SARIMA, in cooperation with the UK Intellectual Property Office, have launched a project to build capacity in the commercialisation of intellectual property at South African Technology Transfer Offices, using real projects as examples. The project also aims to assist universities and science councils in prioritising which intellectual property to develop commercialisation strategies for, and how to develop those strategies.

Eleven universities and science councils responded to the Call for Projects sent out late last year, and we have organised four workshops to discuss those projects in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Durban and Pretoria. The workshops will be facilitated by two technology transfer experts from the UK who will have already assessed the projects and will use them to illustrate different commercialisation approaches.

All members of the technology transfer community are invited to attend a workshop in their area, regardless of whether they submitted a project or not, as the main purpose of the workshops is to build capacity in IP commercialisation more broadly. While the project owners will develop a strategy for their technology through the workshops, all participants will learn how technology transfer experts and your local technology transfer colleagues approach commercialisation of projects in different fields.

Confidentiality
While we have requested people to submit projects that have been protected, you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement in your personal capacity on arrival as the discussions may provide confidential information about the projects and technology. If you are not prepared to do this you will not be able to attend the workshop.

How to Register
Register online at

http://www.nmmu.ac.za/websurvey/q.asp?sid=264&k=assmigoary

on or before
26 January 2011
Please note that only one workshop should be chosen unless you have discussed attendance at more than one with the organizers (jaci.barnett@nmmu.ac.za).

There is NO CHARGE for the workshops but please NOTE that if you do not cancel more than 48 hours in advance, and then do not arrive or send a replacement person, you will be charged a fee of R500. The workshops have limited space and by booking and not arriving you are depriving someone else of a place, as well as making SARIMA and UKIPO incur catering and other costs that will be wasted.

Workshops

All TTO participants should stay for the entire duration of a workshop as the primary aim of the workshop is to build capacity in commercialisation strategies, thus participation in the discussions on projects from other institutions is key.

The workshops are from 8:30 to 4:30 pm at the following venues:

• Monday 7 February 2011: University of Cape Town
• Tuesday 8 February 2011: University of Stellenbosch
• Thursday 10 February 2011: University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Friday 11 February 2011: University of Pretoria