Commercialisation Officer

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that research, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state. The CSIR has a vacancy for a Commercialisation Officer in the

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Commercialisation Officer in the Advanced Production and Security Division. The incumbent will be accountable for implementing the commercialisation strategy, deal making, and driving various initiatives for the Division. This position is based in Pretoria. This position reports to the Commercialisation Manager.

• Support the evaluation, structuring, negotiation and closing of various types of transactions including technology development, product development, investment and funding, intellectual property (IP) and technology commercialisation, primarily involving advanced technologies, within very active research and development settings, broadly focusing on opportunities in mining, manufacturing, defence and security.
• Undertake due diligence exercises, including market , technical, IP , financial , commercial, operational, team and business case review.
• Prepare high-quality deliverables for internal and external clients and stakeholders, including investment and funding proposals, term sheets, business cases, technology reviews, commercialisation recommendations, bespoke reports and marketing materials to support deal origination and successful execution.
• Perform in-depth financial modelling and analyses to ensure rigorous assessment of potential technology development and commercialisation opportunities using appropriate tools and techniques.
• Evaluate the readiness of technologies and inventions and assess commercial potential.
• Conduct research related to products/ technologies/ IP, industry and market sectors, companies and competing technologies and present findings and recommendations for implementation.
• Develop, recommend and implement commercialisation strategies for a portfolio of inventions and technologies at varying stages of maturity and maintain a pipeline for licensing.
• Provide full lifecycle support for commercialisation opportunities, including determining appropriate commercialisation pathways for technology / IP, post deal monitoring and evaluation, technical advisory and venture creation; evaluating capital needs, market potential and return on investment and interacting effectively with the research community, attorneys, external business professionals, financiers and corporate partners.
• Assist with packaging technology / intellectual property (IP) for commercialisation and develop commercialisation / business cases in collaboration with technical and support teams.
• Identify and support the mobilisation of appropriate internal and third-party funding for derisking and taking inventions to market;
• Draft terms of reference for EoIs/RFPs for commercialisation partners/licensees, service providers, coordinating selection and recruitment of suppliers, etc.
• Administer, monitor and evaluate the divisional portfolio of commercialisation projects, facilitating the execution of commercialisation plans
• Support the review of proposals, agreements and legal documentation, and providing…