ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROFESSIONALS

Their core work

ASTP is the pan-European professional association for knowledge and technology transfer practitioners — the people who move research results from universities and public research organizations into industry and society. They provide training, coaching, and capacity building to technology transfer offices across Europe, helping them commercialize publicly funded research more effectively. In H2020 projects, they contribute their extensive network of TT professionals and their expertise in investment readiness, IP management, and best-practice dissemination for research valorization.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2014-2017), ASTP focused squarely on the mechanics of technology transfer: coaching TT professionals, training them in commercialization best practices, and helping SMEs become investment-ready through pitching and crowdfunding skills. From 2017 onward, the focus broadened toward systemic issues — intellectual property governance, societal innovation, and bringing underrepresented regions into EU research programs. The shift suggests a move from "how to do TT better" toward "how to make TT reach further and serve more of Europe."

ASTP is moving from operational TT skills training toward strategic roles in EU research policy — particularly widening access to innovation programs for underrepresented regions and newcomer organizations.

How they like to work

ASTP never coordinates — they join as a participant or third party, contributing their network reach and professional community rather than managing the research itself. With 69 unique partners across 23 countries from just 5 projects, they operate as a network amplifier: when you bring ASTP in, you gain access to hundreds of TT offices across Europe. This makes them ideal for dissemination-heavy CSA projects where reach matters more than deep technical work.

Remarkably broad network for a small project portfolio: 69 unique consortium partners across 23 countries, reflecting their role as a pan-European professional association with members in virtually every EU member state. Their connections span universities, research organizations, and innovation agencies rather than industry.

What sets them apart

ASTP's unique value is institutional: they are THE professional association for technology transfer in Europe, with direct access to TT offices in universities and PROs across the continent. No research group or consultancy can match their ability to disseminate best practices to the people who actually move research into industry. For any consortium that needs to reach the TT community at scale — whether for training, policy uptake, or network effects — ASTP is the default partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PROGRESS-TT
  Largest project by far (EUR 480K to ASTP) — a flagship effort to identify and spread best-practice technology transfer methods across European public research organizations.
• FIT-4-NMP
  Most recent project (2021-2023), showing ASTP's strategic pivot toward widening participation and helping newcomer organizations access Horizon Europe funding in advanced materials and manufacturing.
• EIPIN IS
  An MSCA training network on intellectual property — unusual for ASTP as their only non-CSA project, indicating deeper engagement with IP research and education.