main outcome for NSI is to develop Technological

Capability of local actors and enhance Technology Transfer

and cooperation with international actors.

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Key drivers for Technology Transfer

These are generally

large companies or

governments that

determine the main

axes of R & D (the

trends)

The process of

technology transfer

requires

collaboration and

collective

commitment

A highly decisive role of universities and

research laboratories for the production and

dissemination of knowledge, in particular though

RBSO.

At the policy level

To produce a relevant and coherent Governance on the

NIS and covenring the IPP and the technology transfer

industry in Tunisia

Some principles to be observed:

To set up an institutionnal Board in charge of the

Tunisian National Innovation System including public

and private sectors representatives

To craft a formal strategy and to fix priorities for the

short, mid and long tem.

To define a common referential for assessing the STI

policies and their impacts

The NIS includes the NIPS

We cannot talk about National Innovation

System without setting up first, an National

Intellectual Property System (NIPS).

How to industrialize the TT process in Tunisia

Create a national organization whose mission is the

centralized management of R&D.

Making market studies available to researchers

Establish specific incentives for spin-off

Privatize TT by creating companies vis-a-vis traders

researchers

Creating TT acceleration companies (market the projects

by sector)

Facilitate access for civil society to R & D funds

National Steering Committee of TT (ANPR, APII) and

regional committees (Univ, CT, CR, NGO, APII, Poles)

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How to industrialize the TT in Tunisia

Create more Technological Resource Centres

National Council for TT

Create pilot Labs exclusively performing applied research and experimental

Develop Personal Statement TT

Financing (funds, motivation, procurement procedures)

Apply existing legal texts TT

Involve the end customer from the beginning with the research team (lab / Unit Ets)

Create and promote specific trades TT

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How to industrialize the TT in Tunisia

Use a proportion of the budget allocated to

R&D for Applied Research

Development of the marketing approach of

products from TT

Encourage firms to create R & D cells

Encourage a dynamic clustering

Create public / private joint laboratories

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IN CONCLUSION:A deep REFORM COVERING THE 3Ps

Many pre requisites and key success factors are missing, at the 3 different

levels:

Process People Policy

Technology Transfer differs

from one sector to anther. It’s

not only about licencing or

spining off, it’s also about the

process itself.

Staffing high level

competencies to be able to

provide world class services

Crafting policy papers to

stimulate the reforms at the

government level

IP strategy formulation relies

on expertise and international

presence. Initiating a

marketplace for IP could start

with local events until reaching

a critical size for

internationalization.

Non permanent experts

should be hired easily to

proceed with IP Valuation or

Patent writing….

Financial autonomy is a crucial

condition to develop the TT

industry. Planning a sustainable

strategy for TTO, based on

clear National Innovation

strategy.

Communication is a key driver

for business exposure.

Launching a Media & a Data

Center is compulsory.

Parterning with local and

international bodies and

organization to share

resources and experience.

Performing a TTO requires an

entrepreneurial spirit. A good

option could be to call for a PPP

project with private sector.

THANK YOU!

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