Open Position Technology Transfer Technician at IFAE

About IFAE

The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, a public university) whose main objective is to carry out research and to contribute to the development of high energy physics from a theoretical, experimental and technological point of view. IFAE has the status of a “University Institute" attached to the UAB and its premises are within the campus of the University.

About the KNOWLEDGE & TECHNOLOGY TRANSGER unit

The IFAE’s Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) unit supports the protection, valorization and exploitation of research results from the institute to the society and industry. The KTT Unit manages a technological portfolio of more than 10 patent families. The Catalan Government’s Patent Fund (Ginjol) invested in six out of them. The IFAE’s intellectual property is mostly based on radiation & particle detector technologies for medical imaging, security and quality control applications, but we also develop new technologies in the fields of quantum computing, smart sensing devices and advanced microelectronics readout systems. The KTT Unit promotes the creation and growth of spin-off companies, as well as the entrepreneurship culture among researchers in collaboration with other R&D centers and business schools. 4 deep tech spin-offs have been incorporated up to date, 3 out of them being currently active, raising venture capital funds and offering products and services in Europe and beyond.

What will your role be?

We are looking for a Technology Transfer Technician to support the Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) Unit by executing the following tasks:

• Scouting of novel R&D results and evaluation of its innovation & market potential by doing patent search and market research analyses
• Promotion of the use of IFAE’s portfolio of technologies by the society and the industry to help IFAE’s positioning in high energy physics innovation ecosystem
• Provide help to the fundraising for innovation and entrepreneurship projects by writing the IPR and market sections of proposals to be submitted to public/private funding agencies managing competitive funds
• Support in the process of protection of inventions and management of IPR (patents, utility models, etc.)
• Support in the process of exploitation of research results by arranging and negotiating licensing agreements
• Providing help to entrepreneur scientists interested in creating spin-offs in the form of business model definition, shareholders agreement negotiation, venture builder participation, etc.
• Support in justification of KTT outcomes for competitive innovation projects
• Promoting the entrepreneurship culture among researchers by coordinating an annual entrepreneurship and innovation course (in collaboration with BIST)
• Providing annual KTT KPIs to funding authorities
• Participation in local, regional and national Tech Transfer Networks

Required skills and evaluation criteria

Candidate is expected to have:

• Education:
  • Degree in science or engineering (physics or similar).
• Knowledge:
  • Level of English to interact with international partners.
  • Knowledge on innovation, IPR management or entrepreneurship will be an asset.
  • Good knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) will be an asset.
• Professional Experience:
  • Experience working in a research and/or KTT environment will be a plus.

The evaluation criteria and their weighting for the submitted applications will be the following:

• Educational Background: 25 points
• Innovation processes and tools knowledge: 25 points
• Research and/or Technology development experience: 25 points
• Language skills (CAT, ES, EN): 25 points

Offered contract:

• Full-time Contract (40 h/week)
• Permanent Contract
• The position will correspond to a Tècnic/a de gestió
• Salary will be proportional to experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range.
• Work with interesting experimental science. Opportunity to gain first-hand learning experience. Personal growth, innovation and learning every day.
• The selected candidate is expected to join the IFAE as soon as possible.

Application and Selection Process:

Applications should be submitted to iesparbe@ifae.es . and rrhh@ifae.es stating the job reference (2024/60_TECNICGESTIO_KTT) as the subject of the message. The mail should include their updated CV and arrange to have two letters of reference. Candidacies will be accepted until suitable candidates are identified. The selection will be based on the academic and scientific record of the candidate, the recommendation letters and the potential of the candidate to integrate well in the group. For further information, please contact iesparbe@ifae.es . IFAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and social integration of people with a disability. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. People from groups that are typically underrepresented in the labour market in general and in Science and Engineering in particular, such as women, minorities, or people with a disability, are particularly encouraged to apply. In compliance with article 121 of the Spanish Public Sector Legal Regime Act, staff with a pre-existing relationship with the Consortium administration (Generalitat de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) will have priority in the awarding of the position

A Selection Committee will evaluate the received applications. If more than one candidate seems equally suitable for the position, the Selection Committee will arrange an on-line interview with each one of them as part of the Selection process.