A simple and free email based networking tool to aid the effectiveness of the technology commercialisation process

Inventya run the UK and International Technology Transfer section of the Knowledge Vine, a help network for technology professionals.

The Knowledge Vine is a novel networking system for technology professionals in universities, technology brokers, consultants, SME support professionals, technology investors and patent attorneys etc. It is very simple, very powerful, informal and free.

The network consists of several hundred technology transfer professionals internationally, across all sectors. Operating since Oct 2006 it grows every week, largely through word of mouth. It has been described as an email equivalent to “word of mouth”. It has proven to be a very effective tool at giving people in TT very easy access to specific help, or the experience, knowledge or contacts of the peer group.

It uses an extremely simple email system, using a set of novel rules that make it easy to use, with very little clutter or overhead. Anyone in the technology transfer community or associated with technology commercialisation, can use the system and benefit from it.

How it works

All a user needs to do in order to use the system is to write a request in the form of a single sentence question to a special email address for the system. This email forwarded to all the members of the network. If a colleague on the network has the knowledge or information you are looking for they will reply directly back to you (and only you) by email.

Typical questions that people post:

• Does anyone have a good contact for technology licensing at Philips Semiconductor?
• Does anyone have any good licensing agents/broker contacts in Taiwan or Japan?
• Does anyone have any market data on the blood glucose market?
• Does anyone know a good market research specialist in the environmental sector?

The novel rules of the system are:

• Only one sentence allowed (plus contact information) – this forces the requester to communicate very clearly
• The sentence must be a question
• Only reply to the person making the request (no-one else cares)
• No offers, promotions, or advertising

The rules it uses make it distinctly different and much more effective than existing email and web based tools. Because of their simplicity, the only traffic users see is occasional single sentence emails in their in box. Because they are written in a very clear communication style they are easy and very quick to read.

When posting a request to the group, typically receive 5-10 replies, either with the information that they need, or suggesting who they might be able to get it from. The amount of traffic on the system is very light – typically 20 postings per month at present so email in box load is minimal.

Surveys of the users have been done on two occasions. The overwhelming response was that the relevance and quality of the replies and support was extremely high.

User comments

Below are some comments from some of the users on the system:

• "I got the information required by my client within 15 minutes after posting my request to the network. Simply amazing.....Kudos to the members of the network"


• "The size and speed of the response we got really surprised us"


• "I have tested the network with my first question. It is wonderful! I got 7 answers in an hour! Thanks!"


• "I really think that it is an excellent resource and I am certain that it will prove highly beneficial to us in the coming months"


• "I have found that responses have been both quick and positive"


• "The Knowledge Vine is a really good way of connecting with remote colleagues on Tech Transfer matters"


• "The Knowledge Vine gives a simple and easy solution"


• "On the occasions I have used the network, I have found that the leads I have been given have been very useful and have come through promptly"


• "I would endorse the Knowledge Vine 100% and find that it is of great support"


• "I'm very impressed with the speed of response!"

Linking in to corporates and others seeking technologies

The system is frequently used by technology based corporates and multinationals seeking new technology, so it helps you connect with market pull directly from industry. It therefore puts ALL organisations on the network on the radar to receive technology requests.

To join

Join directly at www.theknowledgevine.net. The system consists of a number of Knowledge Vine email groups covering different geographical regions including the UK, Scandinavia, North America, Australia and South East Asia, providing a broad array of powerful free knowledge resources.