Technology transfer experts from IU, Hungary met for training, collaboration

Fulbright Specialist program brought global experts together in Budapest to discuss encouraging, managing innovation

By way of a cooperation between Fulbright Hungary, the National Research, Development and Innovation Office and Indiana University (IU), a two-week long workshop was held in Budapest at which IU's two technology transfer specialists, Beverly Lyman and John Montgomery shared their experience and best practices with representatives of Hungarian universities' innovation management offices. Intellectual property management, relations between universities and industry, technology marketing and awareness raising were all covered. The workshop offered a structured overview of the most important elements of the innovation ecosystem for the members of the University Technology and Knowledge Transfer Forum and other interested higher education institutions, and BME was among the main beneficiaries of the program. IU's summary report, featuring András Jókúti LL.M. (Chief Intellectual Property Advisor of BME):

Results

The Budapest University of Technology and Economics, or BME, launched its research, development and innovation office in 2018. It is essentially a central technology transfer and commercialization unit: it manages the university's intellectual property and implements the university's innovation strategy. András Jókúti, the chief intellectual property advisor, said the IU experts provided valuable advice regarding both starting points and long-term goals for the relatively new office.

”They advised measuring the performance of the office by the number of invention disclosures rather than the number of patent applications. The former is an indicator of the trust university researchers have in officers and their services,” Jókúti said. ”They also recommended a bold but gradual approach to grow the office. This includes forming dynamic relationships with faculty and industry, focusing on communication inside and outside the organization, and creating a stimulating environment for student innovation.”

Since the program with IU, BME has seen strong responses from its faculty inventors. Its intellectual property policy is undergoing a two-step review process, which should lead to a new framework to handle IP matters and provide clearer roles and responsibilities. Jókúti said within the past three months there have been 10 inventor inquiries, two of which have resulted in official invention disclosures.

”I have consulted my workshop notes when thinking about IP issues for the 10-year strategic development plans of BME; when giving legal opinions on draft research cooperation agreements with industry partners; and when drafting provisions of BME's policies, which are under review,” Jókúti said. ”The presentations contain great advice, background information, templates and useful explanations of some of IU's IP policy rules.”

Further details of the article: https://news.iu.edu/stories/2019/10/iu/01-fulbright-specialist-program-hungary-technology-transfer-experts-collaboration-training.html

– GI –
Fotó: Liz Kaye/Indiana University