Critical Role of Tech Transfer in Climate Impact

Dulce Vega⠀|⠀

A new draft agreement for international climate financing was introduced by the end of 2024, at the COP29 held in Azerbaijan. Supported by the developed countries, this agreement proposes at least $1.3 trillion per year for climate protection and adaptation in developing countries. Although it is still under review, this ambitious plan underscores the urgent need for sustainable technologies and the importance of scaling them globally—a vision where technology transfer plays a pivotal role. We spoke with Dr. Saara Inkinen, tech transfer and innovation expert, and an Impact Hub Vienna member since 2018, for her insights on the role of tech transfer in climate impact.

What is Tech Transfer?

Tech transfer, commonly also called technology transfer, deals with the mechanisms and pathways that transform scientific advancements into real-world solutions that address for example critical climate, healthcare, and social challenges. Dr. Inkinen explains the importance of this process:

“I would say tech transfer is one of the most exciting professions I know! Imagine getting to collaborate with the best scientists, entrepreneurs, and other professionals in exploring how their ideas and inventions could be turned into products or other solutions that can transform the world for the better—I can’t think of a job more motivating that this. In essence, it’s all about bridging science with business and impact. The field operates at the intersection of many other fields and actors, so it is highly collaborative. For technology transfer professionals, it is essential to understand the science, as well as for example the mechanisms of new business creation and intellectual property management. Social innovations can also have other routes for impact. An important aspect is also to be able to align the needs and ambitions of the various stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.“ 

Dr. Inkinen has been working in tech transfer and innovation management since 2012, before which she worked 7 years as an R&D scientist in the field of biopolymers. Her mission is to create science-based impact through Nordic Catalyst, a company she founded in 2018. Based in Austria and serving an international client base, Nordic Catalyst provides specialized consulting and training services to help bring scientific innovations towards the market.

Tech Transfer in Climate Solutions

Many urgently needed solutions stem from scientific research, and efficient innovation management and tech transfer is therefore crucial for implementing and scaling up technologies that fight climate change. But how can we find and benefit from these solutions as efficiently as possible? Dr. Inkinen describes the process as follows:

“After an invention or a new research-based idea has been identified, we first analyze the scale and significance of the benefit it can bring in its foreseen application areas and in a broader sense, and also assess its market potential and positioning. The technology readiness is evaluated, and if needed, resources are allocated for further proof of concept experiments and prototyping. Sustainability aspects are also very important, and many of my projects are in fact related to mitigating climate change. Acquiring sufficient funding and investments naturally plays an important role in the process. The possible outcomes of the technology transfer process are typically out-licensing or sale of the intellectual property, further R&D, or a new spinout or startup. Successful technology transfer is hence a crucial enabler for the later impact creation through new, improved and more sustainable products and services.”

Tech Transfer Across Multiple Disciplines

Tech transfer involves collaboration among numerous stakeholders, including scientists, intermediaries such as tech transfer professionals, public funding agents, investors, and companies that bring inventions to the market. This collaborative approach creates solutions across diverse fields such as health, sustainability, materials, food, and medical technology—just to name a few examples.

Dr. Inkinen’s work through Nordic Catalyst spans multiple disciplines. She focuses on STEM but has also worked with social innovations.
It has also been great to notice an increasing number of interesting and relevant connections between completely different disciplines — for example collaborations between scientists from STEM and SSHA.”

Tech Transfer

As a researcher, she developed bioplastics that can be used in technical materials, such as compostable packaging, as well as biomedical materials, for example bone and cartilage repair. It was in fact her research years that originally inspired her to focus on tech transfer and innovation management, as she realized how much underutilized potential there was in academic research: Many great ideas and inventions are simply left unused without sufficient mechanisms and resources to pick them up and take them to the next level. I am a result-oriented person who likes efficiency, so I decided to do something about it! I think that my multidisciplinary background spanning from R&D and tech transfer to business and funding management is perfectly suited to the field and has enabled me to find and develop my own special approach the work.”

Connecting Academia to Entrepreneurship

A key part of tech transfer involves linking research and academia to entrepreneurship. Dr. Inkinen notes that while some researchers are eager to become entrepreneurs, others prefer existing companies to take over at the commercialization stage. Each project has its own path to market, whether it’s through a startup or a licensing agreement, and Nordic Catalyst helps determine the best route based on each project’s unique characteristics. 

As COP29 highlights the urgent need for global climate financing, tech transfer emerges as a critical driver in scaling sustainable solutions to address climate challenges. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, actors like Nordic Catalyst demonstrate how innovative technologies can transform ambitious climate goals into actionable impact.

Contact Dr. Inkinen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saara-inkinen/ for more information, or read more about Nordic Catalyst at https://www.nordiccatalyst.com/

Let’s talk about carbon footprint: individual steps for a sustainable Austria

related posts

Impact in your inbox!

Sign up for our free global membership perks, incredible opportunities and monthly inspiring updates!