Practical Advice for Tech Transfer Websites

Karen Hiser, author of the new white paper How to Build an Effective Technology Transfer Web Site.

One of the first posts we had on our blog talked about best practices for a technology commercialization website. I am proud to announce the release of a new paper on how to build an effective website for your technology transfer office (TTO), written by our own Karen Hiser. For TTOs that are looking to improve their website—or launch it for the first time—Karen’s paper provides practical “how to” advice.

For example, Fuentek has found that TTO websites often need to be launched in phases, with the most important elements posted right away and the nice-to-have elements going live later. Here’s how we break it down:

Phase 1: High-priority items

• Description of the TTO and contact information – Visitors need to know who you are and how to reach you.
  
• Instructional material, such as how to partner/license, sample terms, agreement templates, and checklists – This will save your staff significant amounts of time, as I will be discussing in an upcoming post.
  
• Intellectual property available for licensing – Check out our paper about how to write an effective technology marketing description.
  
• Success stories and awards – These help solidify your reputation as a source for technology solutions.
  

Phase 2: Lower priority items

• News items
• Publications such as newsletters, blogs, annual reports, brochures, etc.
• Facilities, services, resources available for rent or hire
• Frequently asked questions
• Events hosted and attended by the TTO
• Special programs, contests or initiatives
• Technology needs (i.e., infusion, spin-in, technology sourcing, co-development or collaborative R&D opportunities)
  

Keep the site current and dynamic by adding technologies, success stories, and other items as they become available.

This is just a single example of the detailed guidance the TTO website paper provides. So I encourage you to read the paper and check out some of the TTO sites we think are best:

• NASA’s Glenn Research Center – Okay, this is one we did! If you want to know more about this site, take a tour of the office’s website.
  
  
  
  
• Carnegie Mellon University – CMU does a nice job of laying out what they do and what they have available for license.
• University of Texas at Dallas – This recently updated site features user-friendly and intuitive navigation and design.
  

What are your favorite TTO websites?

–By Laura A. Schoppe