Post on 16-Apr-2018
Bridge Science and Industry Notes on technology transfer from robotics research
Utku Çulha
CS 491/2 Senior Design Project – Bilkent University
18/04/2016
18.04.2016 Utku Çulha 2
B.Sc. 2009 – Computer Engineering
Bilkent University
M.Sc. 2012 – Computer Engineering
Bilkent University
Vis. Sch. 2011 – NanoLab
Carnegie Mellon University
Dr.Sc. 2016 – Mechanical Engineering
ETH Zurich
Res. Asst. 2015 – Information Engineering
University of Cambridge
Career Choice
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Graduation
Industry Academia
• Inner drive
• Scientific rigor
• Technical skills
• Recognize opportunities
• Customer value
• Risk taking
Need for value-creating ideas Need for outreach to world use
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Career Choice
Graduation
Industry Academia
• Inner drive
• Scientific rigor
• Technical skills
• Recognize opportunities
• Customer value
• Risk taking
Academic Entrepreneurship • Combine the skill sets
• Benefit from both worlds
Need for value-creating ideas Need for outreach to world use
Research Types
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Pure basic
research
(Niels Bohr)
Use-inspired
basic research
(Louis Pasteur)
Pure applied
research
(Thomas
Edison)
Consideration of use
Quest for
fundamental
understanding
NO
NO
Y
ES
YES
This is where we
place our research lab
Adopted from Donald Stokes, "Pasteur's Quadrant: Basic Science and Technology Innovation", 1997
A Research Lab Anatomy
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Science, students,
collaborating labs
Industry, institutes Spin-offs
New technologies
Patents
Products
Funding, publicity
Discoveries,
scientific progress
Academic
Entrepreneurship
How to Start a University Spin-off?
• Requires the mind-set of an academic entrepreneur
• Not straightforward
• Depends on university regulations
• You are not alone: Technology Transfer Offices
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Technology Transfer Offices
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Adopted from the ETH Innovation and Entrepreneurship Laboratory presentation, 2012
Bilkent University
Technology Transfer Office
A Multistage Holistic Model*
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*Pattnaik, P.N., & Pandey, S.C., University Spinoffs: What, Why, and How?, Technology Innovation Management Review, 4(12), 44-50, 2014.
Capabilities
Identify
Competency
Funding
Research
Results
Prototype
Disclosure
Patent
License
Create
Spin-off
Generate
Value
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Identification Prototyping Securing I.P. Outreach
The Road to Spin-off
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Capabilities
Identify
Competency
Funding
Stage 1
Define what research will be done and how
Contact Technology Transfer Office
Self or university, corporate or public funding
Identification
The Road to Spin-off
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Research
Results
Prototype
Stage 2
Conduct research based on capabilities
Test and confirm research
Generate the first reliable and working unit
Prototyping
The Road to Spin-off
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Disclosure
Patent
License
Stage 3
Protect the intellectual property
Is the invention patentable?
What can be licensed?
Securing I.P.
The Road to Spin-off
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Stage 4
The bridge has been established
Win-win scenario
Create
Spin-off
Generate
Value
Outreach
Examples from Own Research
• Prolog Ltd. – Learning Digital Stethoscopes GE402 Project to patent producing company
• NooNee Ltd. – Chairless chairs
ETH Spin-off that sells products to BMW and Audi
• In Proggress – Lettuce Picking Robot Hands
Farming 1 Million Lettuce in Cambridge
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eXist Ltd. to Prolog Ltd.
GE401-402 2009 Project: StethoMemoria
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http://ge402.bilkent.edu.tr/OLD/exist/
eXist Ltd. to Prolog Ltd.
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Prolog Ltd. was founded at Bilkent Cyberpark in 2010
Funded by:
• USIM (Üniversite Sanayi İşbirliği Merkezi) – Bilkent University
• Teknogirişim – TC Bilim, Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı
Science, students,
collaborating labs:
Hacettepe Univ. Hospital
OSTİM
Consultancy
IT Services
Organisations
Funding, publicity Patented Technology
R&D
Stethoscope
Locomotion Research in BIRL
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Cargo: Efficient (distance vs power) locomotion ETHop: Spring-dampers on hopping height
More in: http://divf.eng.cam.ac.uk/birl/
Chairless Chair
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Capabilities on locomotion efficiency Simpler, competent use value
NooNee Ltd.
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ETH Spin-off
Funded by Venture Capitals
Patents pending
Customers: BMW and AUDI
More in: http://www.noonee.com
Hand Research in BIRL
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Human like soft joints, tendons allow flexibility Soft sensors gather tactile and position information
More in: http://divf.eng.cam.ac.uk/birl/
Work in Progress
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Cambridge Spin-off
Funding search continues
Patents pending
Customers: Sainsbury’s
?
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Summary
Graduation
Industry Academia
• Inner drive
• Scientific rigor
• Technical skills
• Recognize opportunities
• Customer value
• Risk taking
Academic Entrepreneurship • Combine the skill sets
• Benefit from both worlds
Need for value-creating ideas Need for outreach to world use