The BookSprints Method: From Zero to Book in Five Days

BookSprints is a structured, facilitated collaborative writing process in which a group of subject-matter experts produces a complete, professionally edited book in five days. Unlike a traditional edited volume or collection of articles, the BookSprints method produces a co-authored work with a streamlined narrative—not a patchwork of individual chapters. The stages—concepting, structuring, writing, and editing—are iterative and overlapping, with designers and copy editors working in parallel to prepare the book for publication.

For this Sprint, BookSprints facilitator Alysa Khouri guided the team through five intensive days, moving from shared framing to writing and cross-editing. The experience was noted for its positive atmosphere and easy collaboration, which organizers attributed to the careful selection of a well-matched team with complementary expertise.​​

A Diverse Team of Global Experts

The handbook was written by a diverse group of IP and technology transfer practitioners, including lawyers, academics, and government officials from Armenia, Croatia, and the United States. The participants included:​

• James Filpi – Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), U.S. Department of Commerce, who envisioned the handbook’s original framework​
• Joy Goswami, MBA – Director of Licensing and Commercialization Initiatives, Research Foundation for the State University of New York, and a member of AUTM’s leadership​
• Michael Samardzija, PhD, JD – Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, bringing specialized legal and IP experience​
• Edward Blocker – Intellectual Property Owners Association​
• Davit Ghazaryan and Naira Campbell-Kyureghyan – American University of Armenia​
• Priya Prasad – Senior Attorney, CLDP, U.S. Department of Commerce​
• Richard S. Cahoon – Cornell University​
• Lisa Mueller, JD – Casimir Jones, S.C.​
• Alysa Khouri – BookSprints Facilitator​

Bridging Western IP Frameworks and Emerging Economies

One of the handbook’s most significant accomplishments is its deliberate focus on transcreating established IP and commercialization knowledge for emerging economies. The authors went beyond simply exporting Western frameworks—they tailored the guidance to address cultural differences, resource availability, and the specific realities of countries where capital formation may be uncommon or where an entire university may have only a single technology transfer officer.​

The handbook progresses from IP fundamentals through ecosystem development to emerging trends, featuring case studies in each chapter to ground the guidance in real-world application. A key visual framework—the Invention Lifecycle—illustrates the systematic steps a new idea follows within a Technology Transfer Office.​​

Open Access Under Creative Commons

In keeping with its mission to support global innovation capacity, the handbook was released under a Creative Commons license, ensuring open access for training, policy development, and global adaptation. The English version is now available digitally on the CLDP website, with hard copies to be distributed and translations to follow.​

What’s Next

CLDP is preparing a large delegation from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and North Africa to attend the AUTM Annual Meeting in February 2026 to roll out the handbook to constituents. The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) is also planning a webinar on the handbook through its IPO Chat Channel.​

Lisa discussed the full story behind the handbook, including the BookSprints experience and plans for international deployment, on a recent episode of her podcast AUTM on the Air, featuring fellow authors James Filpi, Joy Goswami, Michael Samardzija, and facilitator Alysa Khouri.  The print version of the handbook was released during the AUTM Annual meeting in Seattle, Washington, in February 2026.