Technology Transfer

The commercialisation of European research, and technology transfer specifically, is regarded as key for future economic development. EIF undertook a pre-operational study on behalf of Directorate General Research of the European Commission, concluding its nine-month research in May 2005.

The project's objective was to "assess the feasibility and define the operational modalities of a new type of targeted risk capital and technology transfer investment vehicle linking centres of excellence from different European countries. The aim is to bridge the financing gap between research and early stage financing through a new scheme." A further project aim was to provide the venture capital industry with improved deal flow stemming from research institutions.

EIF's study has diagnosed that there is a clear market failure in relation to the commercialisation of research in Europe in the area of technology transfer, with a significant and growing gap relative to the United States.

In response, EIF's Technology Transfer programme reviews measures which would better support the needs of research organisations and would allow capitalisation on European "home grown" resources by means of flexible support mechanisms.

EIF and EIB worked together with a number of experts in the field of technology transfer, venture capital and technology, including a law firm specialised in intellectual property. As a result, EIF participates in two consortia selected for Sixth Framework Programme  funding from the European Commission and they represent the first projects operating under TTA. During the next eighteen months, EIF's role in these consortia will be to design products which can finance the commercialisation of research and development in the biotechnology and ICT sectors. In parallel, EIF is actively selecting technology transfer investment opportunities on a pilot basis.

EIF has published a Final Report which contains detailed information about the Technology Transfer Accelerator project - this report is summarised in the  Executive Summary.