The following is a list of the articles that appear in the July 2007 issue of Technology Transfer Tactics monthly newsletter.

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Technology Transfer Tactics,
Vol. 1, No. 3 (pp 33-48) July 2007

• Tech transfer directors develop custom metrics tied to institutional goals. Measuring technology transfer office performance can be a thorny issue because there are no “standard” measurements to use for every institution. And while many directors turn to the highly regarded AUTM annual licensing survey as a way to compare performance with their peers, directors who make best use of performance indicators do so by developing custom metrics that are aligned with their institutions’ goals, according to several experienced managers ………. p. 33
• VC executives reveal what works, what doesn’t when TTOs come looking for investment dollars. Don’t send venture capitalists any more big fat portfolios stuffed with details of every innovation your institution is working on. They’re too much work. But don’t presume to know everything a VC firm will be interested in funding, either. Strive instead to provide just enough details for VCs to make an intelligent analysis on key projects in the firm’s areas of interest ………. p. 33
• KSR v. Teleflex: Caution advised, but stay the course on patent prosecution. Though the most recent broadside from the U.S. Supreme Court in its KSR v. Teleflex ruling does potentially raise the bar on what constitutes “prior art” — and may restrain patent activity while opening the door to more patent challenges — don’t panic about its ramifications, two IP law experts say ………. p. 34
• Innovation Capitalists: A new source of funding for ‘stranded technologies?’ If you’ve got some ‘stranded technology’ looking for a licensing home, a new fundraising model unveiled at the Licensing Executives Society’s annual meeting may be just what you’re searching for ………. p. 36
• Universities slowly turning to incentive compensation for tech transfer staff. Technology transfer offices slowly are turning to incentive compensation systems as a way to reward good performance, encourage teamwork, and attract and retain key staff. However, several barriers stand in the way of widespread adoption of such plans, including university politics and difficulties finding the money for the bonuses, tech transfer officials say ………. p. 36
• UIC conducts stakeholder survey as part of performance measurement. A particularly important and unique performance indicator at the University of Illinois-Chicago is an annual survey conducted by the Office of Technology Management used to determine how stakeholders view its performance ………. p. 40
• ‘Cold e-mailing’ may beat cold calling in marketing effectiveness. Some university technology transfer offices — especially newer ones — find that cold-contacting potential licensees can be an effective way to market technology licenses. However, many schools that do cold-contacting tend to use e-mail rather than the phone, and the key is to keep the pitch as simple as possible, tech transfer professionals say ………. p. 44
• Question of the Month: Veterans give rookie tech transfer managers their words of wisdom ………. p. 47