This part of the toolkit is designed specifically for university administrators who help cultivate or regulate industry-academic (IA) partnerships involving researchers at their institution. Examples of administrators who help cultivate IA partnerships include those in technology transfer offices who help negotiate contracts, protect intellectual property (IP), and maximize the impact of innovations. Administrators who help regulate IA partnership conduct include those in conflicts of interest, research contracts, and human research protection offices.

Based on evidence from 105 interviews with key neurotechnology stakeholders, this toolkit equips university administrators with the knowledge, strategies, and resources needed to collaborate effectively with industry partners and university researchers. Understanding how to strategically engage other stakeholders can enable university administrators to better support seamless interactions in the cultivation and regulation of neurotechnology development.

University Administrators Need New Knowledge and Skills to Navigate Neurotechnology-Specific Components of IA Partnerships

University administrators like you possess unique expertise and play an important role in the research and development of new innovations. However, bringing new innovations to market is a complex process that requires effective coordination and communication with various stakeholders who may have different priorities and expectations than you.

Although university administrators are skilled in cultivating and regulating new innovations from academic research involving industry partners, they are often not taught how to address considerations and concerns unique to neurotechnologies. Unlike other healthcare innovations, neurotechnologies can interpret and change brain activity related to a person’s cognition, behavior, perception, and memory. Neurotechnologies also have significant implications for a person’s autonomy, sense of self, and mental privacy.

To successfully and responsibly navigate interactions with administrators who have other roles and responsibilities, university researchers, and industry partners, university administrators must develop new skills and adopt novel strategies not typically learned during their formal training.

Understanding and addressing the unique ethical and regulatory challenges posed by neurotechnologies is also crucial. How university administrators leverage the perspectives of other stakeholders has direct implications for the long-term success of industry partnerships and the safe and responsible development and commercialization of neurotechnologies.

Use Each Resource Collection to Enhance Your Role in IA Partnerships Involving Neurotechnology

Six resource collections are available, each addressing a common challenge or blind spot that university administrators face in IA partnerships involving neurotechnology development. Each resource collection contains an article with downloadable tools for implementing high-value practices and strategies that set university administrators up for success in their contributions to IA partnerships.

1. Improving How Researchers Manage Conflicts of Interest
2. Making Contract Negotiations and Tech Transfer Processes Easier and More Efficient
3. Attending to Unique Research Review Considerations for Neurotechnology Studies
4. Bridging Industry and Academic Siloes Through Effective Communication
5. Aligning Timelines and Priorities with Industry Partners
6. Aligning Timelines and Priorities with Academic Research Teams

Downloadable Tools

Want quick and easy access to implementation tools? Click the links below to download them directly.