A conference was held in Hanoi on August 8 to discuss the transfer of research outcomes and inventions from universities and research institutes to enterprises, based on the Japanese model of Technology Licensing Office (TLO).

The event, which was jointly held by the National Institute of Patent and Technology Exploitation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), attracted many representatives from the research and business circles.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung said over the past years, the transfer of inventions and researching results to business community in Vietnam has been limited.

He urged the National Institute of Patent and Technology Exploitation to play a more active role in promoting the commercialization of inventions and the connection between inventors and the business community.

He also suggested Japanese partners assist the institute in the form of personnel training and consultation in setting up TLOs in Vietnam ’s universities.

Prof. Takafumi Yamamoto, chair of Tokyo University’s TLO, said from Japan’s experience, Vietnam should establish TLOs outside universities, which he said will operate better.-VNA