Technology transfer has the power to bridge gaps not only between industry, academia, and government within a country but also on a global scale! 

Today’s guest, Dr. Alfred Tan, has been the Head of the Knowledge Transfer Office at Hong Kong University for 13 years. He also serves as the Deputy Managing Director and a Board member of Versitech Limited. 

In this episode, Alfred shares how his office leverages Hong Kong’s close ties to Eastern countries and its Western-style systems to enhance collaboration between the two regions. He talks about the importance of relationship-building, “doing the right thing while doing things right,” and the rapid rate at which Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem has grown in the past 10 years. 

In This Episode:

[00:36] Introducing the Head of the Knowledge Transfer Office at the University of Hong Kong, Dr. Alfred Tan. 

[02:16] Why Alfred refers to his technology transfer office as a “bridge.” 

[04:13] Factors that make Hong Kong’s technology transfer industry unique in the Asian context.   

[09:29] Examples highlighting the focus that is placed on collaboration between industry, academia, and government in Hong Kong. 

[15:04] Some of the international technology transfer collaborations that Alfred has been involved with. 

[18:52] Exciting developments that have taken place in Hong Kong’s intellectual property space in recent years. 

[22:50] Growth that Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem has experienced in the past 15 years. 

[27:34] The educational element of the technology transfer industry in Hong Kong. 

[29:47] Hong Kong’s approach to thriving in the ever-changing innovation landscape. 

[34:45] The value of relationship-building for enhancing international collaborations in the technology transfer field. 

[40:55] Doing the right thing while doing things right; the philosophy that Alfred lives by. 

Resources:

Dr. Alfred Tan on LinkedIn

University of Hong Kong