Tech transfer professionals were clamoring for more opportunities to meet with industry representatives. To address this request, the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) began a program during its annual meetings to help tech transfer offices to connect with industry. Since its start at the AUTM annual meeting in 2012, the program and its resulting partnering meetings have grown in popularity year over year. What started out as an experiment has grown into a staple and exceptionally valuable part of AUTM’s annual meetings. Our office has jumped at the chance to speak with companies about the exciting technologies spinning out of our labs. Over the years, both the quality and quantity of the meetings have seen a significant increase. Even the web- and mobile-platforms in which we meet and schedule meetings have improved over the years!
As both sides (universities & companies) gained experience with speaking to one another, the level of sophistication during these discussions has improved as well. Early conversations were often focused on in-licensing or tech scouting opportunities. Meetings soon evolved toward a more holistic discussion of collaboration and “creative partnerships” to adapt to the ever-changing environment in which we do business. Recently those creative partnerships have started to take shape.
This year it has become more apparent that industry, like us, is working to adapt to this changing landscape and find new ways to integrate with academia and create value. Most of our meetings at AUTM 2015 were less focused on tech scouting (although, not surprisingly, it was often the starting point of each conversation) and more focused on how an industry partner and Emory can grow meaningful and valuable relationships that can then grow into innovations. “We work with our industry partners every day,” says Licensing Associate, Lisa Matragrano. “These partnering meetings provide one of the few opportunities to speak in person with our colleagues on the other side of the deal and create deeper relationships and hopefully meaningful collaborations for new innovation.”