Technology Transfer is one of the pivotal themes of Community Life Sciences' activity, since its inception in 2015. Work in this field has led to the analysis of benchmark cases and international best practices, as well as the definition of guidelines to encourage Technology Transfer in Italy, many of which have come to fruition, such as the Fund for Technology Transfer, established with the Decreto Rilancio in May 2020.
Although there are encouraging signs of recognition of the centrality of Technology Transfer processes for the enhancement of national research and the development of innovative entrepreneurship, there is still much to do on this road. In Italy, in fact, structural and organizational criticalities persist, hindering the transformation of research results into value, with consequent losses in terms of capital attraction, creation of qualified employment and support to the performance of companies which, thanks to Technology Transfer, can benefit from the results of scientific research produced externally and susceptible to industrial application.
At the basis of these processes there must be the development of specialized skills for Technology Transfer, ensuring the presence of professionals capable of activating a common dialogue between the world of research and business, understanding the needs and limitations of the parties involved and leading to the maximization of benefits for both.
The third Digital Meeting of the Community Life Sciences 2020 will focus on this issue, involving speakers in the reflection on what are the strategic skills to promote Technology Transfer in Life Sciences and what actions can be implemented in Italy to address the problem of lack of specialized skills.