About Knowledge and Technology Transfer ****************************************************************************************** * What is innovation? ****************************************************************************************** As a result of globalisation, both the economies and academic institutions of individual c strongly connected on an international level. In this global environment, foreign entities direct competitors to Czech companies (and research teams). Thus, it is necessary to inves in maintaining competitiveness, most often through innovation. In other words, for a compa success in a globalized market, it is necessary for it to be able to quickly apply scienti its field and implement it in such a way as to increase the value of its services or produ According to the most widespread definition, innovation is the introduction of a new or si improved product, service or processes (e.g. the way a company operates). For most project process can be divided into 5 stages. The way in which products or services are innovated varies based on the type of institutio the product. Each of these entities has different strengths and weaknesses. In the case of large corporations, the obvious advantage are sufficient financial resource makes them attractive employers. In addition, the entire innovation process takes place "u which simplifies its management. However, they are also characterized by a certain rigidit management culture of large corporations. This environment favors smaller-scale innovation opportunities may be ignored entirely. This, however, does not apply to small and medium-s (SMEs), which often seek disruptive innovations. On the other hand, these entities often f lack of resources to fund their R&D activities. The most severe weakness of large corporations and SMEs is most often their limited theore in the given field. In reaction to this problem, a third pathway of innovation can be used Technology Transfer. Both commercial entities and public academic institutions participate The commercial partner brings their financial resources and knowledge of the market, which with the extensive, multidisciplinary theoretical knowledge of an academic institution. ****************************************************************************************** * What is Technology Transfer? ****************************************************************************************** Technology Transfer (also Knowledge and Technology Transfer) involves activities aimed at of an innovative idea, knowledge or technology, generated at an academic institution, into There are several ways of cooperation between academic and commercial entities, but we con Technology Transfer only those in which the academic institution remains a long-term partn research project, owns intellectual property and is a beneficiary of potential revenues. T include the licensing or sale of intellectual property (most often a patent), joint resear the establishment of a spin-off company. Conversely, activities such as a one-time provision of laboratory analysis or expert revie knowledge without a potential for commercial use, equipment rental or sale of monographs a technology transfer because they do not increase the utility value of the product or servi and are of non-innovative nature. A borderline form of Knowledge and Technology Transfer i of research to order. Although the research team participates in a research project with a partner, after completing the task it loses the opportunity to influence the project, part further innovation and such research activity does not bring potential benefits to the aca in the future. ****************************************************************************************** * Innovation Ecosystem of the CU ****************************************************************************************** Charles University recognizes the key importance of cooperation between the academic and c on R&D projects. For this reason, the R&D infrastructure of the Charles University is orga so-called Innovation Ecosystem, which is adapted to enable efficient process of Knowledge Transfer. The Innovation Ecosystem consists of four members: • Research teams, • Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (CPPT), • Technology Scouts, and • the private company Charles University Innovations Prague (CUIP). Research teams produce scientific results, some of which have the potential for transfer t The Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (CPPT) provides expert insights to scient and commercial entities and supports the entire commercialization process. The first conta the scientific teams at the faculties and the CPPT is often mediated by Technology Scouts. is to identify research projects at their faculty with the potential for commercialization training to Research teams in Knowledge and Technology Transfer and support during the pre documentation for Technology Transfer. Last but not least, Charles University Innovations which is owned by the CU, is also involved in the Innovation Ecosystem. Its role is to med commercial entities and facilitate the process of Knowledge and Technology Transfer. It is establishing spin-off companies.