| Abstract: |
Protection of intellectual property has become an important topic in academic
research. Since the concepts of academic spin-off and valorisation of academic
research results gained influence in Europe, the academic culture and
dissemination of research results is subject to a metamorphosis. This study
aims to give a first insight in the ways and procedures used by Belgian
Technology Transfer Offices (TTO’s) to protect the results of hard and often
pioneering research work. The main topics addressed in this study concern the
way of organising the TTO service within the university, the adopted policies
and procedures, the method of prior art search and a indication of the cost
structure through subventions and cost participation by departments and third
parties. Analysis of the observed heterogeneity results in 4 archetypes during
the evolution of a TTO. In a further stage, this study tries to discover
similarities and differences between IP protection in Belgian universities and
in commercial enterprises in innovating sectors and foreign universities. The
analysis provides insight in the main differences between the academic and the
commercial world in the matter of patent filing procedures and policies and IP
protection. |