| Department: |
Office of Research-Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO) |
Effective Date: |
March, 2007 |
| Grade: |
USG 16
35 hr per week
|
Reports to: |
Associate V.P -Commercialization |
General Accountability
The Director of Commercialization leads a team of professionals to identify opportunities for commercialization, collaboratively develops a plan to maximize the economic and social impact, and oversees the implementation of the plan in collaboration with other University staff, industry, financial and government partners. The Director is responsible for project vision, execution strategy and relationship management using creative solutions to overcome complex technology and business-related challenges.
Nature and Scope
- Assists the Associate VP – Commercialization (AVP) in developing the unit’s commercialization strategy; provides initiative and expertise in directing the implementation of the commercialization strategy with the team.
- Holds positions as requested by the AVP on boards and advisory groups to enhance opportunities and influence policy makers within the commercialization arena for programming and funding decisions.
- Manages a team of commercialization professionals, making recommendations to the AVP for hiring decisions and overseeing the performance management process of each team member to recommend promotional decisions and accomplishments.
- Prepares an annual budget for the management of the team and ensures outcomes within the approved budget.
- Develops operating procedures to maximize efficiency of the work process within the team and business unit.
- Manages the unit’s operational activities in keeping with the University’s strategic goals, such as the Sixth Decade Plan, and in accordance with Policy # 73- Intellectual Property Rights.
- Manages and enhances the unit’s capability based on a depth of relevant skills and experience and through liaison and coordination with other universities, in particular the group known as C4 (Coordination, Cooperation, Collaboration, Commercialization).
- Provides assistance to other sections of the Office of Research, such as CRAIG , in the negotiation of intellectual property provisions as may be required.
- Monitors investment in the unit’s patent portfolio assets against budget as well as the progress being made towards achieving successful commercialization events in conjunction with the AVP - Commercialization
- Responsibility for metrics reporting (i.e. AUTM, Stats Canada, C4, etc.).
- Support collaboration with the Accelerator Centre initiatives as requested by Associate Vice President – Commercialization.
- Assist members of the University with understanding and realizing the potential value of their intellectual property, including capitalizing on commercial opportunities.
- Participates as a member of the unit’s to be formed Advisory Committee.
- Provides coverage of Associate Vice President – Commercialization responsibilities during absence or vacation.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
- Forecasts and provides insight on industry trends and identifies opportunities for increased commercialization with commercial entities.
- Negotiates complex commercialization agreements with industry to maximize benefits to the University and industry.
CULTIVATION AND ASSESSMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES
- Works with Deans, Chairs and faculty members to increase the quantity and quality of invention disclosures made by faculty members to the University; takes initiative to identify new strategies to meet faculty and identify invention and disclosure opportunities.
- Assesses invention disclosures including investigation into ownership and assignment of rights, scientific considerations around application and utility, legal considerations involving prior art, patentability and protection and commercial consideration including application, demand from industry, investment requirements and management requirements.
COMMERCIALIZATION OF OPPORTUNITIES
- Manages the protection of intellectual property by engaging patent agents; monitors filing of applications and fees; works with the inventor on patent manuscripts for application and publication; directs inventor regarding ongoing science requirements to strengthen the claim; works with patent agent to prosecute patent claims and manages office actions as required to the final grant of patent.
- Develops strategies for research collaborations and proof of concept funding to support and advance the technology and implements accordingly.
- Develops and proposes business plans and marketing strategies for application within technology projects to maximize the commercial potential of the technology and implements accordingly.
- Works with the inventor to re-engineer the technology or identify steps to product development as required, adding intellectual value to the existing science to broaden its scope and enhance its commercial potential.
- Sources investment contacts to pursue funding requirements and investment opportunities; sources industry contacts interested in licensing; promotes the opportunities to these contacts and executes confidentiality agreements and release of materials, with legal review, to facilitate their assessment of the opportunity.
- Negotiates financial and legal terms for term sheets, licensing agreements and manages the incorporation of start-up companies with shareholders agreement and other contractual requirements with external parties - all as viable methods to commercialize technology opportunities and maximize returns (monetary and other) for the University and faculty while protecting their interests.
- Develops and maintains working relationships with companies, government agencies and other organizations to improve the flow of information about industrial opportunities and commercialization projects.
- Initiates and participates in outreach and promotional activities to increase the University’s exposure within the financial and industrial communities.
- Management of selected strategic Project Portfolios.
- Oversees and implements requirements of project files including the monitoring and enforcement of milestones in license agreements, data management and reporting requirements, and maintenance of relationships between researchers and entrepreneurs throughout the commercialization process.
- Troubleshoots academic and industry relationships and agreement difficulties; providing mediation and resolution for the difficulties encountered along the path to commercial outcome.
CULTURE AND EDUCATION
- Provides faculty members and students with information about relevant University policies, intellectual property regulations, government funding programs, and other relevant information within the commercialization arena.
- Trains new staff in support of the duties and responsibilities of a commercialization manager; mentors new staff for their professional development and participates as a team member in a peer-to-peer office environment.
- Acts as an ambassador for commercialization activities on behalf of the University, promoting idea creation, invention and innovation while fostering a network of contacts and relationships that will support collaboration arid and ensure successful outcomes that demonstrate public and commercial benefit from University research.
CHALLENGES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
- Finding the resources/skills necessary to conduct value-added technology transfer services for the university research community.
- Attracting technology disclosures to the unit in a “creator ownership” environment,
- Issues arising out of Policy #73 including: (i) ascertaining the ownership of intellectual property in accordance with the creator-own provisions of Policy # 73; and (ii) finding the resources necessary to actively prospect for intellectual property created at the University to ensure an adequate flow of technology opportunities.
- The ever increasing complexity created by government innovation initiatives. intellectual property issues arising out of collaborative research initiatives and industry demands to control/own university intellectual property.
- Managing the interactions with the Advisory Committee to ensure best practices for intellectual property management.
- Coordination of activity with C4.
A collaboration of four large universities (McMaster, Guelph, UWO and UW plus three smaller ones to enhance university technology transfer practices and success rates in south-western Ontario. Planned FTE’s across the group will be about equal with individuals spending `40% of their time at the home institution and 60% across the others.
The Contracts Research and Industrial Grants Group.
Statistical Data
Specific Accountabilities
Working Conditions
