UCLB News

UCLB signs MoU with Kyoto University  

24 June 2013

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between UCL (UCLB), Kyoto University (SACI) and its TLO organisation, the Kansai TLO Co.,Ltd., to enable greater collaboration between the two universities about their technology transfer companies for mutual benefit.

The agreement has been signed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the ChoShu Five arriving to study at UCL this year, the first students from Japan to study outside of their home country. The five students, including Hirobumi Ito and Kaoru Inoue, subsequently travelled back to Japan after completing their studies and led the country into a new period of openness and industrialisation.

The agreement will see the technology transfer offices from both UCL and Kyoto University work together to exploit intellectual property and relevant patents held by both institutions. Kyoto University is chartered as a corporate national university and has an international reputation as one of Japan’s foremost research institutions.

Commenting on the announcement Cengiz Tarhan, Managing Director of UCLB said. “This is a significant international collaboration for UCLB and we look forward to working with Kyoto University and Kansai TLO to help promote UCL’s research and technologies in Japan whilst UCLB will work to promote Kyoto technologies within the UK and across Europe.

About UCLB
UCLB is a leading technology transfer company that supports and commercialises research and innovations arising from UCL, one of the UK’s top research-led universities. UCLB has a successful track record and a strong reputation for identifying and protecting promising new technologies and innovations from UCL academics. UCLB has a strong track record in commercialising medical technologies and provides technology transfer services to UCL’s associated hospitals; University College London Hospitals, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Royal Free London Hospital. It invests directly in development projects to maximise the potential of the research and manages the commercialisation process of technologies from laboratory to market.

UCLB supports UCL’s Grand Challenges of increasing UCL’s positive impact on and contribution to Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Intercultural Interaction and Human Wellbeing.

For further information, please visit: www.uclb.com

About Kyoto University, KU-SACI
Kyoto University is well-regarded for its academic excellence, and is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. In 2004, Kyoto University expanded its mission of Research and Education, additionally to promote the Dissemination of knowledge and technology through industry–academia collaborations and established a Division of Knowledge & Technology Transfer and Innovation (currently called as KU-SACI). KU-SACI attained strong track record on the research collaboration with industries, on the licensing revenue, on competitive governmental research fund and number of patent applications. KU-SACI offers an educational platform to encourage entrepreneurship and future business leaders. It also maintains close relations with the University Venture Funds, allowing for the promotion of spin-out venture companies. These figures and activities put Kyoto University at a top tire among all academia in Japan. KU-SACI intends to contribute to the realisation of the fundamental principle of Kyoto University to be an open university, enhancing global collaboration of society and academia.

For further information, please visit: www.kyoto-u.ac.jp and www.saci.kyoto-u.ac.jp

About Kansai TLO
Kansai Technology Licensing Organization Co., Ltd. (Kansai TLO) was established in October 1998 as one of the first technology transfer organisations in Japan.

It has achieved positive results in its technology transfer activities since its establishment, organising a strong licensing system by exclusively promoting intellectual properties of university partners. In 2008, it became a subsidiary of Kyoto University.

By gaining understandings from university researchers and companies, Kansai TLO is striving to further enhance technology transfer and business developments that will result in advancement of curiosity-driven research activities of university researchers.