Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia in Hong Kong with Dr. Victor Lau

With a PhD and 20 years of experience working in the semiconductor field, Dr. Victor Lau makes for the perfect middleman between industry and academia. Today, he is the Associate Director of the Knowledge Transfer Office at the City University of Hong Kong.

In this episode, Victor gives us insight into what technology transfer looks like in Hong Kong, how his office supports inventors and entrepreneurs, and some of the biggest challenges they face.

International perspectives offer a valuable learning opportunity, and Victor has a wealth of knowledge that he has gained from his wide-ranging experiences that will benefit technology transfer professionals across the world. 

In This Episode:

[01:41] Victor shares the journey that led him to the world of technology transfer. 

[03:30] What to expect as a new entrant into the technology transfer profession.

[04:58] The three stages of technology transfer in Hong Kong. 

[05:38] How Hong Kong’s ITF program works.

[07:08] The startup program that was established at the City University of Hong Kong in 2021. 

[08:01] Support that Victor’s office offers to inventors and entrepreneurs. 

[08:38] The size of Victor’s office.

[09:02] The biggest challenges that Victor and his team face when working to commercialize a technology. 

[11:30] How Victor established relationships with the inventors and students at the City University of Hong Kong.

[13:24] What Victor is most proud of in his current role. 

[14:19] How the Hong Kong trading culture influences the technology transfer sector.

[15:31] The importance of always being open-minded. 

[16:16] Gender diversity in Hong Kong and the work being done to enhance it. 

[19:24] Victor’s hopes for the future of technology transfer in Hong Kong.  

Resources:

Dr. Victor Lau on LinkedIn