UNIVERSITIES which want to exploit the technologies they develop commercially are to have a new resource enabling them to link up with potential partners.

The University Technology Direct-ory is the first resource of its kind. It is to be managed by the Association for University Research and Industry Links.

The directory will be housed on the UK Patent Office web site at www.patent.gov.uk and will list details of new technologies available for licence from universities across the UK and Ireland.

According to AURIL the directory is unlike those available in America and Japan as it will help universities attract potential business partners and investors free of charge and with minimum effort.

A successful pilot scheme involving 25 universities was conducted earlier this year. The directory was expected to be launched today at the Innovation - Advances in Engineering and Comm-unications Technologies conference at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Dr Philip Graham, of Queen's University Belfast and chair of AURIL, said: "Universities have an important role to play in the development of knowledge-based economic development at regional, national and European levels.

"This directory will promote entrepreneurship among academics and help close the gap between vision and reality."