A European network bringing together the technology transfer offices of 25 large public research organisations has been established with the support of the European Commission.
The European TTO CIRCLE (Technology Transfer Offices – Connecting Innovation and Research Centres and Laboratories in Europe) aims at increasing the market and societal impact of publicly-funded research.
At the initiative of the Joint Research Centre, the driving force behind this project, the members have identified priority areas such as the development of financial facilities for technology transfer and the reduction of Intellectual Property (IP) barriers to collaborative research. Their representatives are meeting this week in Rome to discuss the internationalisation of knowledge transfer.
"The EU has excellent scientists, but we are lagging behind in terms of commercialisation of results. I am glad the European TTO CIRCLE will support this process to further strengthen knowledge transfer offices in public research organisations, in particular through trans-national collaboration," underlined Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.
The European TTO CIRCLE members are already working together to foster joint collaboration. Further objectives include raising the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the partners and the reinforcement of their scientists' skills and competences. Specific training, staff mobility and good practice exchanges are being set up to reach these goals. The network also aims to contribute to the achievement of the European Research Area (ERA) by addressing issues such as access to research results and contributing to open up Europe's research and development system.
During the event in Rome which concludes today, members and guest speakers from the EU, US, Brazil and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have also been addressing the challenge of internationalisation of Knowledge Transfer.
The European Commission in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre is leading this initiative, building on a well-established technology transfer office, which manages the IP portfolio of the European Commission and is in constant contact with researchers, industry and innovation practitioners.
The European TTO CIRCLE was established in Grenoble in October 2011. The network is currently composed of 25 of the largest Public Research-Performing Organisations, representing 15 countries as well as international organisations.
Close collaboration with key organisations in this field, such as EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Associations), ProTon (European Knowledge Transfer Association), and ASTP (Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals) is also ensured.
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