YEREVAN, Armenia — In Fall 2024, the American University of Armenia (AUA) became the first university in Armenia to establish a functional, institutionalized, and policy-based Office of Sponsored Programs and Technology Transfer. This newly launched office aims to transform academic discoveries into real-world solutions, bringing university research to the marketplace and generating societal impact.
AUA developed the Office of Sponsored Programs and Technology Transfer to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within both the University and the broader community. By establishing this office, AUA seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and industry, facilitating the commercialization of research outcomes, enhancing the institution’s prominence, and contributing to Armenia’s socioeconomic development. Through collaborative research projects, innovation hubs and incubators, formal agreements, networking initiatives, showcase events, educational programs, and commercialization opportunities, the office aims to strengthen industry-university and government-university partnerships.
AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian remarked, “We expect that the new Office of Sponsored Programs and Technology Transfer will both benefit from and, reciprocally, stimulate research activities in the University. It will incentivize our faculty to develop ties with industry, and it will teach them how to protect their intellectual property. The Office’s Invention Disclosure Portal, already in operation, allows members of our community to submit innovative ideas for evaluation, potentially leading to patents, licensing agreements, copyrights, trademarks, etc. Already one patent claim is nearly completed, one spinoff is under consideration, and three invention disclosures are under review. Our hope is that this will become both a stimulus for research-based economic activity in Armenia, and a new source of revenue for the University.”
AUA is well-positioned to lead the technology transfer initiative by driving systemic change, as research and innovation become central pillars of the University’s strategic development. The University continues to expand its research capacity by hiring research-oriented faculty, allocating dedicated research space, and securing large-scale external grants.
Dr. Knar Khachatryan, academic director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Technology Transfer, provided insights into the Office’s architecture and its structural components, “Intellectual property (IP) protection and technology transfer unit development within a university is a multi-layered and comprehensive process. It involves various stakeholders, including faculty, researchers, and other community members with innovative ideas, as well as academic units and administrative units, industry partners, investors, and IP attorneys for legal framework. With this in mind, we dedicated extensive effort and time to carefully designing and establishing the new office. Numerous internal and external activities were carried out in this regard. More specifically, we conducted an internal environmental scan and benchmarked with a number of U.S. and European universities. We identified and developed new policies and procedures governing IP and commercialization, designed and offered educational workshops, and initiated collaboration with AUA’s Master of Laws program by engaging students. Additionally, we began working on the Office’s website which has now been launched, incorporating the Inventor Portal. Furthermore, we are proud to have secured a professional and internationally experienced legal support team. Through AUA’s procurement process, New York-based Tono Law Group LLC was selected to provide legal advice and assistance with respect to IP and technology transfer. Additionally, AUA signed an MoU with the Armenian Bar Association, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, to collaborate on various academic and policy-related initiatives.”
Dr. Khachatryan added, “Another important component for tech transfer is collaboration and partnership with industry, academic institutions, and the public. We have already laid the groundwork in this direction and continue our efforts in developing sustainable collaborations with companies, venture capital firms, as well as public institutions in Armenia.”
The Office works closely with the AUA leadership to develop incentive mechanisms and funding opportunities to encourage faculty and researchers to engage in tech transfer. The support services and resources offered to AUA’s faculty, staff, and students include IP protection, which involves assessing the eligibility of ideas for IP protection, developing strategies, and registering the innovative product. The Office also manages the University’s IP portfolio.
Commercialization support facilitates the transition of ideas from research labs or classrooms to the commercial marketplace through IP licensing or the creation of university spinout companies. Additionally, the Office provides consultation and evaluation of innovative ideas submitted through an online portal, provides educational resources, and manages royalty distribution. The full list of services can be found on the website.
Dr. Naira Campbell-Kyureghyan, inaugural C. Judson King Endowed visiting professor at AUA, had an instrumental role in the establishment of the IP and technology transfer enterprise at AUA. She emphasized the numerous benefits of having an IP protection and tech transfer office at any university, highlighting key advantages, such as:
“We recently developed a visual roadmap explaining the entire process for IP protection and commercialization that can be found on our website. The process starts with the invention disclosure submission at which we evaluate the eligibility of inventions for IP protection, develop strategies for patent applications, and manage the IP application process. With assistance from the IP attorney, we offer free guidance throughout the patent filing process, including drafting IP applications and navigating legal requirements,” said Dr. Campbell-Kyureghyan.
As Dr. Campbell-Kyureghyan explained, commercialization requires quite different processes that include development of commercialization plans, identifying potential markets, investors, license(s), creating business models to bring inventions to market and identifying sources for funding. “During the licensing process the Office can also assist in negotiating and securing IP licensing agreements with industry partners, ensuring that inventors receive fair compensation for their work. For those interested in starting their own companies, the Office offers support in creating university spinout companies, including business development and access to funding,” she concluded.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
