Kansai Technology Licensing Organization Co., Ltd. (K-TLO) was established in October 1998 to promote technology transfer from universities in the Kansai area to the industrial sector. In December 1998, it was approved as an official technology licensing organization by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) under the “Law for Promoting University-Industry Technology Transfer.” In addition, K-TLO was designated as a “Super TLO” by METI in June 2004 in recognition of our innovative business model.
One of K-TLO's missions is to enhance and support the R&D activities of university researchers by distributing a part of the profit obtained through commercialization of researcher inventions. For this purpose, we have actively worked together with universities and the industrial sector to facilitate the development of a model for an “intellectual creative cycle.”

K-TLO has achieved positive results in its technology transfer activities since its establishment. However, our business environment has changed remarkably in the last three years. In particular, since all of Japan's national universities became independent corporations in April 2004, the policy concerning intellectual property rights changed from attribution to individual inventors to attribution to universities, and a management section for intellectual property was set up in each university. We have addressed such change and created a new business model for technology transfer. We have also organized a strong licensing team and are now actively promoting new business opportunities in close cooperation with the relevant sections of universities.

In addition, K-TLO offers such services as human resource training in the field of technology transfer, support for other organizations regarding technology transfer, coordination of collaborative research between universities and companies, and support for venture companies, and promotion and education concerning technology transfer through events and exhibitions.

K-TLO has also organized the “K-TLO Association,” which consists of companies and university researchers. This association provides an opportunity for university researchers to meet and exchange information regarding promising research work and innovative results.

We at K-TLO are striving to achieve our business goals by earning the understanding and encouragement of both university researchers and companies in the industrial sector, and I hope for your warm support in this endeavor.

Thank you.