The newly formed Government Office for Tech Transfer (GOTT) has chosen its first CEO.
Dr Alison Campbell OBE, a former director of Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) – Ireland’s national office helping businesses to benefit from access to public sector research expertise and technology – will lead the unit.
Set to be formally launched later this year, GOTT will support the management and commercialisation of an estimated £104 billion worth of knowledge assets held by the UK government.
Technology transfer is the broad term applied to the transfer of assets, such as intellectual property rights, technology or new knowledge, from one organisation to another, with the objective of stimulating the development and adoption of new products, processes and services that benefit society.
The new government unit will sit within the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and is being developed to ensure that the public sector is maximising the value of its knowledge and innovation assets.
Dr Campbell brings over 20 years of experience to the role, having started her career in the BioTech industry. She held positions including interim CEO of the Medical Research Council’s technology transfer company (MRCT), and leading technology transfer and research support at King’s College London.
She was also chair of the board at AUTM, the US-based international association for technology transfer.
Dr Campbell was awarded an OBE in 2010 in recognition of her contribution to Knowledge Transfer.
“I am delighted to take up this new role, helping to support the management of knowledge assets from across the public sector to deliver societal and economic impact,” said Dr Campbell.
“Here in the Government Office for Tech Transfer we will have a strong platform to build from thanks to the significant work and delivery from the existing Knowledge Assets Team and the engagement and support from key public sector stakeholders.”