Cooperation model signed by Inova Unicamp and Crop Science Bayer has already resulted in material transfer and R&D agreement in the agricultural sector
The relationship between the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the life sciences multinational Bayer has intensified and is branching out into new partnerships based on a recent national cooperation agreement, signed between the University and the corporation at the end of 2018.
The objective of this broad interaction, mediated by Unicamp Innovation Agency (Inova) and the division Crop Science focused on Bayer's agribusiness, is to seek closer ties with the University's research groups in order to sign Research and Development (R&D) agreements with Bayer, in addition to prospecting technologies from the Unicamp Patent and Software Portfolio that can be transferred and become business opportunities for the company.
According to the director of partnerships with the business sector at Inova, Iara Ferreira, the exchange takes place in rounds of meetings between professors and researchers from Unicamp, accompanied by Inova and maintaining the confidentiality of information, with the company's technical and business modeling teams. so that both sides understand the specialties of each group or the differences of each Unicamp technology and, thus, assess whether they correspond to the demands and priority problems of the different segments in which Bayer operates.
“This agreement allowed us to structure a strong relationship with Bayer in a more agile and assertive process to establish new partnerships, such as 'One Sheet' proposals that make the work plan and budget of a possible R&D more objective. , for example. It also makes us more agile because while this technical exchange agreement is in force, we guarantee legal security of the confidentiality of our intellectual property while avoiding the bureaucracy of signing several non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for each different interaction carried out when trying to negotiate Unicamp technologies”, explains Ferreira about the benefits of the agreement with the company.
This facility is also highlighted by Renato Luzzardi, from Bayer's Innovation and R&D Partnership team in Latin America and facilitator and focal point for the company's relationship with the University. He also recalls that when the demand for new research and technology partners arose, the company sought out Inova to establish this broad cooperation due to Unicamp's strategic location in the state of São Paulo and its maturity in its relationship with the business sector.
“Unicamp is an obvious partner for us, both due to its proximity to our headquarters in São Paulo and our important research station in the city of Paulínia, and due to the University's potential and maturity in its relationship with industry. Unicamp, through Inova, is very mature in matters of intellectual property, technology transfer, in addition to the entire Portfolio of Technologies and research opportunities that we are interacting with”, explains Luzzardi about the choice of Bayer.
For the success of the partnership and the promotion of assertiveness between the parties, the focal point methodology was also used, in which Inova and Crop Science centralize and mediate the relationship between Unicamp and Bayer, which is not restricted to the agricultural sector. The strategy has been seen as positive by both sides because it is now possible to monitor and track opportunities already negotiated, for future maturation, in addition to proposing business models that are different from the R&D projects that teachers are accustomed to.
“We managed to build a culture of mutual communication that has made our negotiations with Bayer much easier. So, if another division of the company contacts us or a professor contacts us for a potential partnership, the focal points quickly talk to each other so that the interactions enter this process that we have established to minimize possible conflicts or noise of information that harm or delay the negotiations”, highlights Ferreira about the achievements that go beyond the signed contract or agreement.
Rresults of cooperation
“Soon after signing the cooperation agreement, we underwent major transformations in our organization, so we were not yet able to achieve the speed we would like in this partnership with Unicamp, but it was possible to advance recent partnerships with our research station in Paulínia, dedicated to crop protection, seed treatment and regulations”, celebrates Luzzardi about the achievements already generated by the negotiations.
One of these results derived from the broad interaction was the material transfer contract signed in 2020 (MTA) extracted from a patent filed by Unicamp, whose authors are professor Glaucia Pastore from the Faculty of Food Engineering (FEA) and doctoral students Aline Zanotto and Cristiano de Andrade who are being honored at this year's Inventors Award.
The transferred material is a biosurfactant which, in addition to being less polluting, is extracted from manipueira (cassava extract), a by-product discarded by the food industry and which, from this patented process, can be absorbed by the market with different applicability. Bayer is currently testing the Technology Maturity Level (TRL) for its demands in a proof of concept, which seeks to evaluate whether the compound has the potential to control a certain disease in crops. In addition to this This initiative to bring industrial waste to a noble destination is very much in line with the environmental sustainability objectives sought by Bayer and Unicamp.
In March 2021, an R&D project was also signed under the coordination of professor Bárbara Teruel from the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI) to develop the prototype of equipment that will be used in seed processing.
“Seed processing emits a lot of fine dust and can cause lung problems and compromise equipment due to wear and tear. The equipment allows you to adjust the system to have the appropriate level of emissions”, explains Luzzardi about the benefits expected as a result of the project.
In addition to the partnerships mentioned, the company is currently evaluating other collaboration opportunities between Unicamp and Bayer, as well as the possibility of new rounds to discover more interaction opportunities.
Other companies that wish to learn about the possibilities with Unicamp, from providing services to extensive cooperation like this with Bayer, can talk directly to Inova Unicamp at this link.
Understand Material Transfer
The material transfer contract is better known as MTA, an acronym in English for Material Transfer Agreement, one of the ways to transfer a technology without damaging intellectual property by ensuring that there will be no reverse engineering in its use, for example.
At Unicamp, this type of transfer with a term shorter than a technology license was adopted with Bayer due to the solidity of the broad cooperation agreement. In this way, the company was allowed to evaluate whether the compound extracted by the patented process could be a solution for the company and whether the Technology Maturity Level, a term also better known by its acronym in English as TRL of Technology Readiness Level¸ is ideal for market absorption in the expected applicability.
If the tests are positive or the deadline expires and the company wishes to continue testing the technology, a licensing agreement will be signed.
Participate in the Inventores Award webinar
With the aim of honoring students, alumni, researchers and teachers involved in technology protection and transfer activities at Unicamp, the Unicamp Innovation Agency annually holds the Inventors Award with various activities, which this year will have extra content in the webinar format .
During the event, it is possible to learn more about other innovations and participate in question and answer sessions with the public. Among the content, we will cover topics such as business opportunities for software, learn about some Unicamp technologies absorbed by the market, the protection of intellectual property and much more. Check the schedule complete here.
The event takes place over an entire day. It is possible to attend the tables and blocks of interest by accessing the same link at any time, which will be sent by email after registration.
Stay up to date with Unicamp's news and innovations. Sign up and participate!
original article published on the Unicamp Innovation Agency website.
