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A Study tour to the UK "The Commercialisation of Science and Technology and the Creation of Successful Businesses", February 2008
A study Tour on Commercialisation of Science and Technology was held from 10th – 17th February 2008. The main goal of the Study Tour was to give top managers from nuclear research institutes and specialists involved in the commercialisation of scientific and R&D an opportunity to explore British experience in developing effective commercialisation and in setting-up successful companies. The delegation included representatives of nuclear institutes from Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Belarus. The delegates witnessed examples of how large research institutes and universities established programmes to support commercial applications of their R&D. They learned how they deal with intellectual property rights, and how the profit from commercialisation is distributed between different participants. Successful ways for commercialising scientific ideas, setting up new high-tech businesses, creating new jobs and strengthening the local economy were demonstrated. Meetings with companies commercialising R&D were organized, to give the delegates a chance to understand key success factors. The important role that consulting services and venture funding play in supporting the commercialisation process and reducing risks was stressed. The delegates saw how the organizations they visited had started the commercialisation process, determined their goals, and what challenges they faced, what their new objectives were, and what lessons they had learned. The tour gave participants a chance to meet top managers of organisations, which used to have similar, and understand how they successfully managed the transfer to commercial operation. The representatives learned about models and systems they could adapt in their own business practice. The agenda of the Study Tour included trips to companies such as:
As an example of the creation of a high-tech company Oxford Catalysts was presented. The main conclusions drawn by the trip participants included the following. Scientists should play a leading role in the commercialisation of scientifi c R&D, with an infrastructure established around them (including project managers, patenting specialists, businessmen, investors and partners). It is rare when a scientist alone can create a successful business. It is best when everyone does what they are good at, i.e. the scientist works on science and possibly serves as a consultant to a company introducing his technology into practice, getting royalty payments for his R&D, or a share in a company for his idea. The project manager brings together a scientist, an investor and a good manager (executive director). Specially created commercialisation centres should work with scientists. These centres should also interact with investors, venture funds and, business angels. It is preferable to locate such centres in special business parks, to give opportunities to interact with other scientists, and entrepreneurs. This creates a special environment that helps implement ideas by applying and sharing experience and resources, rather than by simply providing subsidies or benefits. During the Study Tour the delegates established contacts with the TWI welding institute, ISIS, Qi3, Harwell Consulting Ltd., and other bodies, which may perhaps become partners in setting up commercialisation projects at the international level in future.
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