Developing Nations:
The Challenges of Technology Commercialization

Developing nations represent very large and fast growing market opportunities for new advances in medical devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics. However, these markets have two major constraints: (1) patient income levels that are far less than western standards, and (2) weak intellectual property (IP) systems that afford little protection for new technologies.

Universities seek IP protection on innovations developed in academia because this incentivizes companies to license the IP and invest in the development of the invention.  Ultimately, the company strives to achieve the economic rewards of advancing the invention to the market as a product.   However, when there is not a clear commercial market for an invention, and when the enforcement of intellectual property rights in certain geographies looks bleak, the path to the creation of a product is not as straightforward.

Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer and the Bloomberg School of Public Health Office of Research Administration invite you to attend Developing Nations: The Challenges of Technology Commercialization. During this panel discussion, Johns Hopkins researchers and experts in the intellectual property and commercialization fields will discuss strategies for overcoming the challenges inherent in the productization of inventions geared toward developing nations. 

Join us as we address these issues and more on March 12, 2012 in the Feinstone Hall at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The event will run from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.