"What market risks exist when a technology transfer center pursues corporate-style operations under the umbrella of a university, and what are the pros and cons?"

 

　　This was a question posed by the chief examiners at the recent interview for the first batch of "professional technology brokers" at Tianjin University's Technology Transfer Center, where most of the candidates were fresh master's graduates with engineering backgrounds. "Besides professional knowledge, they also assessed our accumulated knowledge in fields such as finance, business and law, as well as our communication skills," one candidate said somewhat dejectedly after leaving the interview room.

 

　　Candidates who pass this interview will enter Tianjin University's Technology Transfer Center and, after training, become "professional technology brokers" who understand both technology and market operations. Building a full-scale team of "professional technology brokers" to connect the market with the university is the first such initiative among Chinese universities.

 

　　Tianjin University's Technology Transfer Center, which integrates five functions—technology integration, technological innovation, information consulting, financial services and international technology transfer—was officially established in 2013. Vice President Yuan Yingjin said that the patent technology conversion rate of universities nationwide is generally quite low. Tianjin University currently holds more than 2,100 patents, but most are "left on the shelf." "How to make these patented achievements deliver economic and social benefits is an issue that both universities and society urgently need to explore," he said. "From the perspective of professional division of labor, university teachers should devote themselves to research and teaching, while the transformation and promotion of technological achievements should be undertaken by professionals." Taking this recruitment as a new starting point, the university hopes that through the efforts of "professional technology brokers," its patent technology conversion rate will reach the current world advanced-country average of 60% to 70%.

 

　　Tianjin University's Technology Transfer Center has openly recruited 20 "professional technology brokers" from among fresh master's graduates at universities nationwide, coming from 10 disciplines including chemical engineering, materials, environment, communications and automation—key fields in which Tianjin University is focusing its efforts to promote the transformation of technological achievements. Once officially on duty, these "professional technology brokers" will be fully responsible for the organization, planning and market business work of technology transfer projects in a given field, including the full-process management of technology transfer activities such as planning, organization and implementation; providing and transmitting supply-and-demand information on technology transfer for enterprises and the university; correctly evaluating and validating technology transfer projects; and organizing and participating in the industrialization and commercialization development of technological achievements.

 

　　Yang Minghai, deputy director of Tianjin University's Office of Scientific Research, said that "professional technology broker" is still a new profession in China, requiring both technical and market expertise and very high overall qualities. "After joining, corporate-style management and market-oriented operations will be implemented, with emphasis on performance assessment in salary and benefits, and commissions may be earned on the returns from realizing the transformation of technological achievements."

 

　　Wang Qin, a "returnee" master's graduate from the University of Bristol in the UK, took part in this interview. He said that the "novel" profession of "professional technology broker" is very meaningful; although it is very challenging, he believes in his own ability to be competent for the position.