Business Development Specialist

Business Development & Commercialization is responsible for driving the commercialization of research, technologies, intellectual property, and innovation initiatives by developing strategic partnerships with industry, government, investors, and research organizations.

The role will identify commercialization opportunities, establish industry collaborations, support technology transfer activities, develop sustainable revenue streams, and promote the translation of research outcomes into commercially viable products, services, startups, and strategic partnerships.

The position serves as a key interface between researchers, industry partners, government entities, investors, and internal stakeholders to maximize the societal and economic impact of research and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic

• Develop and implement the University's commercialization and business development strategy.
• Identify opportunities to commercialize research outcomes, technologies, intellectual property, and innovation projects.
• Develop strategic partnerships with industry, government, military organizations, investors, and research institutions.
• Contribute to innovation ecosystem development through collaborations with incubators, accelerators, and venture capital partners.
• Support the University's strategic objectives in research translation and innovation.

Business Development

• Identify and pursue new partnership opportunities locally and internationally.
• Develop commercial engagement plans with industry.
• Build long-term relationships with strategic partners.
• Negotiate collaboration agreements and commercial partnerships.
• Develop business cases and commercialization plans.
• Identify new revenue-generating opportunities.
• Support licensing, spin-outs, start-ups, consulting opportunities, and contract research.

Commercialization

• Evaluate research technologies for commercial potential.
• Conduct market assessments and competitive analysis.
• Support technology valuation and commercialization planning.
• Work closely with researchers to develop commercialization pathways.
• Support intellectual property protection and licensing strategies.
• Coordinate technology showcases and innovation demonstrations.

Industry Engagement

• Develop relationships with industry, government, defense organizations, and international partners.
• Represent the University at conferences, exhibitions, and innovation forums.
• Coordinate industry advisory boards.
• Organize networking and industry engagement events.

Project & Portfolio Management

• Monitor commercialization projects from concept to market.
• Maintain commercialization pipelines.
• Track partnership performance and commercialization KPIs.
• Prepare executive reports and dashboards.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with researchers, faculty, legal, procurement, finance, technology transfer, and innovation teams.
• Engage external investors, industry, startups, and commercialization partners.
• Support grant-funded collaborative projects.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in:

• Business Administration
• Engineering
• Science
• Technology Management
• Innovation Management
• Entrepreneurship
• or related discipline

Experience

Minimum 4–6 years of progressively responsible experience in:

• Business Development
• Technology Commercialization
• Research Commercialization
• Industry Partnerships
• Innovation Management
• Technology Transfer
• Corporate Partnerships
• Strategic Alliances

Experience within one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Higher Education
• Research Institutes
• Government
• Defense
• Technology Companies
• Innovation Ecosystems