Engineering success: What does it take to get PSE technologies used?

Over the years there have been many excellent contributions in the ESCAPE conferences to the R component of R&D, but less emphasis on the D element, and even less on the steps required for taking a piece of research to the final users in industry, that is, the technology transfer process itself. These days, initiatives in tech transfer (variously called "third mission" or "translation" activities) are everywhere. A variety of supporting structures (Enterprise Launch Pads, Spinout Clinics, Tech Launch Prizes, Venture Competitions, Technology Parks, etc.) are implemented in most academic and research establishments. The enterprise climate is possibly at its hottest for many years, the message has been spreading widely, and there are a number of notable successes. However, in my experience, there is still a big gap between theory and practice, only a very small fraction of researchers are involved and there is an enormous untapped potential. Based on 30-year experience of "translation" activities, some more successful than others, a personal overview is presented of what it takes to go from novel research to final use of a technology. It briefly touches on things found working and not, essential and unnecessary (or counterproductive), drawing on the experience of launching and managing two companies in the PSE area (including Process Systems Limited), various interdisciplinary consortia and two applied research centres. Some final comments address how to tweak the odds towards "engineering success by design".