The American expert, Richard Kosman, worked on the elaboration of the strategic plan for the future Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTO) of University Austral of Chile during his second visit to the university in Valdivia, between 12th and 16th November 2012.
It is worth noting that this visit –the second this year; the first being in August– is part of the project «Strengthening of the Technology Transfer and Licensing Office at University Austral of Chile», an institutional initiative of the university co-financed by INNOVA Chile of CORFO and University Austral of Chile.
The initiative is being jointly coordinated by the Vice-Rectory for Economic and Administrative Management through its Business Incubator Austral Incuba, and the Direction of Research and Development (DID) through its Office of Research Initiatives Management (Gi2).
Kosman, a member of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), was identified by AUTM to provide consulting services on benchmarking and strategic and operational plans as part of a joint initiative between AUTM and INNOVA Chile of CORFO.
Strategic Plan
As stated by Richard Kosman, “the purpose of my second visit to University Austral of Chile was to initiate the strategic planning phase of the project by meeting with and getting feedback from all of the major stakeholders (i.e., the internal TTO-related groups, the senior administration, the faculty, and the community).”
He also added, “My assessment of the second visit was similar to my assessment of the first visit: It was a wonderful week of collaboration and information exchange, and I continue to approach the work ahead with energy, optimism, and a sense of opportunity.”
In turn, Alex Moscoso, Director of the project to create the Technology Transfer and Licensing Office and Head of the Office of Research Initiatives Management (Gi2) belonging to the Direction of R&D, expressed a very positive evaluation of the second visit of Kosman and said, “it was very rewarding in terms of the products expected and effectively obtained on this occasion.” Furthermore, he pointed out that workshops and meetings were held with members of the coordinating team of the project and also with Carlos Montt, President of the Board, Dr. Óscar Galindo, Academic Vice-Rector, Dr. Ernesto Zumelzu, Director of Research and Development, Deans of various faculties, Prof. Carlos Carnevali, General Counsel, members of the Office of Innovation Management (Space i3) headed by Mauricio Zapata and belonging to the Direction of R&D, scientists and representatives of university research-related enterprises, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure an early and effective engagement around the main issues to move forward in the strategic planning steps.
In addition, Moscoso indicated that the project is at an intermediate stage of progress, in the process of defining the Strategic Plan to determine the best possible structure of the future TTO. Finally, he added that, “in March 2013 the operational plan must be available to integrate the TTO’s Executive Manager or Director.”