Have you ever wondered what really powers the success of tech transfer offices at universities? It’s not just the groundbreaking research or innovative technologies—it’s the relationships behind the scenes.

In today’s episode, we’re highlighting the importance of cultivating strong relationships with faculty members. These connections not only facilitate technology disclosures but also significantly boost the marketing reach and appeal of research to industry partners.

Joining us to shed light on this topic is David McClure, the Managing Director of Licensing at the Office of Research Commercialization, Texas Tech University System. David brings a wealth of experience and insight into why fostering strong faculty relationships is essential for the success of a tech transfer office.

We’ll be discussing effective strategies for initiating and maintaining engagement with faculty, the challenges and nuances of making tough decisions about researchers' inventions, and the best communication practices for managing expectations. Plus, we’ll explore how relationship-building can be seamlessly integrated into these efforts.

In This Episode:

[01:21] The importance of strong relationships with faculty for tech transfer success. We have to create a system of mutual trust where each of us will do our respective jobs.

[02:27] No invention has ever been licensed without the full support of the researcher. The feedback is very important for success.

[04:03] The key is communication. When an invention disclosure comes in it gets assigned to a licensee manager and they carry it through until a license is negotiated. Making the process transparent and showing every step to a faculty member along the way.

[05:21] They make decisions on new inventions in 60 days, but they try to do it in 30 days.

[06:48] Outsourcing assessments to a third party makes the researchers feel like everyone's on the same team.

[08:45] Maintaining engagement is important. They get a list of new faculty hires. They give them a visit and ask what they are interested in and establish a relationship from day one. 

[13:42] Communicating every step along the way is an effective communication strategy. Showing your work and letting the researchers know what you're doing on their behalf is very helpful.

[15:02] They also use LinkedIn as a success story communication tool.

[19:48] They make it easy and affordable for faculty members to license their technology. The industry appreciates customer validation.

[21:03] It takes years to get a patent issued and to take a technology to market. It's a long process where you should take as many shots as possible. David and his team preach patience to new faculty members. They also use colleague examples to demonstrate the process.

[22:52] The role of training and professional development in preparing TTO staff and faculty for successful collaboration and commercialization. David tries to get them plugged into the ecosystem as quickly as possible.

[27:21] How strong faculty relationships impact the overall success and growth of a tech transfer office in the long term.

[28:12] Advice for tech transfer professionals includes critical management and building a portfolio over time. Start small and build over time. Show your work. Be patient. 

Resources: 

David McClure Texas Tech University

David McClure LinkedIn