Knowledge and Technology Transfer
unibz is a partner for research and innovation. We initiate and promote the collaboration with companies as well as public institutions and research partners through innovative technologies, highly qualified expertise, and specialized research laboratories and premises.
Introduction
Through collaborative projects we transfer research outputs to the market and to society to foster innovation.
The Technology Transfer Service of unibz operates at the crossroads between research and industry and is responsible for
- supporting our researchers in patent and other protection applications and in promoting and managing the intellectual property rights and IP portfolio of the university;
- assisting and promoting the creation of university Spin offs and start-ups;
- initiating or strengthening connections through joint development projects;
- Supporting our highly specialized laboratories dedicated, among others, to technology transfer activities;
- Promoting training and network events and initiatives related to knowledge transfer;
- Actively participating in networking organisations dedicated to Technology Transfer.
Patents and Intellectual Property Rights
Inventions and patents show the innovative power of a university as well as its competence in different fields of technology. unibz regards the management of intellectual property as a strategic element for the protection of its inventive heritage and the knowledge transfer to promote innovation and progress in society.
unibz has updated its Regulation on Intellectual Property based upon the Italian legislation - Codice della Proprietà Intellettuale, L.102/2023 of 24 July 2023. The unibz Committee for Intellectuakl Propoertyis responsible for evaluating in a first level assessment all inventions and patent proposals with the University Council expressing a second and final evaluation on patent filing. unibz files and manages patents also together with research and Industry partners.
Partner and Patents
unibz adheres to Knowledgeshare, a platform born as joint venture involving Netval, the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM) at MIMIT (Ministry Of Enterprises and Made in Italy) and the Politecnico di Torino.
The platform showcases inventions and projects developed by Italian Universities and Research Centres, in pursuit of collaboration and commercialisation opportunities with Industry partners including large companies, SMEs, investment funds, Italian and foreign accelerators and incubators.
Spin-offs and Start-ups
unibz promotes the development of new, highly innovative businesses that emerge from the university's research and human resources. In cooperation with the external Business Incubator at NOI Techpark, unibz provides information and support for the establishment of start-ups and spin-offs linked to university research and establishes tailored license agreements with its Spin off companies.
unibz promotes Start-up competitions like our Call 4 Start up 2024 and 2025, organized within the PNRR project iNEST, and other entrepreneurial initiatives for its students and researchers.
The unibz Spin-off Committee is responsible for evaluating in a first level assessment all business proposals with the University Council expressing a second and final evaluation for the accreditation of Spin off companies.
Research facilities and laboratories
unibz is the main research partner at NOI Techpark with its Faculty of Engineering and more than 30 highly specialized laboratories dedicated to research, teaching, collaborative projects and technology transfer activities.
The laboratories are affiliated to the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences and operate in the research fields of Alpine Technologies, Food Technologies, CasaClima, Energy Production, Robotics, Computer Science, and Nanotechnologies while serving as a hub for the transfer of research results through specific pilot plants. Research projects are also carried out in specialized sectors such as agricultural engineering, renewable energy, food technology, sensors, nanotechnology, fluid dynamics, computer science, and robotics.
BITZ
Our BITZ unibz fablab is the digital production laboratory and serves as hands-on community workshop for hobbyists, researchers and students in Bolzano. In the BITZ, models and prototypes can be produced, and, thanks to new production technologies, material objects can be created directly from digital information.
Technology Transfer Network
unibz is member of Netval, the Italian Association for Technology Transfer that today brings together 65 universities, 16 Public Research Organizations, 16 Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization, and Healthcare (IRCCS) and 7 other members. Its mission is the valorisation of public research, through the creation of a community of professional Technology Transfer offices and managers.
We are also member of ASTP, Europe’s premier association of knowledge transfer professionals that provides training, tools, and a powerful network to transform research into innovations that serve communities, drive industry, and shape policy.