This September, the AUTM Foundation was honored to host the US-Egypt Technology Transfer Workshop in collaboration with the Department of State and the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. The guests of honor were members of a 10-person Egyptian delegation, all representatives of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT). Also participating in the workshop were professionals from US technology transfer offices, consulting groups, law firms, and intellectual property organizations, as well as from the USDA and the State Department. Workshop sessions included topics like Negotiation, Collaboration Models, and Public-Private Partnerships.

The chief objective of the workshop was to distill the central needs of the Egyptian technology transfer environment and discuss best practices in both countries. The hosts’ previous work with the field in Egypt demonstrated that face-to-face dialogue would be a necessary foundation for future in-country technology transfer training. This proved true, as the collaborative sessions brought the key issues to the forefront and allowed for synchronous planning of follow-up activities. Following the three-day workshop at the National Agricultural Library, the delegation attended the AUTM Eastern Regional Meeting in Baltimore where they participated in several educational sessions and networking receptions. The meeting offered workshops and panels on a wide variety of technology transfer topics and allowed for introductions to a greater variety of professionals.

The delegation’s visit provided the rare opportunity for professionals from both countries to meet their international counterparts. Over seven days, participants developed relationships by sharing their unique successes and challenges. We expect these relationships will soon turn into long-lasting partnerships that benefit both nations’ technology transfer ecosystems.