Christine Piché, National Research Council Canada

Technology Transfer Award

For taking IP management to the next level

---

Exemplary leadership in technology transfer requires not only a deep understanding of how the system works, but also of how to put the processes to improve it into large-scale practice. As an Intellectual Property (IP) advisor and patent agent with the National Research Council (NRC), Christine Piche redefines excellence in all aspects of the field.

Designing and implementing systematic and professional programs to improve technology transfer, Christine's singular impact on NRC has rippled throughout federal science-based departments and agencies and NRC client organizations. In 2006, she gave life to the idea of a centralized 'Disclosure Review' program that provides guidance to business development officers and other decision-makers on how to best gauge the commercial potential of emerging new technologies. Aware that most technologies fail because of patent and market issues, Christine developed selection criteria that bridged the gap between market assessment results and patent assessments, two critical aspects that historically were treated in isolation. An expert on a wide range of IP management topics, she devised a training program for NRC business officers and researchers that covered collaborative agreements, licensing issues and everything in between. She also identified significant technology transfer, commercialization and legal consequences of common Open Source Software (OSS) licensing practices.

Christine's tireless efforts have changed the business culture at NRC. As one colleague said: "Christine is not afraid to delve into messy and time-consuming issues if it is in the best interests of the organization that they be resolved."