A proactive approach to tech transfer

LRD was established in 1972 as one of the first technology transfer institutes in the world, at a time when people still looked down on collaborations between universities and companies. In the almost 40 years of its existence, LRD has grown substantially, especially in the last decade. For example, ten years ago it had 14 employees; currently it has 55. 

The optimal way to bring research to the market

LRD has a lot of activities, which are tightly interwoven. First, the division manages all contract research done by the university, varying from small consulting assignments commissioned by a company to bigger, structural contracts. LRD's second activity is identifying inventions and adequately securing their commercial potential through intellectual property, in order to enhance the chance that these inventions reach the market." Many people talk about open innovation, but this is impossible without managing intellectual property," general manager Paul Van Dun emphasizes.