Commercialisation Executive

Main Purpose of Job

The University of Galway is an ambitious, globally facing university with a vibrant, attractive research and innovation ecosystem, with an emphasis on engagement and a focus on impact.

The mission of University of Galway Innovation Office is to support our staff and students to develop their innovations and to collaborate with industry and the community to transfer knowledge and technologies.

With the support of the Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative, the Innovation Office has created a high-performing and sustainable environment for knowledge transfer. The office has a strong track record in achieving its targets and delivering on the University’s strategy for innovation. In line with Regional Needs and National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation (2022–2027) (NSSSI) and with the support of Enterprise Ireland funded KT Boost, our goal is to scale and grow in several key priority areas over the coming years so that the University can excel as a key innovation and economic driver in our region.

Specially, the objective of this role is to develop a knowledge transfer programme which engages the Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (SSAH), Business & Law research community and links them with the creative and other industries externally to realise potential impact of the University’s capabilities in this domain. The main tasks will be to identify and manage tangible and useful outputs of SSAH and associated research. The role will also support the Health space and aims to deliver tangible and useful outputs from this important research domain for the University of Galway.

The main functions of the job include:

• Management and knowledge transfer (including commercialisation) of the University’s IP through the identification and protection thereof

• Provision of advice and assistance in the creation of start-up businesses

• Licensing of technology to industry and negotiation of terms related to industry collaboration with the University

• Identifying market opportunities and needs

• Influencing academics at the University to undertake research in commercially relevant fields

• Fostering and supporting collaboration between the University, industry, businesses and entrepreneurial communities, including identifying opportunities for sponsored research, and other collaborations that may benefit the University and the community

• Devise and deliver training initiatives to serve the innovation training requirements of the research client base

• Contribute to the organisation and running of academic-industry events

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Negotiating agreements with industry and other research organisations with respect to knowledge exchange and commercialisation of the University’s IP

• Providing specialised advice on knowledge exchange and technology commercialisation including evaluating inventions and creative disclosures and developing and executing knowledge transfer and commercialisation plans for the University’s IP portfolio

• Representing the University in interactions with external organisations and developing and building relationships with industry, entrepreneurs, and investors to foster interaction between academia and business

• Developing knowledge exchange (including commercialisation) plans and implementing marketing strategies for the University’s IP portfolio

• Advising and mentoring academics at the University on the development of commercially relevant technologies and the establishment of new start-up companies

• Identifying opportunities for academic industry collaborations and industry sponsored research and delivering such partnerships for the University

• Promoting awareness of IP, entrepreneurship, knowledge exchange and commercialisation across the University, including the design and delivery of innovation training to researchers, the SSAH and creative technologies community and the STEM community

• Contribute to the organisation and running of academic-industry events

• Deliver communication and dissemination activities including social media

• Contributing to the development and implementation of the University’s policies and processes with respect to innovation and knowledge exchange

• Role will include, but is not limited to, Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities, Business and Law and Health

• Other tasks as directed by the Associate Director/Director of the TTO

Requirements for the role:

The successful candidate will demonstrate the eligibility requirements below in terms of qualification, skills and experience:

Essential Criteria

• A primary degree in the Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities, Business, Law, Science or Engineering

• Post-graduate degree in one of the areas above or experience in more than one of the following areas: research and development; knowledge exchange; technology development; licensing; strategy development and implementation; business development, and marketing and sales

• Knowledge and experience in the identification and management of IP and assessment of the commercial potential relating thereto

• Experience constructing technology development and commercialisation roadmaps or knowledge exchange plans and linking same to IP protection strategies

• Experience in one of the areas of (a) development and delivery of training programmes in support of innovation activity; (b) organisation and running of academic-industry events; (c) delivering communication and dissemination activities including social media, or (d) presenting and marketing opportunities to stakeholders and clients, such as government agencies, funders, investors or relevant industry partners, and alliance management

Desirable Criteria

A post graduate business degree

A qualification or accreditation pertaining to knowledge transfer or IP or business development

Experience in a start-up company or similar in product development, commercial strategy development, marketing or business development role in industry

The above criteria will be utilised to shortlist and select candidates for interview.

Salary: €62,870 - €85,235 per annum pro rata for part time/short term roles (applicable to new entrants effective from January, 2011) and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the University’s Remuneration policy.