The Other Problem With Tech Transfer

This article was first published in the Science in Parliament, Spring 2023 issue, on page 10 and can be found here.

There has been increasing discussion around problems with the transfer of technology from universities, and in particular with the spin-out process. The process is often very slow, with negotiations around terms such as the equity stake taken by the university sometimes causing investors to walk away, founders to get frustrated, and companies struggle to get off of the ground.

This process will be looked at in the review recently commissioned by the Treasury, and headed up by Professor Irene Tracey and Dr Andrew Williamson. This is the bit everyone talks about.