Generating, protecting and sharing knowledge are the most important social functions of a university. All actions aiming at disseminating knowledge are considered as knowledge transfer. These include scientific publications, conference presentations, research collaborations and traditional technology transfer activities, i.e. utilization via license or spin-off establishment. In a narrow sense technology transfer means putting a technology to the market, where the recipient of the technology becomes able to develop and market new products and services. Effective intellectual property management at the university is a substantial condition of performing technology transfer activities.
The technology transfer office of the University of Debrecen is the Center for Technology Transfer and Research Commercialization (TTO). The primary role of the Center is to support the university researchers in commercializing their research results. It is advised to the researchers to keep contact with the TTO during the research projects in order to get relevant information about business potentials behind their research results. TTO staff can provide support in the matters of IP protection, commercialization, collaboration with industrial partners, establishment of spin-off companies, university IP regulations and other innovation-related questions. The TTO provides wide-range innovation services for the researchers, students and partners of the university. Basic activities of the TTO:
Dissemination of research capabilities of the university
Build partnership with research partners and enterprises
IP management - Licensing, spin-off and start-up support
Preparation of legal agreements, taking part in business negotiations
Training the students and faculty towards an innovation-based approach in research
Support the development of the local economy
The TTO provides business services via virtual incubation to the spin-off companies of the university