ASTP

What ASTP does

ASTP is a non-profit, membership-based professional association founded in 1990 and headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, serving knowledge transfer (KT) professionals across European universities, research institutions, and Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs). The association offers a portfolio of interconnected services including accredited training courses, an annual conference, webinars (notably the 'Tea with ASTP' series), masterclasses, thematic events, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and a curated resources library. As a founding member of the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP), ASTP provides a pathway toward the Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) designation, with its training courses contributing Continuing Education points toward accreditation.

ASTP's core technology footprint is conventional rather than proprietary: the association runs a content and event platform, an annual pan-European KT survey engaging 520+ KTOs from 20+ countries, and a newly launched Power BI-based 'KTO Insight & Positioning Report' that delivers personalised benchmarking to participating KTOs. No proprietary AI/ML models, SaaS platform, or patents are disclosed. The organisation is governed by a volunteer board led by President Amanda Zeffman (appointed May 2026), with a CEO (Laura MacDonald) and 51–100 employees supporting operations.

Revenue is generated through three streams: annual membership subscriptions (the core recurring revenue base covering 1,829 members across 499 organisations in 53 countries as of 2025), event and training registration fees, and customised training services. Distribution is community-led: growth comes through peer referrals, SIG participation, and the annual conference (AC26 in Bucharest drew 345 attendees from 42 countries and 205 organisations). ASTP also operates the National Associations Advisory Committee (NAAC), coordinating 40 national KT associations across 33 countries, and holds an MoU with the European Patent Office (EPO) plus policy relationships with DG RTD and JRC, reinforcing its position as Europe's de facto KT professional body.

Name

ASTP

Legal name

ASTP

Website

https://astp4kt.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ASTP is a European non-profit professional association that supports knowledge transfer (KT) professionals through training, events, Special Interest Groups, and RTTP accreditation support, serving 1,829 members across 499 organisations in 53 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: ASTP generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees from knowledge transfer professionals across European universities, research institutions, and KTOs.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from training courses, webinars, masterclasses, thematic events, and annual conferences. Non-members pay higher fees (e.g., €75 for some webinars).
3. Training Courses: ASTP offers multiple training courses including Knowledge Transfer Fundamentals, Technology Licensing, Creating Successful Spin-Outs, and others, earning revenue from course fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ASTP is a pan-European membership association for knowledge transfer (KT) professionals working in universities, research institutions, and Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs). It sells annual memberships and delivers accredited training courses, webinars, masterclasses, thematic events, and an annual conference, supported by a resources library, 11 Special Interest Groups (SIGs), RTTP accreditation pathways, and an annual Europe-wide KT survey.

Product overview

ASTP operates as a professional association providing a platform of interconnected services for knowledge transfer professionals across Europe. The core offerings consist of Training Courses (accredited towards RTTP certification), Annual Conferences, Webinars (including the 'Tea with ASTP' series), Masterclasses, Thematic Events, and Special Interest Groups. These are complemented by a Resources Library organized by topics and SIGs, the European Annual KT Survey providing benchmarking data, and the KTO Insight & Positioning Report for customized analytics. The portfolio is held together by community engagement through 11 Special Interest Groups covering domains from AI4KT to Spin-off, all supporting the professionalisation of knowledge transfer across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASTP Annual Conference: Annual conference bringing together knowledge transfer professionals from across Europe
• Tea with ASTP
• RTTP (Registered Technology Transfer Professional)
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Products and services

• ASTP Training Courses Accredited multi-day, one-day and two-day training programmes for knowledge transfer professionals, with content CE-accredited towards the RTTP designation awarded by ATTP. Topics span KTO operations, spin-out creation, licensing, venture capital, negotiation, finance and software-specific KT challenges. Audience: KT officers, KTO staff and technology transfer managers in European universities and research institutions.
• ASTP Annual Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• RTTP accreditation demonstrates professional competence in KT
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ATTP (Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATTP is the international body that awards RTTP (Registered Technology Transfer Professional) designation. ASTP is a founding member of ATTP and supports RTTP as the benchmark for professional recognition. ASTP's training courses are CE accredited for RTTP applications.
• European Patent Office (EPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPO and ASTP have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and collaborate on events including EPO visits and joint webinars such as the Deep Tech Finder session. EPO provides patent intelligence tools relevant to KT professionals.
• European Commission - Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASTP collaborates with DG RTD on policy development, KT surveys, and initiatives under the ERA Policy Agenda. ASTP participates in EU projects aligned with its mission.
• European Commission for Knowledge TransfercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU body coordinating knowledge transfer policy and initiatives. ASTP engages with EC KT initiatives and participates in policy consultation processes.
• Joint Research Centre (JRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU scientific body providing data and analysis. ASTP engages with JRC on research and innovation topics relevant to KT community.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency for IP. ASTP collaborates with WIPO on IP-related topics affecting knowledge transfer professionals.
• 4IP CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil focused on intellectual property issues. ASTP participates in 4IP Council initiatives related to IP management in knowledge transfer.
• LES (Licensing Executives Society) BeneluxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint Pan-European IP Conference (50th anniversary of LES Benelux) in The Hague with exclusive EPO visit. ASTP CEO Laura McDonald spoke on EU regulation updates. Events connect IP and KT professionals.
• InteumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides scholarship for ASTP Annual Conference attendees. Inteum supports early-career KT professionals' participation in ASTP events.
• Biotope (VIB-backed incubator)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiotope Basecamp programme offering €350K and 18 months support for early-stage biotech startups. ASTP promotes this opportunity to members.
• Concordia Design AcceleratorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPoland Prize programme offering up to €95,000 equity-free funding for startups. ASTP shares this startup support opportunity with members.
• IMPAC3T-IP ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project developing IP licensing toolbox with three scenario-based sub-toolboxes (Classical Plus, Crisis, Co-creation). ASTP may adapt materials for future training offerings.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LES International (Licensing Executives Society International): Global professional society for people in intellectual property licensing and technology transfer. ASTP co-organises events with LES Benelux, and the two organisations serve overlapping audiences around IP commercialisation and licensing.
• EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisations): European association representing Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and PROs. EARTO overlaps with ASTP in serving the public research commercialisation ecosystem and engages on EU policy, KT, and impact metrics.
• ATTP (Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals): International body that awards the Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) designation. ASTP is a founding member of ATTP; ATTP defines the credential ASTP training supports, making it a tightly linked peer rather than just a partner.
• Netval: Italy's national association for KT and research valorisation, affiliated with ASTP via NAAC. Operates as a national-level peer delivering KT professional services and policy engagement in Italy.
• ARMA (Association of Research Managers and Administrators) — formerly PraxisUnico: UK-based association supporting research managers and KT/administration professionals with training, accreditation (Registered Practice Developer), and events — a national-level peer addressing a similar professional remit to ASTP.
• PACTT (Polish Association of Centres for Technology Transfer): Polish national association of technology transfer centres, represented on ASTP's board via former VP Communities Krystian Gurba. Comparable scope of KT professional support at national level.
• AUTM (Association of University Technology Managers): The leading US-based professional association for university technology transfer professionals, offering training, an annual meeting, and the Certified Technology Transfer Professional (CTTP) credential — the closest functional equivalent to ASTP in North America.

Others

• European University Association (EUA): Larger umbrella association representing over 850 European universities. EUA addresses a broader remit than ASTP but engages overlapping institutional members and EU research policy agendas.
• Science|Business: Brussels-based network connecting universities, industry, and policymakers on research and innovation. Adjacent ecosystem player that convenes some of the same audiences ASTP serves, particularly at EU policy level.

Regional players

• Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA): Asia-Pacific professional network for research commercialisation and KT practitioners. Operates in a comparable professional niche to ASTP but serves a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASTP