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The experience curve that a university holds also plays a factor in the efficiency of the IP management process. Many US universities have extensive experience of IP management, which is not replicated in the UK. The US government has used the Patent and Trademark Law Amendments Act 1980 (Bayh-Dole Act) to facilitate and remove barriers for the management and utilisation of IP by and for universities and small businesses. This Act obliged US universities to commercialise its IP, the US universities have had 25 years to streamline the process and create an efficient system of IP commercialisation potential and evaluation.

US universities have also been able to utilise professional groups such as the Association of University Technology Management (AUTM), who have assisted in setting up framework for best practice in the management of IP in US universities. The UK though have acted back by creating Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTN) , to draw together sector focused communities and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to support discreet projects involving academic-industrial collaboration have been set up to drive the flow of knowledge within and in and out of specific communities.

Knowledge transfer networks

Knowledge Transfer Networks provide both a vehicle for the community to develop its ideas and interactions and a communications route between that community and the Government. Their activities are increasingly playing an important role in the development of the Government's Technology Strategy and as focal points for the Technology Programme. They are an evolving part of the overall Government Technology Strategy and the Technology Strategy Board has put in place a review of their goals and activities which reflect their growing importance and to ensure that we move towards a coherent and integrated use of KTNs to feed and drive the Collaborative Research&Development programme and other innovation interventions (www.ktnetworks.co.uk, 2007).

Knowledge transfer partnerships

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is a UK based program to support business in improving their competiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board with 17 other funding organisations. Each partnership employs one or more high calibre Associates (recently qualified people) to work on a project, which is core to the strategic development of the business. Both of these, Technology Strategy Board, (formerly known as the DTI) initiatives aim to address some of these disparities (www.ktponline.org.uk, 2007).

Kess

In November of 2009 the Welsh Assembly Government unveiled a £33 million programme that is focused in the Convergence region of Wales, aimed at providing hundreds of scholarship opportunities to develop the skills needed to drive Wales' Knowledge Economy forward. Each scholarship aims to provide an annual bursary of up to £13,300 as well as research and business training tailored to each individual. The program focuses on sectors that the Welsh Assembly Government has identified as key sector low carbon economy, health and bioscience as well as advanced engineering and manufacturing. The scholarships goal is to deliver the high level skills needed by businesses in Wales, building knowledge and boosting the R&D capability in the strategically important sectors of the Welsh economy.

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Source:  OpenStax, A study of how a region can lever participation in a global network to accelerate the development of a sustainable technology cluster. OpenStax CNX. Apr 19, 2012 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11417/1.2
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