Audna - Technology Transfer Office Iceland

What Audna - Technology Transfer Office Iceland does

Auðna Tæknitorg (TTO Iceland) is a non-profit technology transfer office founded in 2018 and headquartered in Reykjavík. It is owned collectively by all Icelandic universities (University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, University of Akureyri, Bifröst University, Hólar University, Agricultural University of Iceland, Iceland University of the Arts) and major public research institutes (Landspítali University Hospital, Matís, the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, and the University of Iceland Science Park). Auðna operates as the centralized national hub for translating publicly funded Icelandic research into commercial and societal impact, with an exclusive mandate over the country's public research sector.

The organization delivers a four-phase technology transfer framework: Research & Development support, Intellectual Property protection, Strategy & Marketing, and Licensing & Creating Impact. Core service products include the MasterClass educational program (a free two-to-three-day intensive course for researchers, PhD students, and postdocs on IP, funding, and commercialization), the Invention Disclosure Form (an online portal for academics to submit innovations), the Auðvarp podcast on innovation and science, and a public Market Opportunities Portfolio showcasing licensable technologies. The 9-person multidisciplinary team combines expertise in IP law, life sciences, biotech, computer science, and innovation management, and works through TTO ambassadors embedded at each owner-institution.

As a non-profit, Auðna does not generate commercial revenue in the traditional sense. Its economics flow indirectly through license fees, equity stakes in spinouts (Kaldur Therapeutics, Minamo, Arctic Therapeutics, GreenFish, Treble Technologies, SilfurGen, among others), and facilitation of project financing and grants. Between 2020-2021 and 2024-2025, service requests grew 262% (from 8 to 29), priority patent applications grew 200% (from 0 to 9), startup support tripled (from 2 to 6 projects), and the first patent managed by Auðna was granted in 2024. Strategic partnerships with KLAK Icelandic Startups, EDIH Iceland, HØIBERG patent attorneys, Gleipnir Bioforge, and Iðunn Venture Fund extend its reach into both the Icelandic startup community and the European digital innovation network.

Name

Audna - Technology Transfer Office Iceland

Legal name

Auðna Tæknitorg

Website

https://ttoiceland.is

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Auðna Tæknitorg (TTO Iceland) is a non-profit technology transfer office providing IP protection, market analysis, and commercialization services to all Icelandic universities and major public research institutes, translating academic research into spinouts, licenses, and societal impact.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG)

Keywords

• Technology transfer services
• Intellectual property management
• Research commercialization support
• Patent licensing advisory
• University innovation office

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavik

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Transfer and Licensing Services: As a non-profit organization, Auðna does not generate commercial revenue in the traditional sense. Its primary function is to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer through licensing agreements between researchers/inventors and companies, as well as supporting startup formation around scientific inventions. Revenue is generated indirectly through license fees, equity stakes in spinouts, and project financing facilitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Auðna Tæknitorg (TTO Iceland) is Iceland's national, non-profit technology transfer office providing IP protection, patent eligibility and market analysis, commercialization advisory, startup formation support, and investor/industry matchmaking for all Icelandic universities and major public research institutes. Its deliverables include the Invention Disclosure Portal, the MasterClass educational program, the Auðvarp podcast, and a public Market Opportunities Portfolio showcasing licensable technologies. The organization translates scientific research outcomes into societal and economic impact through licensing agreements and spinout formation.

Product overview

Auðna Tæknitorg (TTO Iceland) is a non-profit technology transfer organization that provides a suite of interconnected services to translate Icelandic scientific research into societal and economic impact. The core offerings include the Invention Disclosure Form for capturing research innovations, MasterClass educational programs that train researchers on IP and commercialization pathways, the Auðvarp podcast for thought leadership, and a Market Opportunities Portfolio that presents technologies to investors. Together, these services form a four-phase technology transfer framework: Research & Development support, Intellectual Property protection, Strategy & Marketing, and Licensing & Creating Impact. The organization does not offer a software product in the traditional sense but rather delivers professional services to the academic and research community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MasterClass - Creating Impact from Research Two-to-three-day intensive educational course for researchers, PhD students, postdocs, and university staff covering scientific innovation, intellectual property rights, funding channels, business development from research, and milestones for idea introduction. Includes expert talks, teamwork, and mentoring; delivered in collaboration with EDIH Iceland, Reykjavik University, and Landspítali University Hospital. Free of charge with registration required.
• Invention Disclosure Form Web-based formal disclosure portal (portal.coredata.is/audna) for academics and researchers to submit invention disclosures. Captures technical details, potential applications, related research, publications, funding, and collaborations for IP and market assessment. Used by all Icelandic university and research institute staff.
• Market Opportunities Portfolio Public online portfolio showcasing licensable technologies and innovation projects from Icelandic research institutions for investors and industry partners. Includes active opportunities in CO2 reduction catalysts, SPARK aerofoil technology, silicone surface activation, cooling indicators, and others.
• Technology Transfer Consulting Services Professional advisory services covering analysis of research and inventions for patent eligibility and market potential, intellectual property protection guidance, startup company establishment support, connection of inventors with funding and the business world, and project financing/grant advisory. Provided to university and research institute staff across Iceland.
• Auðvarp Podcast - Innovation, science and us Podcast series for discussion on technology transfer, innovation, science, business, and good ideas, featuring interviews with Icelandic researchers and entrepreneurs. Co-produced with Kveikja, Vísindagarðar Háskóla Íslands, and IHPC; available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Quantifiable outcome

• 262% increase in service requests (2020-2021 to 2024-2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KLAK - Icelandic StartupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuðna and KLAK co-contributed to sessions at the Vísindi á vordögum conference, introducing researchers and PhD students to the innovation support ecosystem. Both organizations work together to highlight the importance of translating research into real-world impact.
• EDIH IcelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuðna collaborated with EDIH Iceland to host the April MasterClass for participants from Landspítali University Hospital's innovation program and PhD students from the University of Iceland. EDIH Iceland is a European Digital Innovation Hub supporting digital transformation.
• KveikjaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the Auðvarp podcast alongside Auðna, Vísindagarðar Háskóla Íslands, and IHPC. Kveikja is an AI innovation platform.
• Vísindagarðar Háskóla Íslands (University of Iceland Science Park)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the Auðvarp podcast. Vísindagarðar is one of the owner-institutions of Auðna TTO. The organization collaborates on science park development and commercialization activities.
• IHPC (Institute for Research and Consulting)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the Auðvarp podcast alongside Auðna, Kveikja, and Vísindagarðar.
• All Icelandic Universities and Major Public Research InstitutescoreOthersAuðna serves as the exclusive technology transfer office for all universities in Iceland (University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, University of Akureyri, Bifröst University, Hólar University, Agricultural University of Iceland, Iceland University of the Arts) and major public research institutes (Landspítali University Hospital, Matís, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cambridge Enterprise: The University of Cambridge's commercialization arm, offering invention disclosure handling, patent prosecution, licensing, and seed investment for spinouts. Directly comparable to Auðna in mandate and service stack, serving a leading research university.
• Oxford University Innovation: The technology transfer office of the University of Oxford, providing IP protection, licensing, and spinout formation support to university researchers. Closely comparable in mission and service mix to Auðna, though operating at far greater scale.
• KTH Innovations: The innovation office of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, helping researchers and students commercialize inventions and form startups. Comparable Nordic TTO with a similar researcher-engagement and incubation model.
• Karolinska Institutet Innovations: Nordic TTO affiliated with Karolinska Institutet, supporting commercialization of medical and life-science research. Highly comparable as a Nordic-region TTO with similar services to Auðna.
• Helsinki Innovation Services: The University of Helsinki's TTO handling IP, licensing, and spinout formation across multiple faculties. Comparable as a national/northern European university TTO with multi-discipline coverage similar to Auðna's mandate across all Icelandic universities.

Broad incumbents

• IP Group plc: Publicly listed intellectual property commercialization company that partners with universities and research institutions to spin out technology businesses. Comparable in its academic-IP-to-spinout model, though operates as a for-profit investor rather than a non-profit TTO.
• MIT Technology Licensing Office: MIT's office for managing, marketing, and licensing technology developed by faculty, staff, and students. Comparable in service mix (invention disclosure, patenting, licensing) but operates within a global-leading research institution with much larger deal flow.
• Stanford Office of Technology Licensing: Stanford University's technology licensing office, one of the most established university TTOs globally. Comparable in core function but operates at vastly greater scale and resources than Auðna, and is part of a broader Stanford innovation ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AudnaTTOIceland
• Facebookfacebook.com/audnatto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tto-iceland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Audna - Technology Transfer Office Iceland