Technology Transfer Officer: Engineering - Stellenbosch, South Africa - Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Verified Company
Stellenbosch, South Africa

6 days ago

Thabo Mthembu

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Thabo Mthembu

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Description
Duties/Pligte The key responsibilities of the incumbent will be to work closely with other members of the Innovus technology transfer team on the following key performance areas:

Networking and Marketing

  • Establishing and maintaining productive relationships with SU's academic and research community to stimulate awareness of intellectual property (IP) issues and commercial opportunities, and to encourage an innovative and entrepreneurial culture within SU;
  • Enabling and supporting the technology disclosure process at SU;
  • Setting up meetings and arranging events to market Innovus and SU technologies on and off campus;
  • Actively providing information to update social media and website information for Innovus with news, events information, funding opportunities, entrepreneurship opportunities, etc.;
  • Appropriately marketing SU's IP to identify and engage commercial exploitation partners / investors;
  • Reporting to the

Deputy Director:
Technology Transfer and working in close collaboration with the other technology transfer team members.


Evaluation and protection

  • Evaluating invention disclosures and carrying out the due diligence process for protection and identifying the feasibility of the technology/project for commercialisation;
  • Grasping technical concepts quickly, and translating these into commercially viable proposals;
  • Identifying appropriate routes of IP exploitation;
  • Conducting novelty searches and competitor analyses;
  • Analysing business opportunities;
  • In collaboration with external patent attorneys and the

Deputy Director:
Technology Transfer, providing input into patent prosecution and patentability as this may influence the commercialisation strategy;


Commercialisation - Identifying potential industry partners for specific technology commercialisation opportunities;

  • Constant and very proactive liaising with the industry in order to facilitate technology transactions;
  • Engaging in technology licensing and new venture formation processes, in particular structuring, negotiating and closing deals;
  • Working effectively with key stakeholders, assertively influencing them and, where appropriate, showing tenacity and persistence in business development situations;
  • Monitoring commercial relationships and related agreements.

Communication and other duties

  • Communicating regularly and effectively with other members of Innovus, including regular meetings with the Director: Technology Transfer, to ensure effective management of SU's IP;
  • Carrying out such other duties relevant to the incumbent's experience as requested by the

Deputy Director:
Technology Transfer;

  • Developing novel and exciting communication strategies to raise awareness on IP and technology commercialisation for SU stakeholders;
  • Communicating and collaborating with the Division for Research Development as required.

Working Environment

  • Analysing IP to identify the best mode of protection and developing a suitable IP commercialisation strategy;
  • Making recommendations for the protection of IP to the

Deputy Director:
Technology Transfer and to appropriate academic staff;

  • Identifying and engaging suitable commercial exploitation partners and investors;
  • Engaging in the structuring, negotiation and closing of licensing deals and new venture formation;
  • Liaising with colleagues in the technology transfer team and within Innovus and SU to contribute to the development of good practice in technology transfer.

Freedom to act and decision-making

  • Contributing to the delivery of range of outputs, including technology disclosures, protection of SU'S IP license and investment deals and new venture formations.
Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

  • A postgraduate scientific or technical degree in an engineering, physics, or chemistry field;
  • At least three years' relevant experience;
  • Proven success in having been involved in a transaction from start to finish;
  • Good knowledge of IP protection forms and legal protection thereof;
  • Practical knowledge of commercialisation and investment networks;
  • Good business acumen;
  • Good organisational skills;
  • Good communication and numeracy skills;
  • Good public speaker;
  • Good time management skills and the ability to multitask;
  • Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills;
  • Proactive selfstarter;
  • The ability to support others as part of a team;
  • Flexible and cooperative;
  • High energy level;
  • Willingness to travel locally and internationally, if required;
  • A valid driver's licence and own transport.
Recommendation/Aanbeveling

  • Proven experience in a technology transfer office at a university;
  • Project management experience;
  • Experience of working within a scientific environment;
  • Negotiation experience throughout a full value chain;
  • Good understanding of the Intellectual Property Rights of Publicly Funded Research and Development Act (51 of 2008) and its regulations, as well as SU's Intellectual Property Policy;
  • Good knowledge of tech
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