Two UK tech transfer bodies agree to merge

The two say the merger will create a clearly identified organisation serving the technology and knowledge community. The merged organisation will also benefit from improved operating efficiencies and a more streamlined organisation.

A volunteer board of Trustees will govern the new body, overseeing three committees concerned with member services, training and conferences.

The two bodies have been working together since 2003, when they were joint recipients of a £1 million government grant to promote knowledge transfer.

The chair of Unico, David Secher, said, “This significant step will simplify the complex knowledge transfer landscape in the UK, improve the offering to members and enable us to strengthen international links with other similar organisations around the world. Universities and public sector research establishments throughout the UK have shown tremendous support for this proposal.”

Praxis Chair Dr Alison Campbell said the merged organisation will be in a stronger position to represent the views of its members.” I look forward to working closely with Praxis and Unico colleagues to bring a diverse offering that better meets the networking and training needs of the profession, to knowledge transfer professionals in the UK and abroad.”

A working group formed of the Unico and Praxis committees will now oversee the implementation of the legal, financial, operational and communications plans.

Unico was founded in 1994 to represent technology transfer staff in UK universities and is now the country’s leading representative body of professionals who commercialise UK university and public sector research.

Praxis came to fame in August 2004 as the first spin-out company of the Cambridge-MIT Institute. It was established in 2002 by staff at Cambridge University engaged in technology transfer, and was co-founded by Secher and Lita Nelsen, head of the Technology Licensing Office at MIT.