TIDIS

In 2006, a Commercialisation Unit was set up in KIPT with support from CNCP. This was later merged with the Institute’s Patents Research Laboratory and the new unit was given the name TIDIS.

The commercialization of scientific discoveries is an issue which is of growing concern to the research centres of the countries of the CIS. Our Russian colleagues had the good fortune that just recently, in July, the Russian Duma passed a law resolving to create small innovatory companies in higher education bodies and scientific departments. This further increased the interest in commercialisation among scientists.

Everything which TIDIS (the Department for Technology Transfer, Innovation Activities and Intellectual Property) does is targeted on building up KIPT’s investment assets. The main directions are increasing the Institute’s investment portfolio, expanding its range of products and services and increasing the returns that they bring, extending the dissemination of information about KIPT’s activities, and related staff training. Our main work involves market research, business planning, project management, attracting investment, internal and external communications, supporting advertising and information promotion, and organizing and managing educational events.

The starting point for a commercialisation initiative is an idea which develops in a scientist’s head. In the seminar for commercialisation units and CNCP coordinators from the institutes organized by CNCP in Moscow in July, a great deal of attention was paid to communications between scientists and commercialization units. This is a critical element, particularly when an institute is starting out on commercialization as scientists can be rather conservative and may unconsciously react by adopting a defensive posture. In the early days we met cautious responses, or even suspicion, towards activities which were new. Creating an atmosphere of trust and interest was vital if the Unit was to work effectively.

The support of senior management, which took an active part in the work of TIDIS, was a very important factor. To build links within KIPT, the Unit regularly made presentations to the scientific councils and held discussions with scientific teams. Promotional activities such as preparing a portfolio of KIPT technologies, a website for the unit and a database of inventions were also undertaken.

Clearly, collaboration with CNCP played an enormous role. First of all, grant funding was provided for the establishment of the unit, and seminars and training activities were constantly organised for the staff of the Institute. Second, CNCP’s comprehensible and transparent methods for providing grant assistance for projects helped us in presenting the opportunities to our scientific colleagues.

Organising external links is no simple matter. The problem was addressed by participating in exhibitions on manufacturing and technology, investment forums, meetings organised by government organizations involved in the development of innovation infrastructure, and in international events. Direct contacts with companies and presenting technologies directly to potential clients turned out to be one of the most effective methods.

At present the Unit depends upon the government funding which KIPT receives and on international support, but for its work to become sustainable, it is essential that other sources of funding are found. For this reason, one of the most important future developments will be the creation of a function within TIDIS responsible for finding direct customers for KIPT’s products, and concluding agreements with them.

Anna Dobryvchenko,
Marketing Specialist, KIPT Commercialisation Unit