Technological maturity in research projects, as an essential factor for transfer to the market: Atomic Layer Deposition Case, Universidad de Sonora-Kinematics

Abstract

Scientific or/and technological frontier research is an activity deeply developed by academics and researchers in México, the relevance and impact of this activity is reflected by the scientific or/and production indicators. There are also indicators that allow to understand the social and economic impact from knowledge and development of technology in the private and public sector, such as industrial property generation, to economic evaluation of technology and its transfer to the final users, to name a few. This paper describes the methodological tools for carrying out a protection strategy, an economic valuation and a technology transfer plan by optimizing the applicable instrument in order to achieve technological readiness, through the timely identification of the relevance of knowledge generation and its effective linkage to the final user. This practical case of analysis, led by Dr. Rafael García-Gutiérrez from the Physics Research Department of the University of Sonora (UNISON), consisted in developing an equipment for the nanometric material layers application in order to satisfy the need of a knowledge generation project at the diamond coatings area of solar cells. Once the scientific equipment (ALD, atomic layer deposition) had been developed, a readiness strategy was implemented in both economic and manufacturing issues, to generate the necessary technical bases in order to achieve technology transfer to a local company with high vacuum furnaces expertise. The results derived from the last-mentioned strategy, provide an enriching experience as they are evidence of a successfully technological readiness strategy and also, an effective an efficient linkage with the final user for a future market exploitation.