Purpose of the Committee

The Board helps the University to realise its research commercialisation potential and enables it to strengthen its performance in entrepreneurial and commercial activity.

Terms of Reference

1) Developing the Technology Transfer Strategy and plans, including a set of measures to grow technology transfer activity

2) Acting as a supervisory board in

• overseeing the University's interest, purchased from University Challenge Funds monies, in companies; and,
• considering all future investments from the Crescent Fund

3) Providing advice on Knowledge Exchange strategy in relation to commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)

4) Considering and approving arrangements for implementation of the Intellectual Property policy and commercialisation of University intellectual property

5) Reviewing the research and Intellectual property portfolio identified by the Technology Transfer Team as having the potential to be commercialised and approving decisions relating to

• Commercialisation routes and exploitation plans, including licensing or spin-out formation
• Significant decisions relating to the patent portfolio including progression to Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and National Phase (enabling international application)
• Licensing agreement terms for licensing deals with an estimated value of above £25,000
• Funding allocations from the Crescent Fund relating to spinout formation and development, implementation and management of proof of concept funding

6) Monitoring progress against the business plan of investments

7) Supporting the Technology Transfer Team in its engagement with the University, external organisations and commercialisation routes

8) Considering any issues of dispute referred to it in relation to IP or commercialisation activity

9) Providing assurance to Finance Committee

10) Providing relevant information to University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and receiving relevant information from it

11) The Board will consider any issues relating to compliance with Export Control, and the National Security and Investment Act as they relate to our IP or commercialisation activity

Procedural Rules

Meeting frequency

UCEB will meet four times a year each and meetings will alternate with Technology Transfer meetings.

Quorum

Four members (total membership is eight) including at least one external member.

Membership

Ex-officio Members

• Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), Chair
• Martin Williams, Director of Finance

Appointed Members

• Christopher Baker, External Member, term of office 2027
• Vimal Dhokia, Member of Academic Staff, term of office 2027
• Helen Kuhlman, External Member, term of office 2026
• Don McLaverty, Lay Member of Council and Member of Finance Committee, term of office 2026
• Simon Robinson, External Member, term of office 2026

In attendance

• Philip Brown, Head of Technology Transfer
• Ruth Robins, Governance Partner
• Dale Topley, Trusted Research Manager

In the event that the Vice-Chancellor has nominated an alternative Chair, the Vice-Chancellor may attend as necessary. Other members may be co-opted or invited to attend for specific meetings at the discretion of the Committee.

Note: The Terms of Reference are intended to support the entrepreneurial, innovation and commercialisation activity and decision-making processes as flexibly as possible. It should be noted that these Terms of Reference should be read in the context of the University's governance framework including the Scheme of Delegated Authorities.

Meeting Dates

Find out about our meeting dates.

Find our agenda deadlines for submitting papers.

Version information

Owner: University Commercialisation Executive Board Version number:
Approval Date: Approved by: Finance Committee Date of last review: