28th August 2019

AgorIP team members make Swansea University history to achieve RTTP status for second and third time

Two members of staff at AgorIP have become the second and third people in Swansea University’s history to achieve Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) status. 

Laurel Jones, a Technology Transfer Manager and Steven Powell, a Technology Transfer Officer, achieved the international professional standard for knowledge transfer and commercialisation through their work within AgorIP and extensive experience outside the project. 

AgorIP brings academics, clinicians and businesses together to pioneer research into cutting-edge technologies and drive commercial success with the support of Swansea University, and the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

To achieve RTTP status, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they have applied their knowledge and skills by leading a complex knowledge transfer project between the research base and business or community organisations.

Mrs Jones has worked at Swansea University for 10 years, where she started out as the Finance and Compliance Manager for the European Social Fund funded LEAD Wales Programme. 

She joined AgorIP from the university’s Research Engagement and Innovation Services Department, where she was an External Contracts Officer. Prior to this, she had a career in business/commercial banking spanning more than 20 years. 

Mr Powell has worked in engineering product design and project management for more than 12 years, with 20 years’ experience overall in academic and project management roles. 

During his career, he has managed a number of university knowledge exchange innovation projects and programmes both in the UK and in Europe. 

Ciaran Whyte, Project Manager at AgorIP said: “I was very pleased and proud that both Laurel and Steven had achieved RTTP status. This is a recognition not only of their personal dedication to improve their professional status but also a demonstration of the internationally recognised approaches being deployed by the AgorIP project. With a growing portfolio of over 150 opportunities now supported, AgorIP sets high standards not only in delivery outcomes but also in quality of performance and this recognition for Laurel and Steven is clear evidence of this.”

Mark Bowman, AgorIP Pipeline Manager, added: “Securing the internationally recognised RTTP accreditation is a significant milestone for Steve and Laurel in their career as technology transfer professionals. The high quality, focused training that they have received will help to embed long term commercialisation support capacity in the west Wales region that will deliver a strong legacy from the investment by WEFO, the Welsh Government and Swansea University in the AgorIP project.  I wish them both every success in future.”