Optics and Photonics Tech Transfer Programs Merge Industry and Research

AUTUM C. PYLANT, NEWS EDITOR, autum.pylant@photonics.com

Technology Transfer Programs are often a concerted effort to share skills, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing, and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions. These programs ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users who can then further develop and market the technology into new products, processes, applications, materials, or services.

Many companies and universities have Tech Transfer Programs and partnerships dedicated to identifying research that has potential commercial interest. This has become especially prominent in the photonics industry, and fortunately optics and photonics trade shows like CLEO, held every year in San Jose, Calif., are featuring more and more special sessions and programs focused on Technology Transfer.

This year's Technology Transfer Program gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about the licensing process to include funding, entrepreneurship, technology transfer and intellectual property. And, they got to hear it from companies, organizations, and universities that are actually successfully using it.