Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria
Following a request from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, RIPA International devised a bespoke study programme in technology transfer in the UK. The objective set by the delegation prior to its arrival was as follows:
‘Our expectation from this study visit to the United Kingdom is that on return, each participant would be fully conversant with the workings of Technology Transfer offices in their institutions, especially with internal relationships with their colleagues and institutions’ management in order to ensure maximum cooperation as well as being able to market their IPs, negotiate better terms of royalties and attract industry collaboration in their innovation generating activities and more importantly ensure that the objectives of the establishment of IPTTOs are implemented.’
The study programme was developed with the purpose of exposing the delegation to the implementation and operation of technology transfer offices (TTOs) in the UK, especially the higher education sector. The study tour sought to provide delegates with the experience of a broad range of UK universities and other institutions in the establishment, operation and funding of TTOs, with the express purpose of applying knowledge from the programme to the planned development of TTOs in Nigeria.
A total of 22 delegates attended the programme with the itinerary divided between the study group visiting key UK TTO establishments and visits by expert speakers from other TTO agencies at RIPA International’s headquarters.
Each delegate was provided with an overview of the programme, as well as a daily workbook, which provided delegates with a personalised learning journal to make relevant notes and reference points for each visit, building to a full compendium of knowledge for the study tour as a whole.
Over the five-day period, delegates visited some of the UK’s leading educational establishments
Including Cambridge Enterprise (University of Cambridge), Isis Innovation (University of Oxford), KCL Enterprises (Kings College, London) and Knowledge Dock (University of East London)
The majority of these visits were able to provide specific focus on pharmaceutical research and licensing, an area which strongly reflects the current landscape in TTO innovation in the UK.
On completion of the study tour, delegates had acquired the knowledge and capability to:
- Be fully competent with the background of the technology transfer sector in the UK
- Be aware of the difficulties faced by UK TTOs in their development, and to
- Understand how such difficulties can be mitigated in Nigeria
- Understand the requirements of TTOs when sourcing funding within the UK, and to translate this for successful application in Nigeria
- Establish what makes each visited TTO successful and what lessons can be learnt for implementation in Nigeria
This case study represents RIPA International’s ability to facilitate cutting edge learning and development programmes to assist our delegates and their client organisations to meet specific strategic requirements through our work with a host of organizations across the public and private sectors.