Strengthening technology and knowledge transfer from Sri Lankan universities by the establishment of University Business Linkage Cells

Abstract

The Accelerating Higher Education Expansion andDevelopment (AHEAD) operation tested the Triple Helix model,which provides the theoretical framework for the developmentof Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) in 15 state universities in Sri Lanka. These TTOs are referred to as University BusinessLinkage (UBL) cells. The development followed a scorecardin which the actions were divided into 4 different phases.The allocated funds were released in tranches after successful completion of each phase. The interests of the other internationalmdevelopment partners, trade chambers and associations were also integrated into the central planning. Freedom was granted to develop the IP policy of the universities based on the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Intellectual Property (IP) policy template. It was noted that all universities allocated 50-80% of the revenue from the commercialisation to the inventors. The number of Invention Disclosure Forms submitted to UBLs varied from 12-79 in 15 different UBLs from 2019-2023. A total of 228 patent applications were submitted to the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO), a total of 124 other forms of IP were filed and 21 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications were filed at WIPO by the 15 UBLs. The total number of university-industry collaborative research agreements and license agreements signed through the UBLs was 95 and 77 respectively, within the first 5 years of development. The total number of products on the market was 42. The overall satisfaction survey was conducted at the baseline, mid-term and final stages for all stakeholders. The percentage UBL directors in the highly satisfied category vary from 20%, 66% and 94% respectively.