The key to success is based on having work schemes which continue transforming the culture and way of thinking of the organizations for the generation of value, on the understanding that knowledge is not only found within the companies, but also available and produced in different public and private agencies. We must think of seizing opportunities by identifying, transforming, adapting and applying technologies and knowledge that originate outside companies, so that we can reach the community with goods and services more rapidly. The public/private or private/private link is the quickest route and has the greatest potential to maximize knowledge transfer.

Establishing guidelines and procedures, as well as knowing the tools and instruments of intellectual property and information protection to secure a win-win outcome for all players is a challenge for all technologists and those of us who are dedicated to technology transfer.  Acting as “translators” between the worlds of science and industry is essential.

It is not a minor issue to work on these transfers with the contribution of both parties to fill the gap that exists today between the lab prototypes available to scientists and the industrial application from which the industry starts to work. This can be leveraged with funding available for these activities through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation.

Technology Transfer should be the way to break with the estrangement between the scientific and entrepreneurial worlds, to provide and improve the mechanisms and languages for communication between the parties, and to promote collaboration.

This practice facilitates the modernization of infrastructure in academic units and generates flow of financial resources, allowing companies to adopt technologies in less time, at a lower cost, with shared expenses and benefits for all the players involved. In turn, it makes it possible to train scientists in the field of applied sciences and contributes to the training of these resources for future transfers of highly qualified professionals to companies.

To ensure the success of the liaison and the subsequent transfer of knowledge and technologies, it is essential to have the required resources, and that the players recognize the value of knowledge as well as the value and risk involved in implementing a new technology or concept and going to market.

It is necessary that both parties have internally and externally mapped the leaders and potential “key partners” of the liaisons based on the strategy of the organization, and especially know the language and needs of the other party.