European Tech-Transfer Association Joins R&D News Network

07 May 2007 | Network Updates

Press release from ProTon Europe and Science|Business

ProTon Europe, the European association of knowledge transfer offices from public research organisations and their national partner associations across Europe, has agreed to join the Science|Business Network of prominent European professional and research institutions, in an effort to bridge the gap between the academic and business communities in Europe.

A “disconnect” between inventors and investors is often cited as among the fundamental problems of the European marketplace – the so-called European Paradox, in which great ideas originate in Europe but are exploited abroad. ProTon Europe and Science|Business are two organisations dedicated to resolving that paradox – ProTon Europe through its membership of knowledge-transfer offices throughout Europe, and Science|Business through its network of investing, business and universities across Europe. 

With this agreement to collaborate, ProTon Europe and Science|Business are taking some concrete measures to help European universities and other public research organisations find new investors and corporate partners. They will publicise information about the technology transfer activities of ProTon Europe members, in order to raise the profile of European public research organisations in the international technology marketplace. They will also collaborate in networking and other activities to build the community of professionals in Europe who specialise in knowledge transfer.

ProTon Europe is systematically increasing possibilities for its Members to interact with all the relevant parts of the society. Cooperation with Science|Business can provide new possibilities to serve the Members and to have a positive effect of the European
competitiveness.

Gillian McFadzean, Chair of ProTon Europe comments: “We are very pleased with this new opportunity to bridge the gap by creating a new route for knowledge flow to both policy makers and industry on the importance and benefits of knowledge transfer from our universities.  The importance and value of knowledge transfer in Europe to development of a sustainable economy  cannot be underestimated. The partnership with Science Business serves to reinforce that awareness”

ProTon Europe joins four other professional organisations, and nine leading European universities, in the Science|Business Network to promote enterprise in science. They are the European Business Angels Network; EuropaBio, the umbrella organisation for the European biotechnology industry; the London Technology and London Biotechnology Networks; the University of Cambridge, ETH-Zurich, Karolinska Institutet, Imperial College London, University College London, TU Delft, Chalmers University of Technology, ParisTech and the Politecnico di Milano.


Notes

Science|Business is an innovative online news service that connects buyers and sellers of emerging technologies, across borders and across industries. Through its daily news coverage, its network of leading institutions, and its Science|Business Roundtable events, it aims to bring together leading players in the European marketplace for scientific and technological discoveries. It was co-founded by Richard L. Hudson, former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Europe, and Peter Wrobel, former managing editor of Nature, the leading scientific journal. It publishes on www.sciencebusiness.net.

Proton Europe is the pan-European Association of Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) affiliated to public research organizations. The Association is a not-for-profit legal entity. Its purpose is to promote innovation in Europe by more effective knowledge transfer from universities and other research organisations funded primarily from public sources (Public Research Organisations or PRO) in order to contribute to the recognition and support of public research, economic development and public welfare in general.

Membership is by institution. End of July 2006, ProTon Europe had more than 230 direct members employing about 2000 knowledge transfer professionals. In addition, ProTon Europe has partnership agreements with the national associations of transfer offices in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and United Kingdom. On a consolidated basis, ProTon Europe and its partner national associations cover more than 500 transfer offices in Europe. www.protoneurope.org

Contacts:

For Science|Business: CEO & Editor Richard L. Hudson, [email protected], +32-496-520305.

For ProTon Europe: Secretary-General Timo Lahteenmaki, [email protected] +32-2211-3432.

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