Spin-out conference

'Investors, scientists and government representatives will meet today at a conference to discuss how best to turn university research into viable standalone businesses.' Link

TT *is* profitable

Link

'Leading universities that spend money on helping academics turn their research into commercial ventures see a sixfold return on their investment, researchers into the business activities of universities around the world claimed yesterday.'

The VC landscape in the UK - myths and realities

Link

'To be precise, the government believes that UK innovation is being held back by a so-called "equity gap" - a range of deal sizes which are out of reach of business angels, but still too small to be considered by institutional investors.

This range is usually estimated at £250,000 to £2m. However, the report reveals that more deals took place below £2m than in any other size range - and a substantial 80% of those deals were squarely in the "equity gap" area.....

....In this country, if you are in new media or software, for example, you are far less likely to receive funding than if you are in semiconductors or biotech....'

University spin-out solves university problem

'A university, which invented its own electronic register to track students' attendances at lectures, says it has proved a success in its first year.
A spin-off business at the University of Glamorgan, Treforest, developed the device to help cut down on students dropping out.' Link

When I was at college, it was entirely up to you, if you turned up for lectures or not. And it was entirely up to you if you failed as a result, too.....

Making a fortune out of licencing....

... the Pilkington way:
Here

'Pilkington decided on a policy of licensing the process to existing major glass manufacturers. At the same time the company encouraged its licensees to assist in the further development of float by granting them free use of any improvements they might make on condition these were also made available to Pilkington itself....' here

What's next?

The IEEE on the future of technology.

Link

Telegraph article on university IP

Link

"The largest criticism to technology transfer in the UK is that it is too difficult to work with these technology transfer offices. They are simply too precious about their IP."