CLDP sponsored the participation of three technology transfer specialists from Armenia to attend the University of California-Davis (UC Davis) Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Licensing Academy in Davis, California. The two-week course was hosted by UC Davis International Law Programs and the Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture (PIPRA). Course topics included: U.S. and international IP protection, IP management for commercialization, licensing, IP issues in negotiating an international agreement, starting IP and technology transfer offices, and start-ups and spin-offs from public sector institutions. In addition to lectures and presentations, the course included case studies, as well as field visits to Silicon Valley, Napa, and the greater Sacramento area. The program included 38 participants from 19 countries and served as a wonderful opportunity to compare international best practices in the field of IP and Technology Commercialization. 

CLDP’s ongoing assistance is focused on bolstering innovation and R&D commercialization in Armenia by helping to create a critical mass of Armenian specialists equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully commercialize discoveries made by the academic community and act as an effective interface with the business community.