ASTP/Praxis Training Courses

24-26 January 2007, Dublin, Ireland

ASTP is pleased to invite you to two three-day courses in Dublin , Ireland , which are developed in association with Praxis and in close cooperation with Enterprise Ireland . The main features of both courses are its informal style of presentation and interaction between participants. The sessions are a mixture of seminar-style talks and small break-out groups to discuss and report back on specific case studies, reflected on by experienced practitioners. Below you can find detailed information on these sessions.

Please click here for the complete programme of the Fundamentals of Technology Transfer (FTT) course.
Please click here for the complete programme of the Advanced Licensing Skills (ALS) course.
To register, please visit the main page of the courses: FTT or ALS.

PROGRAMME FUNDAMENTALS OF TECHNOLOGY  TRANSFER

Wednesday 24 January

Thursday 25 January Friday 26 January

Course Director: Antonio Parada

 Course Director: Antonio Parada Course Director: Antonio Parada
09.00 – 09.15 08.45-10.15 09.00 – 10.00   
Course Introduction Anatomy of a License Agreement - it's purpose, structure and essential terms Marketing Technology - finding and communicating with potential licensees
Antonio Parada, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology ,  Portugal A session that aims to breakdown the whole process of creating a license agreement with the issues that should addressed in the contract. The session will be put to practice with a case study to identify common mistakes done while drafting terms for a contract. In this session we try to identify ways of finding and marketing to and communicating with potential licensees.

Mark Anderson , Anderson & Company, UK

 Reto Hartmann , Frontiers in Genetics / University of Geneva , Switzerland
09.15 – 10.15 10.15 – 10.30

Evaluating Technology Opportunities

Intro on Peter Rabbit Case study
Case Study Exercise Antonio Parada, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology ,  Portugal
Very few of the disclosures we receive are likely to form the basis of a good patent – fewer still (maybe 1 in 10) have any commercial potential. Moreover, we simply don’t have the time to manage too many projects at once. How then should we evaluate and rank the disclosures we get and how should we reject the ones that we decide not to pursue.   

Penny Attridge, Quester, UK
10.15 – 10.45   COFFEE BREAK 10.30 – 11.00   COFFEE BREAK 10.00 – 10.30   COFFEE BREAK
10.45 – 11.15 11.00 – 12.00  

10.30 – 12.00
Case Study Feedback Case Study - 'Peter Rabbit goes licensing' - illustrating the mistakes that the innocent can make when negotiating agreements Case Study – The Photon counting Detector 
Penny Attridge , Quester, UK Antonio Parada/ Jeff Skinner This is a semi-fictional Tech Transfer case which we take right the way from invention disclosure a negotiated deal. The aim if thesession is to integrate and apply all the elements of the course. A highly interactive discussion-based session.
Jeff Skinner , UCL , UK
11.15 – 12.00 12.00 – 12:45  
Research Grants and Contracts - Our role in protecting foreground and background IP Deals you’ll live to regret.
A great deal of IP results from research collaborations with industry and other PROs. This session identifies ways to take these technologies to society and to manage both the financial and intellectual property issues that arises from the contracts. Not every deal (license) is a good deal for the university. We are more restricted than businesses – as a result of our public mission and the relationship between academic staff and the university (their employer). Deals that give too much often backfire – on you.  

 

 
Mette Andrup, University Copenhagen , Denmark Jeff Skinner , UCL , UK
12.00 – 12.45
IP Primer: Patents - patent law and process - when to seek patent protection, patent strenght, patent agents and patent costs
All about the path to patent filling and the key decision (and investment ) points along the way.
Peter Horn Møller , Plougmann & Vingtoft, Denmark
12.45 - 13.45          LUNCH 12.45 – 13.45         LUNCH 12.00 – 12.30      Sandwich LUNCH
13.45- 14.30    13:45 – 15.15 12.30 – 14.00
Non-Patent IP – Copyright, design ights, trademarks Negotiating and striking the deal Proof of Concept Fund, Together with ALS-course

Not all IP is best protected by patents – in this session we present different types of intellectual property protection and try to evaluate what type suits best for a particular situation.

 New TT officers find negotiation a mysterious and difficult process – especially when up ‘against’ those (in industry) who have been doing it for years. In this session we discuss the way in which agreements are reached and what you should do to reach a positive and outcome. There are more and more early-stage proof-of-concept, development and other early stage funds available to take technologies to a state in which they can be licensed. But it’s easy to waste such funds. Here we hear from an experienced fund manager on the dos and don’ts of investing at a very early stage
Peter Horn Møller , Plougmann & Vingtoft , Denmark Penny Attridge , Quester, UK    

Paul Roben,  Director Enterprise Ireland Biotechnology Commercialisation Group, Ireland

14.30 – 15.15 Kevin Cullen, Glasgow University, UK
Contract Law- what you need to know to keep yourself out of trouble
We are not expected to be legal experts but we are expected to know the basics of contract law. In this short session we attempt to cover the basics legal matters in a global market.

Yvonne McNamara, Partner at McCannn FitzGerald , UK

 14.00 COURSE ENDS
15.15 – 15.45   COFFEE BREAK 15.15 – 15.45   COFFEE BREAK
15.45– 17.30  15.45 – 17.00
Engaging Industry – what they want and don’t want from us – followed by  Stakeholders Panel Sealing the deal
The course offers a conversation between a university representative and an industrial one. Here, the different points of view will be highlighted, setting the stage for an insight view of what the other side of the negotiation feels. It’s easy to exchange technical information with licensees and to discuss technologies – without ever gaining commitment (and ultimately, a deal). We often seem afraid of being seen to ‘push’ for fear as being seen to be ‘pushy’. What are the techniques we should use to  ‘close’ licensing agreements?

Karen Laigaard , University Copenhagen , Denmark  

Eoin O’Neill, Director of Entrepreneurship Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, together with:
Speaker from industry t.b.a. Margaret Woods, Technology Transfer Manager, Trinity College Dublin , Ireland
18.30 SOCIAL PROGRAMME

 ASTP/Praxis Training Courses

24-26 January 2007, Dublin, Ireland

PROGRAMME ADVANCED LICENSING SKILLS

Wednesday 24 January

Thursday 25 January Friday 26 January

Course Director: Karen Laigaard

 Course Director: Karen Laigaard Course Director: Karen Laigaard
09.00 – 09.15 08.30 – 09.30   08.30 – 10.00      
Course Introduction  Deal Strategy – The Essence of a Good Deal Case Study Presentation and Feedback
Karen Laigaard , University Copenhagen , Denmark You have your great technology and one or more potential licensees. Negotiations are about to start. What do you want to get out of the deal and how do you get there? This session will look at the components of a deal strategy to help you obtain your goals. We will discuss the term “good deal” and what we understand by it. This session comprises a series of short presentations by the participants – each highlighting a particular licensing problem or opportunity that will have ben discussed in groups. Each case is then discussed by the entire group with input from experienced TT professionals.

Jörn Erselius , Director Max Planck Innovation,Germany

Penny Attridge,  Quester, UK
09.15 – 10.15 09.30 - 10.30  

What Industry Wants From Universities

Deal Strategy – The % and $ of a Good Deal
Most universities today wish to develop close(r) links with industry through various channels. One of those channels is of course technology transfer. But do we actually know what it is industry wants from us (apart from free IPR!!)? Could it be that we (TTOs) could develop more customer-friendly approaches which would indeed meet the needs of our external partners?     Deciding what your technology is worth and therefore what the licensee has to pay for it is always tricky. This presentation will take us through some tips and thoughts on how to construct the deal financially in order to get the most out of it while helping the company develop your technology.
Ciaran Regan, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation ANRG, Ireland Jeff Skinner , UCL , UK

Michael Grufferty, Director of Industry & Innovation, Tyndall National Institute, Ireland
10.15 – 10.45   COFFEE BREAK 10.30 – 11.00     COFFEE BREAK 10.00 – 10.30     COFFEE BREAK
10.45 – 11.45 11.00 – 12.45 

10.30 – 11.15     

Developing a Licensing Strategy Case: Maddie Ritchie’s Teething Problems Key licensing issues
We need to be pro-active in developing a commercial strategy – what are the first steps in developing such a strategy and how far should you pla ahead? This case will take you  through the development of a case from the time a disclosure is presented to the TTO through to  the process of licensing – focusing on all the legal and contractual issues you will meet along the way. In this session we examine a license deal from beginning to end – looking at the deal from the perspective of the licensee and licensor.  
Andrew Wettern, Wettern Ventures, UK

Mark Anderson, Anderson & Company, UK

Tara MacMahon, IP Lawyer, Consultant , Ireland
11.45 – 12.45

11.15 – 12.00 
Strategic Licensing – a Real TTO Tale Case Study
In this session you will get an insight into the strategic considerations in licensing from two renowned organisations in Europe . What is a licensing strategy and why do we need one? We will look at which elements to include in a strategy and when look at a real-life example of a licensing case.

Alistair Payne and John Cahir, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, solicitors, Ireland 

Jörn Erselius, Director Max Planck Innovation, Germany
12.45 – 13.45         LUNCH 12.45 – 13.45         LUNCH 12.00 – 12.30      Sandwich LUNCH
13.45 – 14.15      13.45 – 14.45 12.30 – 14.00
Briefing, feedback of case study Dirty Little Tricks in Licensing Proof of Concept Fund, Together with FTT-course

TTOs are often in the front-line and sometimes an easy target for the experienced industry negotiator. This presentation will expose some of the commonly used tactics that may be used on you, and help you to recognise and deflect the worst of them.   There are more and more early-stage proof-of-concept, development and other early stage funds available to take technologies to a state in which they can be licensed. But it’s easy to waste such funds. Here we hear from an experienced fund manager on the dos and don’ts of investing at a very early stage
Jeff Skinner , UCL , UK
14.15 – 15.15 14.45 – 15.30    

Market Research – The Route to Informed  Decisions

Common Pitfalls in Licensing Paul Roben,  Director Enterprise Ireland Biotechnology Commercialisation Group, Ireland
This session will give you tools and tips as to how to answer the essential questions which will help you license your technology: How to find your licensees? What are their goals? What is the potential value of your IP? Do you compare with other similar technologies? If no comparable technology is available, can market research be effective? 

You know the feeling: you have closed a licensing deal and you just hope you haven’t overlooked any small details which could have huge consequences down the line! This presentation will help you sleep better at night as we will learn how to avoid the most common pitfalls in licensing. 

Kevin Cullen, Glasgow University, UK
Cath Whitaker, Team services Ltd, UK Eoin O’Neill, Director of Entrepreneurship Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, together with:
Margaret Woods, Technology Transfer Manager, Trinity College Dublin , Ireland 14.00 COURSE ENDS
15. 15 – 15.45        COFFEE BREAK 15.30 – 16.00      COFFEE BREAK
15.45 – 16.45      16.00 – 17.00   
Partnering with businesses Post-signature License Management
How to identify an internal champion within a licensee? How do you cultivate them, work with them and support them How do you use the initial contacts to get information back that allows you to value the technology? When should you abandon and how do you  initiate a possible lasting relationship? Many think that the TTO’s job is done once the license is signed. If you take this approach then the dreamt-for royalty payments may never materialise. It’s essential to periodically review the agreement and meet with the licensee. In extreme cases you may need to engage professional auditors to review the licensee’s progress and products – and to have built in such a right into the original license. This session – led by a highly experience IP auditor - is devoted to examining post-license management.

Reto Hartmann , Frontiers in Genetics/University of Geneva , Switzerland  

Raja Sengupta, Equal Ltd, UK
16.45 – 18.00      17.00 – 18.00   
Breakout (I) – preliminary discussion of licensing problem/opportunity cases. Breakout (II) – preparation of group case study presentation
18.30 SOCIAL PROGRAMME