Adjusting the Intellectual Property Strategy of a Public University Mexican R&D Institute for Harder Times Coming

Abstract

The Intellectual Protection Unit of the Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (ICAT) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has been in existence for two decades. During its first fifteen years of life, the political and economic situation of the country, as well as the influence of innovation theories, guided university work, to promote the development and transfer of technology generated in higher education institutions, towards companies through the establishment of the triple helix formed by the efforts of the government, universities, and companies, all this to boost the economy and the well-being of society. As of 2018, with the advent of the Fourth transformation (4T) proposed, installed, and promoted by the new government, new austerity measures were implemented and many of the schemes used to license technological research and development were modified.

Currently, a new federal government Law on Science, Technology, Humanities, and Innovation has been approved. It proposes intensifying austerity and controlling budgetary allocation to priority government projects with an intense tinge of social benefit.

Taking advantage of the lessons learned during its previous years of performance, this paper proposes that the work of the ICAT R&D project management and linkage office should not fall into a situation of paralysis but rather adjust its management strategies to take advantage of the situation to fully fulfill its mission pursuing the increase the social impact of its results.