Outcomes

Trans2Tech will result in :

  • A set of innovation best practices, including technology evaluation, intellectual property protection, marketing and exploitation to drive science from the university environment to business
  • A pan-European technology evaluation system designed to enable stakeholders at large to evaluate and develop the industrial potential of inventions, projects or organizations
  • A pan-European web portal gathering technological offers from academic research

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The Trans2Tech pan-European evaluation system

**Understanding how to better evaluate technology at various stage of development**

As part of the European funded Trans2Tech project, The Münster University of Applied Sciences is in the process of a completing a model for the evaluation and development of technology. As part of this task, we are conducting an international survey with the primary objective being to identify the most important factors in creating a successful research or technology project during its different stage of development.
The model has been built from previous research and practical work that has bee nundertaken by our Science to Business Research Centre, through theTrans2Tech partnership as well as utilizing the work completed by Louise Heslop on the Clover-Leaf Model of Technology Transfer.
We are seeking responses from a variety of different groups within thetechnology transfer process including gathering the opinions of industry,research and venture capitalists especially (as well as other groups involved in technology transfer) in order to increase the relevance of the information gathered.
Why answer this survey?
- You will be substantially contributing to developing new knowledge in the assessment of research and technology projects.
- Your organisation will be able to receive the results of the survey andsubsequent publications about the research project.
The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. Of course, your data will be kept confidential. If you are interested in the findings, please enter your email address at the end of the questionnaire. You will receive the results of the survey and subsequent publications about the research project for free.
You can access the questionnaire through the following link:
http://www.fh-muenster.com/techadvance/
If you know persons / organisations which could be interested in the surveyand the finding, we would appreciate if you would forward this email to them. Many thanks in advance.

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** TechAdvance™ model, a 3 Dimensional Technology Assessment Model **

The TechAdvance™ model, a 3 Dimensional Technology Assessment Model, is an assessment tool developed and used within the Münster University of Applied Sciences for the assessment of technologies. The model provides a validated framework for the assessment of technologies at various stages of development and seeks to assist managers to develop and improve the likely success of technology projects. Whilst the model was already being used within the university, the model was substantially developed during the European-funded, Trans2Tech project, a 6th Framework Program. The model has been built from previous research and practical work that has been undertaken by our Science to Business Research Centre, through the Trans2Tech partnership as well as utilizing the work completed by Louise Heslop on the Clover-Leaf Model of Technology Transfer.
Why is the model needed?
Successful new products and services provide significant profits and growth for firms as well as significant employment opportunities however many failures for the technology or product to be successful once in the market or indeed to even reach the market makes the process of assessing research projects necessary. Further, increasingly less funding available from Government for research means that research projects have a greater incentive to be market aligned in order to maximise their chances of success.
But how can research do this better?
The Techadvance™ model was created in order to try to align research projects with the market early and to encourage consideration around issues likely to confront the project as early as possible in the process of commercialization.

TechAdvance ™, a 3 Dimensional Technology Assessment Model Source: Thomas Baaken, Fachhochschule Münster.

Definitions for Assessment Criteria:

- People -

Definition: assessing the potential for key personal to work in a partnership and tomaximise the benefits of tech transfer. This has been found to include:
• The personnel within the University/research institution
• Also the personnel within the partner organisation
• The stage of the partnership relationship was also found to affectthe potential for the technology (the partnering model will be used toassist this assessment)

- Technology Potential -

Definition: assessing the development potential for technology. This has been found to include the following factors:
• Time to market
• Technology innovativeness
• Required funding present
• Novelness/uniqueness of the technology
• Ability to successfully develop the technology
• Industrial/commercial feasibility
• Market partner assisting with developing the technology from a market perspective
• Ability to defend technology IP
• Ability to transfer the technology
• Reliability of research data completed
• Stage of development

- Market Attractiveness -

Definition: assessing the market potential for a given technology. This includes attempting to create some certainty around:
• the benefits of the technology
• a given application for the technology
• a likely market partner
• a market need for the technology
• a path to market for the technology
• the size of the market being targeted
• the state of this market in terms of competitiveness
• the growth prospects for this market
• the potential for the technology to obtain market share in the chosen market
• the willingness of the market to accept the technology
• the stage of the market development

- Technology Evaluation Structure -

A basic structure for the assessment of the technology has been created. The assessment would include the following stages:
• Project introduction and specification
• Criteria assessment (recommended criteria & weighting)
• Technology Potential
• People (includes ‘Partnering Model’)
• Market attractiveness
• Organisation specific factors
• Horizontal assessment of technology development stage
• Horizontal assessment of supply/value chain
• Final assessment and positioning of opportunity in model

For further information about the model please contact:
Todd Davey
Fachhochschule MünsterScience-to-Business Marketing Research Centre
Phone: +49/251/83-65635
E-mail: davey@fh-muenster.de
Internet: http://www.science-to-business-marketing.com/