RDI - Tech Transfer Manager

Dubai Government; Dubai; On-site; AED 260,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Dubai Future Foundation is seeking a Tech Transfer Manager to oversee IP intake, protection, and commercialization of research outputs. You will manage a portfolio, coordinate with legal/IP teams, and drive licensing, JDAs, and spin-out activities across strategic sectors.

You will engage researchers, provide commercialization training, and help align technical development with market needs while ensuring governance and policy compliance in a dynamic Dubai ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in research, innovation, or ecosystem development.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property concepts and IP processes (registration, protection, commercialization).
• Proven ability to manage projects across multiple stakeholders and deliver training or capacity-building.
• Arabic language skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee IP intake, evaluation, and protection for affiliated institutes.
• Build and manage a strategic IP portfolio aligned with priority sectors.
• Lead commercialization pathways including licensing, JDAs, and spin-out formation.
• Engage researchers, deliver IP/commercialization training, and foster a commercialization-focused culture.
• Develop governance, policies, and processes for IP and royalty frameworks.

Skills

Project management

Communication

IP management

Stakeholder management

Business development

Education

Bachelor/Master in relevant field

Job description

About Dubai Future Foundation:

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) was established in 2016 to institutionalize future-shaping for Dubai and strengthen the city’s position as a leading global city of the future. The Foundation works in partnership with government and private-sector entities to imagine, design and accelerate Dubai’s future. Its work spans five strategic areas: future foresight, knowledge dissemination, capacity building, future design and future acceleration. At the heart of DFF’s mandate is turning future-focused ideas and opportunities into tangible outcomes. The Foundation embraces risk-taking, agility and foresight as key attributes in navigating emerging opportunities and challenges. DFF is guided by a core belief that leading in the present is not enough; the future must be actively imagined, designed and executed.

LIFE AT DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) aims to realize the wise vision of Dubai’s leadership to institutionalize the envisioned future and forward-thinking methodologies, while positioning Dubai as the leading city of the future.

In partnership with its local and global partners from governments, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, DFF drives joint efforts to collectively imagine, design, and execute the best possible future for humanity.

Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, the DFF runs and oversees many futureproofing projects and initiatives, such as the Museum of the Future, Area 2071, The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE, Dubai Future Accelerators, One Million Arab Coders, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Solutions, Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Forum, etc.

DFF’s efforts to share knowledge, adopt innovation, support entrepreneurs and innovative startups, build capacity, and promote forward-thinking and foresight principles contribute to Dubai’s ambitions to be a role model for the cities of the future through the power of unlimited imagination, innovation, foresight and disruptive mindset.

For more information on the initiatives, projects, and programs of Dubai Future Foundation, please visit the website: www.dubaifuture.ae

WHERE DOES THIS ROLE FIT INTO THE BIGGER PICTURE?

This role is pivotal to advancing Dubai Future Foundation's capacity to capture, protect, and commercialize the intellectual output of its affiliated research institutes.

It underpins the establishment of a world-class Technology Transfer Office aligned with global best practices, driving the systems, processes, and partnerships necessary to convert research into high-impact market outcomes.

Through this work, the role contributes directly to Dubai's ambition of becoming a leading innovation and commercialization hub — where knowledge generated today becomes the economic engine of tomorrow.

TECH TRANSFER MANAGER

As the Tech Transfer Manager, you will oversee the identification, protection, management, and commercialization of intellectual property (IP) generated by research institutes affiliated with the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).

The role serves as the core operational gateway between research, legal/IP protection, and market commercialization, ensuring that discoveries are captured early, strategically protected, and translated into high-value market outcomes, including licensing, venture creation, and strategic industry partnerships.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

IP INTAKE, EVALUATION & PROTECTION

• You will oversee the mandatory IP disclosure process across DFF-affiliated research institutes.
• You will manage a centralized IP disclosure and tracking system, ensuring timely capture prior to any public disclosure.
• You will conduct initial commercial and patentability assessments, evaluating novelty, protectability, market need, strategic relevance, and feasibility for progression to MVP or commercialization.
• You will coordinate with external patent counsel to develop and execute filing strategies, including provisional, PCT, and national phase filings.
• You will ensure standardized IP assignment and inventor royalty-sharing frameworks are applied consistently across DFF entities.

IP PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

• You will build and manage a strategic IP portfolio aligned with DFF priority sectors, including deep tech, future industries, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and AI.
• You will develop commercialization and protection strategies for IP assets, including defensive, licensing-first, and spin-out-ready approaches.
• You will maintain accurate IP records, prosecution timelines, and cost tracking mechanisms.
• You will regularly review portfolio performance and recommend pruning, continuation, or escalation strategies as appropriate.

COMMERCIALIZATION & MARKET ENGAGEMENT

• You will lead commercialization pathways for DFF technologies, including technology licensing, Joint Development Agreements (JDAs), and spin-out company formation in collaboration with venture creation teams.
• You will prepare non-confidential technology summaries, pitch materials, and commercialization collateral for industry partners and investors.
• You will support industry matchmaking efforts in partnership with industry liaisons and business development teams.
• You will participate in reverse pitches, demo days, and partner briefings to showcase DFF technologies and innovation capabilities.

RESEARCHER ENGAGEMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING

• You will act as the primary interface for researchers and inventors, building trust and fostering commercial awareness across the research ecosystem.
• You will deliver IP and commercialization training sessions to research staff, covering topics such as disclosure best practices, publication timing, and IP strategy.
• You will advise researchers on aligning technical development with market needs while maintaining academic rigor.
• You will foster a commercialization-positive research culture across DFF laboratories and affiliated institutes.

GOVERNANCE, POLICY & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

• You will support the development and continuous improvement of IP policies, disclosure procedures, royalty and equity distribution frameworks, and conflict-of-interest processes.
• You will ensure compliance with UAE laws, international IP frameworks, and DFF governance standards.
• You will prepare internal reports and dashboards covering disclosure volumes, patents filed and granted, licensing activity, and commercialization outcomes.

COLLABORATION & ECOSYSTEM INTEGRATION

• You will work closely with venture managers, industry liaisons, and legal, finance, and policy teams to support commercialization and ecosystem development initiatives.
• You will represent DFF within regional and international innovation ecosystems, including universities, investors, accelerators, corporates, and research institutions.
• You will benchmark DFF’s Technology Transfer Office performance against leading global technology transfer organizations and recommend continuous improvement opportunities.

WHY THIS ROLE IS IMPORTANT?

This role is key to ensuring the effective capture and commercialization of intellectual property generated by Dubai Future Foundation's affiliated research institutes, enabling sound operational decision-making and ensuring discoveries are protected and utilized strategically.

It serves as the critical link between research output and market opportunity — translating innovation into tangible economic value through licensing, venture creation, and industry partnerships.

By embedding rigorous technology transfer practices and globally aligned processes, it supports the establishment of a world-class Technology Transfer Office and drives the delivery of priorities across IP protection, commercialization, and ecosystem collaboration.

In doing so, it contributes directly to Dubai's ambition of becoming a leading global hub for innovation and knowledge-based growth.

WHAT DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION OFFERS?

We will offer you a unique opportunity to work with people who are passionate about the future and establishing Dubai as one of the leading cities of the world.

You will have the chance to work on exciting and new projects, work in a highly diverse and fast-paced environment that fosters creativity, disruptive ideas, and innovation.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR?

• You will have minimum 5 years of professional experience, preferably in research, innovation, or ecosystem development.
• You will have good understanding of intellectual property concepts, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related IP principles.
• You will have familiarity with IP processes such as registration, protection, and commercialization, as well as frameworks such as WIPO or UAE IP regime.
• You will have proven ability to manage projects or coordinate across multiple stakeholders.
• You will have strong communication, project management, and organizational skills.
• You will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Law, Policy, International Relations, IP Management, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Arabic is a plus.