IDEAL TEMPUS project update

On October 9-10, 2014, the Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC) at the American University of Beirut held its fourth training for researchers and research administrators entitled, “Fundamentals of Technology Transfer Workshop”.
This training aimed at highlighting the significance of intellectual property rights protection in research institutions and universities as well as pinpointing the important role of transferring new technologies to industry can play in enhancing economic growth.
The training was delivered by IDEAL European partners, from the Technological Educational Institution of Thessaly, the University of Alicante, Staffordshire University and Alt-City. Over sixty people attended the training. Among those present, were representatives from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the National Erasmus+Office, and researchers and administrators from Lebanese Universities including MUBS.
Day one focused on the basic principles and the importance of technology transfer in Universities and Research Institutions, and the basic principles of intellectual property rights and the management of property rights. Day two focused on technology and knowledge transfer from universities, how to start a business in Lebanon and an introduction to business incubators and innovation/science parks in universities.
The training was the last of its series that were sponsored under OGC’s EU Tempus project called IDEAL “Innovation and Development of Academic-Industry Partnerships through Efficient Research Administration in Lebanon.” This three year project (October 2012-2015) has been awarded a budget of over one million dollars and has a consortium of 15 partners, five of which are European and ten of which are Lebanese.