Technology-Transfer Groups Form International Body to Set Standards

The Chronicle of Higher Education (Blumenstyk) - With more and more universities making a push to commercialize their research, five academic technology-transfer associations from around the world have formed a new organization that will set standards of professionalism for people working in the field. Backers of the new organization, the Alliance for Technology Transfer Professionals, said it is designed "to help further professionalize and promote technology and knowledge transfer" on a global basis.

Through the alliance, the European association and four other organizations—the Association of Technology Managers in Taiwan; the Association of University Technology Managers, based in the United States; Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia; and PraxisUnico, in Britain—will develop internationally recognized standards, and training in them, for technology-transfer professionals. The new organization, equally owned by the five associations, will be the body that handles certification for the "Registered Technology-Transfer Professional" designation. Hap Tip: Innovation Daily