Celebrate the Contributions of Tech Transfer Professionals
Technology Transfer Professionals Day is December 12, 2025, on the anniversary of the Bayh-Dole Act, which was put in effect on that date in 1980. This is an opportunity to recognize your TTO staff and advocate on behalf of the tech transfer profession, both inside and outside of your institution. Take the day – or even the whole week! – to inform researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders about who you are, what you do and how you transform ideas into opportunities.
Goals
- Raise awareness of the contributions of tech transfer professionals
- Engage and educate stakeholders from the univeristy, government, industry and public
- Encourage inventors to engage tech transfer offices to commercialize their innovations
What You Can Do to Recognize Your Team
- Show your appreciation with a handwritten note from leadership or bring in food, coffee or other treats.
- Give them a shoutout on social media or your department website.
- Sponsor their attendance at tech transfer events or training.
- Give out fun, lighthearted office awards “The Early Bird Award” “The Patent Pro” “The Coffee Connoisseur” “ The Faculty Whisperer” etc.
What You Can Do to Raise Awareness
- Host an office open house
- Advertise upcoming workshops and/or exhibitions illustrating the benefits of tech transfer
- Share success stories: startups and related jobs, sales and patient impacts
- Launch a social media campaign
- Post on X, Instagram or Meta
- Download the graphic below
- Hashtag ideas: #IAmTechTransfer #Bayh-Dole #autm, #ThisIsTechTransfer
- Be sure to include #AUTM so we can like and repost
- Start a discussion on LinkedIn
- Produce interviews, videos or podcasts featuring successful inventors
- Engage your institution’s media office to promote tech transfer and the work of your institution
- Release stories, studies, statistical data or surveys about tech transfer's impact
Sample Social Media Posts to Share the Love (less than 280 characters)
- Celebrate #AUTM Technology Transfer Professionals Day, Dec. 12
- #TechTransfer professionals help bring innovations to life to benefit society #AUTM
- We celebrate the #BayhDole Act by recognizing the #techtransfer professionals who bring ideas and #innovation to life. Why not show your appreciation and say hi at your local #TTO!
- On Dec. 12 in 1980, it was decided that the people most passionate about their #inventions should retain ownership over those inventions – not the federal government. Happy birthday #BayhDole! #techtransfer #AUTM
- As a #techtransfer professional, I help to ensure that the #research funded by the people, benefits the people. Happy birthday #BayhDole! #IamTechTransfer #AUTM
- The #BayhDole Act empowered innovators to take charge of their discoveries. Today, we honor #techtransfer professionals who ensure those ideas benefit society. #AUTM #IamTechTransfer
Download Art
Download the Happy Tech Transfer Day art and share with your friends and colleagues.
More Media Samples to Make Your Own (more than 280 characters)
- Celebrate Technology Transfer Professionals Day — You are encouraged to celebrate the AUTM Technology Transfer Professionals Day on December 12. This date celebrates the work of tech transfer professionals and the anniversary of Bayh-Dole Act (1980) which dramatically expanded the profession and promoted the process by which basic research is transferred to companies for development and commercialization into products that benefit society. Reach out and get to know your tech transfer professionals and learn more about disclosing inventions, the licensing process, and ways to partner. Contact (someone in your office at ####) for more information.
Additional Resources