PraxisUnico

Updated on Jan 23, 2024

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Praxisunico conference 2015

PraxisUnico is a UK based non-profit national professional association for Knowledge Exchange & Commercialisation (KEC) practitioners.

What is praxisunico

Members

PraxisUnico has over 170 member organisations across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), and a network of over 5000 individuals involved in KEC.

History

PraxisUnico was formed in 2009 from two separate organisations - Praxis (committed to training for technology transfer officers in universities and research centres) and Unico which was a membership organisation including universities and PSRE organisations.

Current and past chairs

Chairs of PraxisUnico have included:

Angela Kukula, ICR: 2015–present

Sue O’Hare, City University London: 2013-2015

Douglas Robertson, University of Edinburgh : 2011-2013

David Secher, University of Cambridge: 2009-2011

Activities

PraxisUnico runs training courses for KEC professionals both within the UK and internationally, works to promote best practice within KEC, and runs events and networking activities. It aims to “facilitate interactions between the public sector research base, business and government by bringing together key stakeholders to debate, educate and inform.” It also works to represent the KEC sector in policy consultations. International activity is led by Nessa Carey.

Founder member of ATTP

PraxisUnico is a founder member of The Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals(ATTP). ATTP confers the world-recognized Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) designation. RTTP status recognizes the accomplishments, roles, skills, knowledge, and deal-making expertise of technology transfer professionals. There are over 320 RTTPs recognised globally.

Impact Awards for KEC professionals

The Impact Awards were introduced by PraxisUnico in 2009. In 2015, PraxisUnico partnered with Research Councils UK to deliver the awards jointly. The awards are open to members and non-members. The 2015 categories and winners included:

Contribution to Business: University of Leicester, ASDEC

Contribution to Society: Public Health England, Ebola on the Frontline

Outstanding KEC Initiative: Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, Lancaster University, Liverpoool University and Inventya

The overall winner in 2015 was the University of Leicester for the ASDEC project. Details of these and previous winners are available on the Impact Awards website. The Impact Awards are not scheduled to run in 2016, with a showcase of past winners taking place at the PraxisUnico Conference instead.