Technology Transfer

in 2024


The Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) unit at IFAE is instrumental in driving innovation, securing funding for valorization and protection of R&D results, as well as fostering public-private collaborations.

Over the 2024, this office has protected new inventions through patents and utility models, promoted technology licensing, and facilitated key agreements with industry and academic partners. Entrepreneurship remains a priority, with support for spin-off creation, innovation training, and successful participation in venture-building programs.

The KTT unit also played a key role in public-private R&D, securing NDAs, negotiating IP agreements, and contributing to EU-funded projects. Additionally, it has actively engaged in knowledge dissemination through innovation talks and official reporting, reinforcing IFAE’s impact in research commercialization and technology transfer.

2024 TECH. TRANSFER OUTPUT AT IFAE


0.9M€

Public funds awarded to IFAE innovation projects related to entrepreneurship, valorization and/or IPR protection

360K€

invoiced to external entities (20% IFAE’s spin-offs) for technological projects and services

1

new invention protected

1

EU patent granted

1

Industry award granted to Qilimanjaro’s spin-off - Best digital startup globally (4YFN Awards 2024)


GENERAL KTT ACTIVITIES

  • 11 Patent families managed out of 14 technologies of the IFAE’s intangible asset portfolio (medical devices, IoT & sensing, quality control, quantum computing, communications, optics and microelectronics).
  • 5 Innovation talks presented by the KTT unit staff (Àgora KTT session & KTT Community session organized by I-CERCA, GenCat; FSTB course welcome event organized by ESADE / BIST; Einstein Telescope – Preparartory Phase EU project annual meeting organized by IFAE; IFAE retreat 2024 - Hotel Campus UAB)
  • 4 Yearly official disclosures submitted to the Catalan Government reporting on IFAE’s KTT outputs / Capital increase of participated spin-offs / Exploitation status for the protected intangible assets supported by Ginjol-CERCA patent fund / Innovation activites forecast (Uneix - Àrea de Suport a la Planificació, Anàlisi i Avaluació - Departament de Recerca i Universitats; Catàleg d’ens - Registre del sector públic de la Generalitat de Catalunya - Departament d’Ecnomia i Finances; Institució CERCA - Direcció General de Recerca; Direcció General de Transferència i Societat del Coneixement).
  • 1 Institutional funding application submitted to Agencia Estatal de Investigación with the support of the KTT unit (Severo Ochoa call 2024).

INNOVATION PROJECTS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATIVE R&D

  • 12 NDAs signed with public and private entities for collaborative R&D purposes.
  • 5 Collaboration agreements reviewed and negotiated in terms of IPR for academic and industrial R&D projects.
  • 1 KTT workpackage deliverable of an Infradef EU project led by IFAE (Einstein Telescope-Preparatory Phase) positively evaluated by the European Commission (Excellent scored).

R&D RESULTS PROTECTION

  • 3 Disclosures of invention evaluated (1 medical device, 2 optics systems).
  • 1 Invention protected by national utility model application (light-tight wall passage).
  • 1 International patent application under the PCT based on an EU patent application (nuclear medicine device).
  • 1 EU granted patent with unitary patent effect in Europe (mammography detector).

TECHNOLOGY VALORIZATION

  • 1 IFAE’s patented technology (medical imaging device) funded by the Ginjol patent fund - 2024 edition, a public investment tool managed by I-CERCA, GenCat.*
  • 1 Project awarded for the development of a proof of principle based on a nuclear medicine tomographic scanner (Atrae, AEI).*

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING

  • 3 Technology licensing promotion events with the participation of the KTT Unit (IoTS World Congress Brokerage event 2024; BCN Deep Tech Summit 2024; Innovation Day 2024 organized by the Parc de Recerca of UAB)
  • 1 Ownwership and exploitation agreement signed among IFAE and the Universities of Birminghman and Geneva for a jointly protected intangible asset (proton CT detector).
  • 1 License acquisition for an AI assisted patent database shared with I-CERCA (Orbit Intelligence / Insights, Questel).

SPIN-OFF CREATION

  • 5 IFAE researchers attended the innovation and entrepreneurship course “From Science to Business’24” organized by ESADE, BIST and the KTT units of the BIST centers.
  • 1 Innovadors grant (AGAUR) awarded to IFAE for hiring a business entrepreneur in residence to support the creation of a new spin-off (medical imaging) and supporting technology protection actions.*
  • 1 medical entrepreneurship project (SPECT detector) admitted both in the The Collider – Phase 1 venture builder program (MWC foundation) and in the Preacceleració program from BCN Activa.