Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme

78
Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme
4. Conclusions and recommendations
There are also other interesting initiatives for technology transfer in Estonia
Both Tallinn University of Technology and University of Tartu have hired/are hiring technology transfer
experts
Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Centre is an important initiative for transferring nanotechnology
results to companies, the results remain to be seen
In this case typically the companies expect result transfer in 2-3years time.
Universities are currently key players in applied research, their role needs to be clarified in order to get
companies more interested in collaboration
A single patent is almost never enough for successful technology transfer, larger patent families
around a specific technology are needed (University of Tartu, Institute of Technology is following
this kind of model!)
There are very few good examples of successful technology transfer in the world, why would
Estonia make a difference?
Moreover, technology transfer is seldom possible without incentives from the public sector
Universities should be more attractive partners to private companies, there is much more
value to the economy with a technology being commercialised by an Estonian company
than with a single patent sold abroad
Funding for research needs to be reorganised / reconsidered
Fundamental research funding is easier to get than funding for applied research
EAS funding should be made less bureaucratic
Universities are measured by number of publications, which is a bad measure for true applied research
Funding instruments should force universities to involve companies in projects
Applied research can also be done in companies.
High-tech companies that have entered markets should be encouraged to continue research
During the last 2 years, there have been too many grants to companies
According to the director of the Enterprise Capability Division at EAS, companies have applied
and received the grants but could not use all the money
Equipment
In certain areas the university laboratories have state-of-the-art equipment that could be used by the
industry as well.
More personnel to operate this equipment are needed.
Universities should offer the use of equipment time more frequently to companies.
Fundamental research
Fundamental research is the basis for all advanced materials technologies and very important for all
future development
There are internationally strong areas of research in Estonia in some areas of fundamental physics, chemistry
and materials
The huge number of different areas of research means that it is very difficult to create world class technology
in several areas
A small country should carefully think of focus areas where it is putting its efforts in order to provide
industrially applicable findings, either for local industry or for international technology transfer
The country should define a national strategy and roadmap for future focus areas in materials technology
based on strong areas of research and potential synergies in the university research (coatings
technology is a good example)
Moreover, universities and even research groups should have a concrete strategy on
where to develop their expertise
Currently the problem of changing their research themes according to open calls and programmes.
This needs to be done in close collaboration with the industry to make the gap between technology
development and market needs narrower