CESAER, the association of universities of science and technology, has published a new report ‘AI pathways for technology transfer: Lessons learned from universities of science and technology’, presenting insights from a survey and discussions among experts, practitioners, and policymakers.
The report reveals that AI adoption in technology transfer offices (TTOs) is still at an early stage but growing fast. While almost half of surveyed offices already experiment with AI for document drafting, patent analytics, and partner matching, many remain cautious due to concerns over data protection, intellectual property, and ethical risks.
The findings highlight both the opportunities and the responsibilities of using AI in research and innovation. TTOs see strong potential for AI to enhance efficiency, improve communication with partners, and expand opportunities for knowledge valorisation — provided adoption is guided by trust, transparency, and human oversight.