Application Open:
Full-Time
The Technology Transfer Specialist advances the MBZUAI’s intellectual property, with a strong focus on AI-driven research outputs, toward real-world application. The role involves scouting innovations, evaluating commercialization potential, and guiding pathways through licensing or startup creation. By engaging with faculty, researchers, industry partners, and investors, the Specialist supports technology pitches, licensing negotiations, and spinout development, while also delivering training and market insights to ensure innovations translate into impactful products and services.
Key Responsibilities
- Scouting & Outreach: Identify promising intellectual property with commercialization potential; engage regularly with faculty to
encourage disclosures and opportunities.
- Technology Evaluation: Assess technologies for market relevance, technical readiness, and industry alignment, and recommend suitable commercialization pathways through licensing or spinout ventures.
- Industry Engagement & Pitches: Build and maintain relationships with industry partners, government agencies, and investors; coordinate technology pitches, showcases, and partnership meetings.
- Market Intelligence: Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and emerging industry needs to align research outputs with commercialization opportunities.
- Negotiation & Licensing: Support the drafting, review, and negotiation of licensing agreements in collaboration with legal counsel and relevant stakeholders.
- Startup & Incubator Support: Partner with the university’s incubator to advise and guide spinouts, including IP use, equity considerations, and institutional support.
- Awareness & Training: Organize workshops and training programs for faculty and students on commercialization, licensing processes, and technology transfer best practices.
Operational Responsibilities
- Institutional Strategy: Identify, evaluate, and manage opportunities for commercialization of research outputs, including patents, copyrights, software, and innovative technologies. Provide timely updates on technology portfolios, licensing opportunities, and research progress to management, recommending strategies that enhance institutional decision-making, innovation impact, and long-term sustainability. Work closely with researchers and faculty to assess the market potential of research outcomes, identify commercialization pathways, and ensure alignment with MBZUAI’s strategic priorities and innovation agenda. Monitor and analyze project deliverables (e.g., inventions, prototypes, algorithms, and proof-of-concepts) to address barriers to commercialization and implement corrective actions that support successful technology transfer.
- Financial & Organizational Coordination: Support demand planning and forecasting by providing data on potential licensing revenues, industry engagement needs, and resource requirements for technology transfer activities. Contribute to effective budget utilization by tracking technology transfer costs (e.g., patent filings, legal fees, licensing negotiations) and recommending strategies for cost optimization and return on investment. Facilitate collaboration among researchers, industry partners, legal advisors, and core labs to strengthen partnerships, foster knowledge transfer, and maximize the commercial and societal impact of institutional research.
Academic Qualifications Required
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Science, or Computer Science (AI-relate background desirable) or a related field.
- Postgraduate degree in a related field will be strongly preferred.
Experienced Required
- Minimum 5 years of experience in technology transfer, business development, or IP laws and commercialization, preferably in AI or software environments.
- Familiarity with AI innovation pathways (datasets, software licensing, algorithms, models, prototypes) and commercialization challenges.
- Strong understanding of contracts, licensing, and startup formation.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work effectively across cultures and multidisciplinary teams.
- Understanding of AI-related technologies, industry and commercialization is an advantage
