Knowledge Transfer
Knowledge Transfer
Knowledge transfer is one of the basic axes of CCIII. This activity, coordinated from the University’s Scientific Park, is deployed around three pillars: (i) support for entrepreneurs, (ii) efforts to protect research results, and (iii) the fomenting of new joint research centers and installations. The technological innovation programs, including the joint centers of R+D+i of Integration of Aerospace Systems with the EADS companies and the center of Technologies for Disability and Dependency, have experienced a marked increase in the number and importance of research projects. In addition, a joint center with the CSIC (National Research Council) in Cambio Global is in its final phase.
The Technological Innovation Programs strengthen the strategic lines of R+D+i to generate results that can be transferred to society and the productive network. Among CCIII’s priorities is the launching of two Innovation Programs: Biomedical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. The selection and development of these two lines, carried out by committees of senior international experts, confirm its tremendous potential for growth and innovation. To this effect, they already have several contracts with private and public companies to carry out innovation projects that will be the seed for international technology transfer. Specifically, the area of Aerospace Engineering has been reinforced through the EADS-UC3M joint center in Aerospace Systems, the only one of its kind internationally and which is located in the Scientific and Technological Park.
This line of approach has been reinforced recently with the implantation of the Degree in Aerospace Engineering and the Master in Integration of Aerospace Systems, for which there is great demand among professionals in the sector. This center is oriented towards development of systems, equipment and procedures in the aerospace field, and, given EADS global character, in a position to compete internationally. Several of the results obtained have already been patented jointly, creating an important impact on certain international standards. This activity will be completed with the following actions: (i) creation of test facility for unmanned aircraft; (ii) strengthening the laboratory of aeronautical structures and of mechanical characterization of composite materials.
The objective of the Office for the Protection of Industrial and Intellectual Property (IPR) is to identify research results that are subject to protection, later to national, European or global registration and finally, to commercialization. CCIII works to strengthen the IPR Office through three actions: a) improving IPR management through the introduction of new IT tools, b) creation of a Patents Fund to cover expenses related to protection and licensing, and c) fine-tuning the assessment and commercialization mechanisms of the patent portfolio. CCIII’s portfolio of patents has been taking shape, currently made of up of 74 protected and / or registered technologies, of which 17 are in the process of internationalization
The recent progress of CCIII’s technological indicators (no. of patents / software registered) describes growing activity as can be seen below:
Campus Carlos III proposes developing a model to make use of university knowledge and technology based on creating Technology Based Companies (TBCs) with the initial participation of the University. For this purpose, after reviewing national and international experiences, and having carried out the pertinent legal analyses, work is being done to create an instrumental company (in the form of a business corporation) that will permit participation, to a greater or lesser extent, in the TBCs that are created. This action will be mutually beneficial, since the success of the companies created will be reflected in the success of transference from the university and vice versa, creating tandem effort and involvement.
The cumulative results show evidence of growing activity, which has provided in-depth knowledge of different types of business projects and adapted a program that was initially designed to redirect university projects towards a more ambitious one supporting technology-based companies. This increases the application potential for CCIII’s technology, and also enlarges the basket of services and opportunities offered to these projects.
At the end of 2010, data that had been observed and studied showed that of the 38 business projects that had been considered by CCIII’s Incubator, 26 had formed companies, only a third of which had been promoted by researchers from the University. The situation of the different business projects can be observed in the following graph:
In this period, 35% of the companies that were created and/or projects in the pre-incubation phase withdrew from or ceased their activity, on par with 30% of the companies that successfully graduated, that is, they survived the on-average three-year incubation period and progressed to create their own infrastructure.
Focus on the technological area or sector that these companies represent makes it clear that their specializations coincide with the technological strengths of Campus Carlos III. Now, although future effort will be channeled towards maintaining these aggregations, at the same time there will be a drive to create and grow new business projects based on the scientific capacities that are unrepresented thus far, such as: communications, transportation, tourism, mathematical analysis, statistics and forecasts, etc.
The development of jobs produced by these companies over this period is equally important, as can be seen in the following graph:
