National University of Ireland, Galway
Review Programme 2009/2010
Action Plan
Technology Transfer Office
Follow-up meeting held on Monday 24th May, 2010 at 10:30am, A113.
Present
From Unit: Prof. Terry Smith (Convenor), Dr. Neil Ferguson, Dr. Jacinta Thornton, Ms. Patricia Walsh, Ms. Ann
Byrne, Ms. Maebh Coleman, Ms. Niamh Corcoran, Dr. Ruairi Friel, Ms. Fiona Neary, Dr. Patrick Kelly, Mr.
John McGuire.
From Review Group: Ms. Monica Crump (Rapporteur), Dr. James Cunningham (Cognate).
From NUI Galway: Dr. David O’Sullivan (Chair), Prof. Jim Ward (Registrar), Dr. Kieran Loftus (Executive
Director of Operations), Prof. Chris Curtin (VP Innovation & Performance), Dr. Gary Lupton, Ms. Orla Baxtor
(Research Office), Ms. Geraldine Lyons (Quality Office).
The following Actions have been agreed following extraction of recommendations from the Review Report
and discussion between all major stakeholders to the unit under review. Words in italics are a synopsis of
reviewer’s recommendation.
Actions
1.
Clarify statement of core purpose. Strategic review of all research support services underway.
2.
Clarify aims and objectives. Strategic review of all research support services underway.
3.
Consider relevance of all activities to core purpose. Strategic review of all research support services
underway.
4.
Evaluation staff duties and alignment with licensing activities and on industrial customers. Alignment
possible following Strategic review.
5.
Consider staffing to carry out contracts management. Unit currently recruiting an Intellectual Property
and Contracts Manager (primarily IPR). Strategic review to assess roles and responsibilities of dedicated
‘research contracts’ manager. Unit to also explore initiatives with University of Limerick.
6.
Accelerate integration of Research Office, TTO and Research Accounts. Strategic review of TTO and
Research Office underway. Strategy for collocation of research support services underway.
7.
Enhance decision making and stage-gating for filing and abandoning patents. New process currently
being designed.
8.
Clarify management structure and communicate to staff. New management structure in place and
communicated to staff. Strategic review will provide further opportunities.
9.
Develop more systematic University-wide approach to engagement with industry. Strategic review will
provide clarity of roles. Unit to develop best practice and standard process for engagement.
10. Formalise processes and procedures. Formal processes are currently being developed [Due: end of
2010].
11. Develop a Strategic Plan aligned with University Strategy. Strategic review of all research support
services underway and will provide integrated strategy. Unit to provide short term public statement(s)
about role and services of TTO.
12. Review current metrics in terms of their relevance and focus more on softer metrics. Unit developing and
monitoring softer metrics.
13. Formal review meetings should be held where more strategic issues are discussed and planned. To be
addressed following appointment of new unit director.
14. Agree and document service delivery timetables and publish to customers. Policy statement to be
developed and communicated to major stakeholders. Further enhancement following strategic review.
15. Develop a coherent internal and external communications plan. Agreed and due for development
following Strategic Review.
16. Consider surveying main stakeholders. Industry being surveyed by Enterprise Ireland. Internal surveys
also being conducted.
17. Benchmark against similar technology transfer offices. European and U.S.A. benchmarking agreed [Due:
end of 2010].
18. Consider developing licensing and marketing skills. All staff encouraged to up-skill and attend relevant
courses.
19. Staff should attend professional development events. Agreed.
Approved by:
Registrar, Prof. Jim Ward
Vice President of Research, Prof. Terry Smith
Director of Quality, Dr. David O’Sullivan
Finalised: 10/06/2010