In November 2025, Bangkok, Thailand became the epicenter of a global conversation about the future of innovation. Leaders from around the world gathered for the WIPO-AUTM Knowledge and Technology Transfer Summit, creating a rare space for open discussion about what is working, what is strained, and what needs to evolve in the tech transfer profession.

With participants representing 27 countries, the summit surfaced a striking reality. Whether operating within long-established innovation ecosystems or building tech transfer capacity from the ground up, institutions are wrestling with many of the same core issues. Conversations repeatedly returned to questions of impact, sustainability, and talent, as well as a growing disconnect between how innovation actually unfolds and how it is often funded or evaluated. Short timelines and rigid expectations simply do not match the slow, uneven, and sometimes unpredictable path from research to real-world application.

At the same time, it was clear that there is no single right model. Every region approaches technology transfer through the lens of its own culture, institutions, and policy environment. Some emphasize startups, others focus on licensing or industry partnerships, and ownership structures vary widely. What connects these approaches is a shared understanding that technology transfer is no longer a straight line from disclosure to deal. It has become an ecosystem role that requires flexibility, patience, and long-term thinking.

To help unpack what these global conversations mean for the future of the profession, we’re joined by Steve Susalka, CEO of AUTM, who chaired the summit and had a front-row seat to these discussions. Drawing on perspectives from across continents and systems, Steve offers a grounded view of where technology transfer stands today, where it’s headed, and what it will take to strengthen the profession, support the people doing the work, and expand its real-world impact.

In This Episode:

[05:32] Steve Susalka shares why the WIPO-AUTM Summit prioritized global dialogue over prescribing best practices.

[07:12] Similar concerns surface regardless of whether countries have mature or emerging tech transfer systems.

[09:01] Common challenges emerge across 27 countries, even among vastly different innovation ecosystems.

[11:04] Why misunderstanding the role of tech transfer creates unrealistic expectations at the institutional level.

[13:18] Short-term funding cycles collide with the long timelines required for meaningful innovation.

[15:02] The tension between public mission and commercial pressure facing many university offices.

[17:44] A comparison of global ownership models and how they influence faculty, startups, and industry engagement.

[19:26] How early industry engagement can reduce friction later in the commercialization process.

[22:09] Startup formation as a critical bridge across the “valley of death” for early-stage technologies.

[24:41] Why some of the most impactful technologies require patience, risk tolerance, and exclusive pathways.

[27:36] The profession’s shift away from linear tech transfer models toward ecosystem-based approaches.

[29:58] The growing importance of culture-building and education alongside traditional licensing work.

[32:15] Why attempting to replicate Silicon Valley or MIT often fails without comparable infrastructure and culture.

[34:22] Tech transfer professionals as translators between academia, industry, and government.

[36:58] The human toll of tech transfer work, including burnout, turnover, and career sustainability concerns.

[39:11] What sustainability really means for tech transfer offices beyond annual budgets.

[41:27] How promotion and tenure systems can either reinforce or undermine innovation efforts on campus.

[44:08] Why global collaboration can help regions avoid repeating the same hard-earned lessons.

[46:03] What surprised Steve most in conversations with leaders from emerging innovation ecosystems.

[48:37] Why measuring success purely through revenue misses the broader value of innovation activity.

[50:41] AUTM’s role in advocating for the profession and making its impact more visible.

[55:12] Aligning funding expectations with realistic innovation timelines as a path to greater impact.

[59:08] Steve’s closing call to action for institutions, policymakers, and tech transfer professionals worldwide.

Resources:

AUTM

Fostering Global Innovation: AUTM's Role in Shaping International Tech Transfer Conversations

WIPO

Stephen Susalka - LinkedIn