Effective Technology Transfers in Academia

Abstract

The successful transfer of scientific research from academia to a commercial product or service is a rare achievement, especially for institutions in developing regions. At HKUST, I had the opportunity to participate in such transfers on two occasions, with a potential third. The first involves the PRS (Personal Response System) in educational technology, which provides immediate feedback and reinforcement to promote active learning in large classes. The second, in biotechnology, pertains to the application of human growth factors (hEGF and bFGF) produced through a proprietary bacterial excretion system (BES). This innovation made hEGF both affordable and authentic, enabling, for the first time, the successful treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with a 95% success rate, as well as other hard-to-heal wounds such as bedsores and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome with similar effectiveness. The third initiative focuses on leveraging human resources by bringing together successful individuals to live in fellowship within a resort environment, actively contributing to the educational, economic, and social development of the host community. A review of these cases may offer insights into increasing the frequency and success of similar technology transfer outcomes.