Technology Transfer Officer at Stellenbosch University

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 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 the social media and website information of 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;
• Timely application and identification of appropriate agreements to facilitate protection and exploitation of IP.

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 a range of outputs, including technology disclosures, protection of SU's IP, licence and investment deals and new venture formation.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes        

• A postgraduate scientific or technical degree in a life sciences field;          
• At least three years¿ relevant experience;          
• Proven success in having been involved in a transaction from start to finish;        
• Good knowledge of intellectual property protection forms and legal protection thereof;        
• Practical knowledge of commercialisation and investment networks;          
• Good business acumen;          
• Good organisational skills;          
• Good IT skills, including word processing, spreadsheets (Excel), and email;         
• Good communication and numeracy skills;        
• Good public speaker;          
• Good time management skills and the ability to multitask;          
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills;        
• Proactive self-starter;          
• 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.