Tech Transfer Manager (UAE National)

About Dubai Future Foundation

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) works to turn Dubai’s leadership vision into practical future-focused action by embedding forward-looking methods and helping shape Dubai as a global city of the future. In collaboration with government bodies, businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs, the foundation brings partners together to imagine, design, and deliver solutions that support humanity’s future.

Operating 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 foundation oversees major future-oriented 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, and Dubai Future Forum. Its work supports innovation, knowledge sharing, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and foresight across Dubai’s future agenda.

Role purpose

This position plays a central role in helping DFF capture, safeguard, and commercialize the intellectual property created by its affiliated research institutes. It supports the creation of a top-tier Technology Transfer Office built on global best practices, with the systems, workflows, and partnerships needed to turn research into real market value. The role contributes directly to Dubai’s goal of becoming a leading hub for innovation and commercialization.

As the Tech Transfer Manager, you will lead the identification, protection, oversight, and commercialization of intellectual property developed within DFF-affiliated research institutes. You will act as the main operational link between research, legal/IP protection, and market commercialization, ensuring discoveries are captured early, protected strategically, and advanced into high-value outcomes such as licensing, venture creation, and industry partnerships.

Key responsibilities

IP disclosure, evaluation and protection

• Oversee the compulsory disclosure process for IP across DFF-affiliated research institutes.
• Manage a centralized system for IP disclosures and tracking so that inventions are captured before public release.
• Carry out preliminary commercial and patentability reviews, looking at novelty, protectability, market demand, strategic fit, and readiness for MVP or commercialization.
• Work with outside patent counsel on filing strategies, including provisional, PCT, and national phase applications.
• Apply standardized IP assignment and inventor royalty-sharing arrangements consistently across DFF entities.

IP portfolio management

• Develop and oversee an IP portfolio aligned with DFF priority sectors such as deep tech, future industries, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and AI.
• Create protection and commercialization strategies for IP assets, including defensive, licensing-led, and spin-out-ready approaches.
• Keep IP records accurate, including prosecution timelines and cost monitoring.
• Review portfolio performance regularly and advise on whether assets should be kept, pruned, or moved to the next stage.

Commercialization and market engagement

• Drive commercialization routes for DFF technologies, including licensing, Joint Development Agreements, and spin-out company creation with venture teams.
• Prepare non-confidential summaries, presentation materials, and commercialization documents for industry and investor audiences.
• Support partner matching activities alongside industry liaison and business development colleagues.
• Take part in reverse pitch sessions, demo days, and partner briefings to present DFF technologies and capabilities.

Researcher engagement and capability building

• Serve as the main point of contact for researchers and inventors, building trust and encouraging commercial awareness across the ecosystem.
• Deliver training on IP and commercialization topics, including disclosure practices, publication timing, and IP strategy.
• Guide researchers on balancing technical development with market needs while preserving academic quality.
• Help build a research culture that is actively supportive of commercialization across DFF labs and affiliated institutes.

Governance, policy and process development

• Contribute to the development and refinement of IP policies, disclosure processes, royalty and equity distribution models, and conflict-of-interest procedures.
• Ensure alignment with UAE law, international IP frameworks, and DFF governance requirements.
• Prepare internal reports and dashboards covering disclosure numbers, patents filed and granted, licensing activity, and commercialization results.

Collaboration and ecosystem integration

• Work closely with venture managers, industry liaisons, legal, finance, and policy teams to support commercialization and ecosystem growth.
• Represent DFF across regional and international innovation ecosystems, including universities, investors, accelerators, corporates, and research organizations.
• Compare DFF’s Technology Transfer Office performance with leading global organizations and identify improvement opportunities.

Why this role matters

This role is essential to ensuring that intellectual property developed by DFF’s affiliated research institutes is captured and commercialized effectively. It helps turn innovation into measurable economic value through licensing, venture creation, and industry collaboration, while also supporting disciplined decision-making and strategic IP protection.

By embedding strong technology transfer practices and internationally aligned processes, the role supports the establishment of a world-class Technology Transfer Office and advances DFF priorities in IP protection, commercialization, and ecosystem collaboration. It also contributes to Dubai’s ambition to become a global leader in innovation and knowledge-driven growth.

What DFF offers

You will have the opportunity to work with people who are passionate about shaping the future and helping Dubai strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading cities. The environment is fast-paced, highly diverse, and encourages creativity, bold thinking, and innovation.

Requirements

The ideal candidate should bring at least 6 years of professional experience, preferably gained in research, innovation, or ecosystem development. A strong understanding of intellectual property concepts such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related principles is important, along with familiarity with registration, protection, and commercialization processes and frameworks such as WIPO or the UAE IP regime.

You should also have a strong record of coordinating projects across multiple stakeholders, together with excellent communication, project management, and organizational capabilities. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Law, Policy, International Relations, IP Management, or a related discipline is required. Arabic language proficiency is considered an advantage.

Eligibility

This opportunity is intended for UAE nationals who meet the experience, education, and language expectations described above.