AUTM Courses Strengthen Relationships and Share Knowledge in Hong Kong

Two of AUTM’s most popular courses—Technology Valuation and Marketing—made a transoceanic journey last month as part of a three day training event hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in partnership with six universities and the regional government. Beyond learning new tech transfer skills and strategies, the event also helped participants forge the types of personal connections that support and sustain the global AUTM community.

“Mentoring activities to support tech transfer offices (TTOs) and tech transfer professionals on both a national and international basis is something that more AUTM members should consider doing. It’s such a rewarding way to build your both your experiences as well as your personal network,” said Steven Ferguson, Special Advisor and Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship, in the Office of Technology Transfer at the National Institutes of Health. “It is indeed a big world out there, and we need to be internationally focused in all of our TTO activities.”   

The course was hosted by PolyU’s Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office with the support of the Intellectual Property Department of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR (special administrative region [of China]). Co-organizers also included the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University, University of Macau and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

The agenda included two days of training sessions led by American instructors. Ferguson shared tools and tips for technology valuation, and Paul Tumarkin, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Tech Launch Arizona (the technology commercialization arm of the University of Arizona) discussed strategic marketing plans to promote technologies to prospective partners.

“Witnessing such a dynamic and impactful exchange of ideas and perspectives was nothing short of inspiring,” Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship at PolyU, wrote in an email to the two instructors following the course. “More than just advancing our professional skills, your presence helped forge a stronger bond between our communities. This deeper connection is something we cherish and look forward to nurturing further.”
 
At the Hong Kong event, Ferguson and Tumarkin tailored their presentations to account for unique aspects of the host region’s innovation ecosystem—so the trainings looked a bit different from what AUTM Members might remember from an Annual Meeting Add-On Course.

“As we planned for Hong Kong, the biggest difference that came up was that, in their ecosystem, most licensing relationships grow out of direct connections and referrals that take place among inventors and ecosystem members,” Tumarkin said. “Since a full section of the existing course centers on email marketing and direct outreach to industry, we took that piece out and focused more on networking and leveraging those connections to build relationships.”

Other speakers, who joined Ferguson and Kelvin Wong in a fireside chat on the first day of the event, included Alwin Wong, Chair of The Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals, Shin Cheul Kim, PhD, Associate Vice President for Research and Development (Knowledge Transfer) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and David Ai, Head of Innovation at The London School of Economics and Political Science.

“The highlights for me were really all the wonderful interactions with the students and the Hong Kong planning team. Everyone welcomed Steven and me and made us feel right at home,” Tumarkin said. “I also loved how engaged the students were, and they really challenged us on some of the ideas we brought to the table. Through the discussion, we all pushed each other to think differently, and I think both instructors and students came away with new insights.”