AUTM Annual Meeting

The AUTM 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place February 9–11 in Seattle, Washington, is the premier global event for professionals working in technology transfer, intellectual property management, research commercialization, and university–industry partnerships. Each year, the conference brings together more than 1,500 attendees from universities, research hospitals, federal labs, startups, and corporate innovation teams to explore the ideas, trends, and strategies shaping the future of technology transfer.

With 90+ educational sessions, the Annual Meeting offers one of the most comprehensive professional development programs in the field. Attendees can choose from sessions covering intellectual property, licensing, startup creation, valuation, operations, marketing, policy, and relationship management. The agenda includes panels, roundtables, workshops, and deep-dive Kickstart Courses that provide hands-on training in areas such as negotiations, tech valuation, marketing, and advanced licensing.

A major highlight of the event is AUTM Connect, the partnering platform that supports thousands of one-on-one meetings each year. This feature allows attendees to meet with potential collaborators, industry partners, investors, and licensees across all technology sectors—from life sciences and engineering to software, agtech, and medical devices.

The Annual Meeting also features high-profile plenary speakers and cross-disciplinary discussions that offer insights into emerging federal policies, global IP trends, commercialization challenges, and new opportunities to strengthen research partnerships and innovation ecosystems.

Beyond the formal programming, the event is designed to build community. Networking receptions, meetups, and peer-to-peer sessions help attendees build lasting connections and learn from colleagues around the world.