Challenge:
The intellectual property (IP) unit of an inter-governmental organisation in the agriculture sector sought to improve its internal processes and augment its staff base to cope with the expanding requirement to assess new and novel technologies whilst rationalising an extremely large IP portfolio.
The Oracle’s Solution:
Four fellows from a cross-section of relevant scientific disciplines were assigned as named contacts for key staff within the client’s IP unit. This enabled the formation of a buddy system which meant that buddies from each organisation met physically or virtually at least three times a week over a ten-month period. The four key fellows worked with other colleagues within the Oracle to design innovation assessment frameworks and establish tractable systems for innovation capture, maintaining and rationalising IP portfolios, and selling and assigning IP rights. Mentorship was provided to both buddies within the IP Unit as well as to other client colleagues on demand. A recruitment exercise was conducted by the Oracle and three new staff members were subsequently appointed by the client.
Consequential Impact:
The mentorship provided by Oxford Oracle allowed the IP Unit to quickly develop knowledge and experience which facilitated improved organisational efficiencies. For example, the number of pipeline innovations evaluated each month more than doubled over the period of intensive support. The bespoke frameworks and systems produced by the Oracle were acclaimed by the client organisation and remain in place and in active deployment to the present day. The new colleagues who were recruited provided critical disciplinary expertise which was previously lacking and are working with their teammates to produce excellent synergistic effects.