Universities of science and technology chart responsible AI pathways for technology transfer

LEUVEN, 28 October 2025

The leading universities of science and technology united within CESAER have today published a new report ‘AI pathways for technology transfer: Lessons learned from universities of science and technology’, presenting insights from a survey and discussions among experts, practitioners, and policymakers.

• The report is available here for download and dissemination (PDF).

The report reveals that AI adoption in technology transfer offices (TTOs) is still at an early stage but growing fast. While almost half of surveyed offices already experiment with AI for document drafting, patent analytics, and partner matching, many remain cautious due to concerns over data protection, intellectual property, and ethical risks.

The findings highlight both the opportunities and the responsibilities of using AI in research and innovation. TTOs see strong potential for AI to enhance efficiency, improve communication with partners, and expand opportunities for knowledge valorisation — provided adoption is guided by trust, transparency, and human oversight.

The report identifies key needs for the sector: investment in AI literacy and training, access to trusted and EU-based tools, and shared infrastructures such as regulatory sandboxes to enable safe experimentation. It calls for coordinated efforts among universities, funders, and policymakers to support responsible adoption aligned with the European AI Act and data protection frameworks.

“This report highlights how universities of science and technology are leading the way in ensuring that artificial intelligence strengthens, rather than replaces, human expertise. By exploring both opportunities and ethical boundaries, CESAER Members demonstrate how innovation and responsibility in the use of AI must go hand in hand.” 

— Toril Hernes (Co-Chair of Task Force Innovation, Director in the CESAER Board and Vice President Innovation at Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

“AI can help technology transfer offices work smarter, faster, and more strategically — but only if deployed responsibly. Our findings show that TTOs are ready to experiment and learn together. The next step is to build collective frameworks for trust and accountability that will benefit the entire European innovation ecosystem.”

— Tim Bedford (Vice-President of CESAER, Co-Chair of Task Force Innovation and Associate Principal for Research and Innovation at the University of Strathclyde)

For more information, please contact our Senior Advisor for Innovation & Sustainability Louise Drogoul