Academia-Industry-Government Partnership at the National University of Singapore

Transcription

1 Academia-Industry-Government Partnership at the National University of Singapore Dr. Jasmine Kway Deputy Director NUS Industry and Technology Relations Office, NUS Enterprise 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, 20 March 06, Bangkok Thailand

2 Primary Roles of University...the three primary roles which a world-class university should play in a modern economy and society: i. deliver quality undergraduate education; ii. develope graduate education and research; and iii.foster entrepreneurship and industry involvement. Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Defence, 12 August st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 2

3 NUS Vision Towards a global knowledge enterprise building synergies between education, research and entrepreneurship NUS Mission Advance knowledge and foster innovation, educate students and nurture talent, in service of country and society 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 3

4 Entrepreneurship in NUS Challenges Mindset Change Employee mentality of students Administration needs to be flexible Roadblocks need to be removed Venture Support System Hardware and Software support Funding up to the receipt of significant external funding Need to accept high proportion of failure 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 4

5 Entrepreneurship in NUS NUS Enterprise Our Vision Inject an enterprise dimension to NUS teaching and research involving NUS students, staff and alumni Our Objectives Provide entrepreneurship education and nurture talents with a global mindset; Identify, protect and commercialise intellectual property; Nurture NUS spin-offs and start-ups; Foster industrial collaboration; and Facilitate the dissemination of NUS knowledge to external community 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 5

6 NUS Enterprise Organization Chart NUS Enterprise Valley NUS Overseas Colleges NUS Entrepreneur -ship Centre NUS Industry and Technology Relations Office NUS Venture Support NUS Consulting NUS Extension NUS Publishing NUS College In Bio Valley NUS College In Silicon Valley NUS College In Shanghai NUS College In Stockholm IP Management and Licensing Industry Relations Venture Creation NUS Business Incubator Overseas Business Centres Singapore University Press Pte Ltd 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 6

7 NUS Industry & Technology Relations Office Mission To promote the transfer of NUS-generated knowledge and technology to industry for the benefit of society and the economic development of the Nation. Key Responsibilities Protect and manage NUS intellectual property Promote and catalyze commercialization of the University s innovations and expertise Promote and catalyze research collaborations between the University and industry 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 7

8 NUS Industry & Technology Relations Office Industry Relations Negotiates more than 100 agreements yearly Concluded more than 700 industry collaboration research projects from year 2000 Obtained close to S$50M research funding for FY st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 8

9 NUS Industry & Technology Relations Office IP Management & Licensing More than 100 invention disclosures yearly from S$200M-S$300M of research funding Intellectual property portfolio of 984 patents across 400 technologies 108 technologies licensed 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 9

10 NUS Venture Support Objective Nurture successful NUS spin-offs and start-up companies involving NUS students, staff, alumni and NUS Intellectual Property until they receive significant external funding Current Status 89 start-ups and spin-offs to-date 15 companies secured significant funding of more than S$1M 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 10

11 NUS Venture Support Incubators in NUS NUS Business Incubator 1 University and 3 Faculty-level incubators Capacity: start-ups Current Incubatees: 28 companies Access to NUS resources, technologies and expertise Mentors, Advisors & Business Network Conduct seminars, workshops, legal clinics Inside the Incubator 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 11

12 NUS Venture Support Fund Seed new start-ups that commercialize NUS Intellectual Property; Funded 7 start-ups with up to S$300,000; EDB 1:1 matching; Extension of S$3M fund approved on 1 August 2005; Raising another S$30M fund Student Enterprise Programme - S$5M for 5 yrs Funded 15 Student Enterprises from October 2004 Mikrotools Mozat Chiral FriarTuck Cadi Scientific AvantWerx 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 12

13 Valley Established in May 2003 Hub of entrepreneurship activities for local NUS hi-tech start-ups Focal point for NUS staff, students and alumni in Silicon Valley Provide comprehensive program of entrepreneurship education, venture support, business incubation and networking Provide smooth entry for NUS start-ups into US market Central downtown location in Mountain View Offices from 100 sq ft to 125 sq ft Workstation from 60 sq ft Wireless network enabled Shared facilities eg. Fully equipped meeting and seminar rooms Valley 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 13

14 Established in September 2005 as a wholly-owned foreign entity Centre for NUS education, research and enterprise activities in China (eg. NUS Business School, NUS College in Shanghai, Institute of Systems Science, etc) Smooth entry for NUS community into China Central location at Acendas Plaza, Xu Jia Hui Shared facilities eg. fully equipped conference and meeting rooms, office equipment; administrative support Office from sqm each 18 workstations of 1.4m x 1.4m Wireless network enabled and furnished NUS@Shanghai 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 14

15 INTRO 2004 NUS Industry & Technology Relations Office (INTRO) Challenges

16 Challenges in University-Industry Partnerships Education, research and enterprise Where is the emphasis? Celebrate scholars and entrepreneurs! 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 16

17 Sourcing for Invention Disclosures Patent vs. publication Promotion and tenure vs. creating patents Consulting vs. spin-off opportunities Is Invention Disclosure part of Faculty Performance Indicator? Pull factors Build awareness via roadshows, courses Publicizing successful patent grants and commercialization Customer-centric personnel with high EQ 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 17

18 Invention Disclosure Management Rejection of Invention Disclosures How do you tell an eminent professor his invention disclosure is not patentable? Use of peer review process which is similar to journal publications and conference presentations, including appeal process. Transparent rejection process and alternatives Need customer-centric personnel with high EQ in INTRO 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 18

19 Invention Disclosures Characteristics of Inventions High percentage of disruptive technologies resulting in new products, processes and services for new markets Not enough existing information for assessment of commercial potential Limit filing to one or two lead markets Commercialization mainly through spin-offs or startups instead of existing companies. 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 19

20 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 20 Licensing Issues Technology Valuation. Why bother? Diverse methods Early stage technologies Licensee Evaluation. How? Pre-empting opportunities and future developments Long negotiation cycle. Delay? Commercialization and investment happens after license Supermarket approach? (Price List/Standard Terms) Customer Support. Our value proposition! Stay in touch after deal is done Leverage on NUS expertise and facilities

21 Objective of Licensing Maximize revenue? National economic development? Generate emotional credit for NUS? 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 21

22 Role of Technology Transfer Office Pure Intellectual Property Management? Due diligence Gate keeper, regulator? Enhanced with Industry Relations (Corporate Relations) Value add Partner, facilitator? 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 22

23 NUS Industry and Technology Relations Office One-stop office for Academia-Industry-Government Partnerships Product ALL University assets Intellectual Property Expertise Facilities Customers Internal owners of NUS assets External - industry/institutions/government 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 23

24 NUS Licensing Policy Create value from knowledge generated from NUS so as to enhance the quality of life for the benefit of society Maximize impact (not returns) Licensing priority NUS spin-off Singapore based companies Non-Singapore based companies 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 24

25 NUS Royalty sharing Inventor(s) 50% University 20% (after cost of patenting and overheads) Faculty 30% 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 25

26 Gap Funding Availability of capital Public funded research Angel investors Seed finding Venture capitalists The Valley of Death Basic research Development & Scale-up Commercial Operation 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 26

27 Bridge the financing gap Singapore Economic Development Board Proof-of-Concept Fund Innovation Commercialization Scheme Agency for Science & Technology Commercialization of Technology Scheme National University of Singapore Technology to Market Fund The Public Service Division, Prime Minister s Office The Enterprise Challenge Fund SBIR pilot scheme (A*Star and NUS) 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 27

28 Manpower Resources - diversity Industry Relations Officers Business development skills Strong in project management Strong in marketing & sales Good grasps of corporate and contracts law Good communication and presentation skills IP Management Officers Possess a technical degree Good grasps of IP management and IP law Imaginative/Innovative to translate technologies into applications 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 28

29 Key Performance Indicators Based on economic development objective i.e. value creation for Singapore Value of products/services created Value of investment in commercialization technology (FAI, TBS) No. of new ventures created No. of jobs created Value of external funding generated Research collaborations; Technology Transfer; Consultancy. Access to University Physical Assets and Facilities Percentage of Professors involvement 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 29

30 INTRO 2004 NUS Industry & Technology Relations Office (INTRO) Opportunities

31 Vision for Singapore as an IP Hub Develop Singapore into an IP-savvy business hub, conducive for the Creation, Ownership & Exploitation of intellectual assets 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 31

32 Singapore government fully supportive of IP activities Liberal Support for Training & Capability Development Research & Development Acquisition of IP Manufacturing IP Licensing Enterprise Incubation Technology Showcase Patent Drafting & Filing Protection for other IPs Supporting the IP Value Chain 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 32

33 Concerted Singapore government effort Top protective IP regime in Asia Signatory to major IPR conventions & treaties Houses major key players in the IP value chain IP service providers IP law firms MNCs managing IPs out of Singapore Technology based/ip ventures Huge base of venture capitalists 1 st Asian Science & Technology Seminar, , Slide 33

34 INTRO 2004 Thank you Dr. Jasmine Kway Deputy Director NUS Industry and Technology Relations Office