What is the process of technology transfers? What forms do I need to fill out?
A: Enterprises who wish to apply for the transfer of a specific technology shall fill out the Technology Transfer Application Form & Development Plan & Technology Transfer Conflict of Interest Disclosure. The Center will help arrange meetings for the negotiation of licensing conditions and the signing of technology transfer agreements (c.f. Sample Technology Transfer Agreement). The Center will also assist in the process of license fee allocations, the follow-up of the application of technologies, and the payment of royalties.
When should I opt for industrial-academic cooperation? When should I opt for technology transfer?
A:
When can I submit an application for technology transfer?
A: Enterprises may submit a technology transfer application to the Center of Industrial-Academic Cooperation when they have needs for the transfer of specific technology or matching services for NTU’s technology R&D results.
Are technology transfer licensing conditions fixed? What principles are applied? Who decides them?
A:
The content and industry characteristics are different for each technology. As such, the conditions of technology transfer differ from case to case. NTU’s Administrative Guidelines regarding Research and Development Results and Technology Transfer define the basic principles as follows: compensation based, non-exclusive license, and the prioritizing of domestic enterprises as licensees. However, conditions may be negotiated under specific circumstances.
In regard to technology transfer negotiations, the contents of the licensed technology are defined by the inventor, and the Center of Industrial-Academic Cooperation is responsible for representing the University in negotiating technology transfer agreement terms. The following are conditions commonly included in the agreement:
1.License fees:
(1)License fees are determined by the costs of development, marketability, and the scope of licensing.
(2)License fees may be paid in a lump sum or installments.
2.Royalties:
(1)Royalties may be paid in a lump sum, or they may be paid after the product is launched and calculated by applying a royalty percentage to the gross sales.
(2)The royalty rate is generally dependent upon the industry and product characteristics.
3. Product launch deadline
The objective of technology transfer from the university’s standpoint is to facilitate the realization or commercialization of R&D results. In order to prevent companies from using technology transfer as a means of blocking competitors from gaining access to certain technology or not making an effort to commercialize the transferred technology, product launch deadlines are stipulated in the agreement.
4. The use and rights protection of the university name (logo)
To prevent the abuse of the university’s name, logo, or relevant images and texts, the Office of General Affairs has established the Guidelines for the Use and Management of University Logo.
How do I work with NTU?
A:
Technology transfer.
1.Enterprises that are interested in NTU’s R&D results may request further details on R&D results or meetings with the inventor via the Center of Industrial-Academic Cooperation (signing of an NDA may be required). Please refer to the Technology Transfer Workflow for more information on the process.
2. You may obtain NTU’s R&D results in the following ways.
(1)Summaries of R&D results available for technology transfer are published in the technology/patent database.
(2)Announcements regarding technology transfer enterprise selection are published in the Latest News section.
(3)Fill out the Technical Collaboration Inquiry Form and submit it to the responsible party. The staff will provide matching services to help you find the R&D results that suit your needs.
3. Technology transfer conditions are based on the following principles: compensation based, non-exclusive license, and the prioritizing of domestic enterprises as licensees. However, other conditions may be negotiated based on factors such as technology contents or industry characteristics.
Industrial-academic Collaboration
1. Industrial-academic collaboration projects are funded by enterprises. NTU professors collaborate with companies and work on innovative research and development, technological bottleneck solutions, or collaborative R&D projects.
2. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Council of Agriculture, and other government agencies have set up industrial-academic cooperation projects, which are funded by the government and enterprises, and executed by university professors. Please refer to websites of relevant agencies for further details. NTU industrial-academic collaboration projects are funded by enterprises and executed by NTU professors. Please contact the Division of Research Project Affairs for relevant regulations.
3. Enterprises interested in collaborating with NTU may fill out the Technical Collaboration/Technology Transfer Inquiry Form, and the Center of Industrial-Academic Cooperation will help arrange initial meetings with professors to discuss potential collaboration. (Signing of an NDA may be required).
Why do I need to pay the early-stage technology transfer funds?
A: The R&D funds paid by an enterprise during the early stage of a research project are in fact necessary R&D costs (manpower, materials, etc.). Also, industrial-academic collaboration projects subsidized by the government receive most of their funding from the government. As such, the R&D results and intellectual property rights are attributed to the R&D institution in accordance with the Fundamental Science and Technology Act. Enterprises that wish to utilize the R&D results must pay technology transfer license fees to obtain the right of use. Paying the early-stage technology transfer funds at the start of the research project means the enterprise is also taking the risk that the project may not achieve expected results. The company may therefore obtain the right to use the R&D results based on the percentage payment of the early-stage technology transfer funds approved by the subsidizing agency. The company will not be subject to pay anymore license fees or royalties during the license period. On the other hand, if the company does not pay the early-stage technology transfer funds and waits for the R&D results before negotiating for licensing, even though the company will still be entitled to priority of licensing negotiations within one year, in order to obtain license, it will need to go through the processes of technology appraisal and open selection for enterprise based on the time the results are published. This means the costs will be higher for the company.
