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Start of funding 01.01.2003

Co-operation between the technology transfer offices of LMU and Stanford University in terms of intellectual property management, university spin-offs and fundraising

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In our project we want to establish a stable and far reaching co-operation between the technology transfer offices of University of Munich and Stanford University. In detail, we have the following topics of interest: First, we are working in the field of patenting and licensing since October 2000. Due to the Bavaria Patent Project, LMU has the opportunity to patent and license its scientific inventions. The patenting politics of US-universities such as Stanford has reached a very high standard during the last three decades. Co-operation in this field of technology transfer will be advantageous for LMU in order to learn more about licensing and long term patent portfolio strategies. On the other hand, LMU can provide useful information about German and European patent law to Stanford. In addition the LMU technology transfer office is offering advice and support for young spin-offs since several years. Also in this field US-universities have a far reaching and helpful experience. Finally, fundraising has been recently developed as sustainable concept of additional financial support for LMU. Our technology transfer office is experienced in supervising co-operation projects between LMU and industry. In order to promote fundraising, our established German network shall be extended. US-universities can provide useful practical experience in this field of technology transfer and fundraising.

Final report:
Due to the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, in the US universities and Spin-offs for the first time were able to patent and license inventions belonging to the government before. A similar process was stimulated in Germany by canceling the so called “professors’ privilege” in the Service Inventors Act in 2002, with the intended result that universities could now exploit inventions of all their scientists. Compared to Germany the US universities are ahead in the field of patenting and licensing for several decades as we could see during our visit at Californian TTOs and companies in June 2004. The most successful strategies are: Establishing a culture of confidence (reputation of the TTO), constructive co-operation between scientists and TTOs, moderate licensing conditions in contrast to aggressive strategies of negotiation, increasing the image of the university through successful exploitation of inventions and finally a lot of patience, as the establishment of a successful patenting culture lasts about 15 years.

Since the High-tech-boom in Silicon Valley at the beginning of the 80’s, in California exists an established entrepreneurship culture. Many enterprises located in the Bay-Area are former Spin-offs. A close co-operation between these enterprises and the universities is given due to the fact that a lot of enterprises are licensees of university patents.

A third important source of income of US universities is developed through Fundraising. Here as well Fundraising is an established culture since decades at US universities. The TTOs in California do play an important role in this field: the close contacts to former students in Spin-offs, scientists and founders do not only allow a fruitful networking but is also preparing the way to a far reaching sponsoring culture.

In Germany, this economic trend started about 5-10 years ago. The future will give evidence, whether the experiences of the US can be transferred to German Universities and Technology Transfer Offices.