Canada is about to lose its guaranteed seat on the board of the US-based Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) but that doesn't mean that Canadian technology transfer personnel are giving up on the organization. AUTM is currently implementing a restructuring to increase its breadth internationally, offering greater networking and benchmarking opportunities than previously available.

Canada has long had a VP Canada position on the AUTM board — one of seven VP-level board members who held additional responsibilities. Those positions are being reduced to three, with the Canadian position being eliminated as of March/12. Once the restructuring is complete, the AUTM board will be comprised of 12 members with VP positions for its various meetings, the western hemisphere and the eastern hemisphere.

The development is just the latest downsizing of AUTM operations in Canada. In previous years, it held an annual Canadian meeting that was dropped when ACCT Canada was formed about five years ago. As that organization has grown and matured, Canadian participation in AUTM annual meeting in the US has dropped off. The organization still counts in excess of 3,000 technology managers and business executives as members from more than 300 universities, research institutions, teaching hospitals, businesses and government organizations.

"AUTM wants to become more international," Barbara Eccles, the current VP Canada board member and manager of Lakehead Univ's Technology Transfer, Economic Development and Innovation Office. "They are aligning the board with where they are going."

"When ACCT Canada was created with the blessing of AUTM, the Canadian annual meeting was dropped and the VP Canada position was reduced to more of a representational role," says Eccles. "The main benefit now is networking. In Canada, technology transfer officers often look to the US market because of its size. It's very relevant financially and we continue to file US patent applications."

To ensure that AUTM continues to have Canadian representation, Eccles sent a memo to tech transfer staff across the country in late July encouraging nominations. She says at least two threw their hats into the ring before the August 3rd deadline.

AUTM's annual meeting attracts upwards of 2,000 delegates and Eccles says the international component appears to comprise about 20% of attendees. That diversity of participation is the primary reason Canadians should remain engaged in AUTM, she says.

AUTM will continue to conduct a Canadian survey of licensing activity, which is scheduled for late 2011. A press release containing some of the survey's highlights was recently issued. It found that both the number of invention disclosures and licences has declined (it did not provide comparative data), as have the number of full-time licensing staff at Canadian universities.

Sarah Howe, associate director, of research agreements & intellectual property at York Univ, assists with the licensing survey of Canadian universities. She will take over the Canadian portfolio when Eccles steps down next year.

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