Stuart Wilkinson, chief executive officer of Knowledge Exchange UK (the professional body for tech transfer practitioners in Britain), has personally experienced the myriad ways university research commercialisation can impact people’s lives. It’s given him a holistic view of the sector far beyond what his previous two decades focused on the University of Oxford might have you think.
But while spinouts are the easiest story to tell, they’re just a small piece of the commercialisation puzzle. The majority of university IP gets out into the world through licensing agreements and R&D collaborations with existing businesses, or through consulting. That means the economy needs to be thriving: businesses need both the cash and the workforce to forge these partnerships.
Having rebranded from PraxisAuril earlier this year, Knowledge Exchange UK is ready to play an increasingly big role in shaping how research commercialisation is done. One example is its plan to help its members better collaborate on a regional level to share resources and solve problems in ways that account for and benefit their locality.
The organisation is also looking to drive forward the professionalisation of the sector. Here, Stuart ponders a proposal from his former Oxford colleague Tom Hockaday, who recently called for a Master’s degree in technology transfer… and why that means tech transfer is not unlike the evolution of the paramedics profession.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.