Research
Disclosure
Impact & Revenue
Technology Transfer Process
Assessment
Commercial Development
Existing Companies
IP Protection
Licensing
Marketing
Start-up Development
Impact & Revenue
Revenues received from licenses are distributed to inventors, the administrative units, and the Penn State Research Foundation. These revenues support further research, innovation, and impact.
Learn more about impact and revenue.
IP Protection
Patent protection, a common legal protection method, begins with the filing of a patent application with the U.S. Patent Office and, when appropriate, foreign patent offices. Once a patent application has been filed, it typically will require several years and tens of thousands of dollars to obtain issued U.S. and foreign patents. Other protection methods include copyright, trademark, and confidential know-how.
Learn more about legal protections.
Licensing
A license agreement is a contract between the Penn State Research Foundation (PSRF) and a third party in which PSRF’s rights to a technology are licensed (without relinquishing ownership) for financial and other benefits. A license agreement is used with both a new startup business or with an established company. An option agreement is sometimes used to enable a third party to evaluate the technology for a limited time before licensing.
Learn more about licensing.
Disclosure
The written notice of invention to OTT that begins the formal technology transfer process. An invention disclosure remains a confidential document and should fully document your invention so that the options for commercialization can be evaluated and pursued.
Learn more or submit an invention disclosure.
Marketing
With your involvement, OTT staff identify candidate companies that have the expertise, resources, and business networks to bring the technology to market. This may involve partnering with an existing company or forming a startup. Your active involvement can dramatically enhance this process.
Learn more about marketing.
Research
Observations and experiments during research activities often lead to discoveries and inventions. An invention is any useful process, machine, composition of matter, or any new or useful improvement of the same. Often, multiple researchers may have contributed to the invention.
Assessment
The period in which your technology licensing officer reviews (with your input) the invention disclosure, conducts patent searches (if applicable), and analyzes the market and competitive technologies to determine the invention’s commercialization potential. The evaluation process will guide our strategy on whether to focus on licensing to an existing company or creating a new business startup.
Learn more about assessment.
Commercial Development
The licensee company continues the advancement of the technology and makes other business investments to develop the product or service. This step may entail further development, regulatory approvals, sales and marketing, support, training, and other activities.
Learn more about commercialization.
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Penn State Research
Created on May 21, 2024
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Transcript
Research
Disclosure
Impact & Revenue
Technology Transfer Process
Assessment
Commercial Development
Existing Companies
IP Protection
Licensing
Marketing
Start-up Development
Impact & Revenue
Revenues received from licenses are distributed to inventors, the administrative units, and the Penn State Research Foundation. These revenues support further research, innovation, and impact.
Learn more about impact and revenue.
IP Protection
Patent protection, a common legal protection method, begins with the filing of a patent application with the U.S. Patent Office and, when appropriate, foreign patent offices. Once a patent application has been filed, it typically will require several years and tens of thousands of dollars to obtain issued U.S. and foreign patents. Other protection methods include copyright, trademark, and confidential know-how.
Learn more about legal protections.
Licensing
A license agreement is a contract between the Penn State Research Foundation (PSRF) and a third party in which PSRF’s rights to a technology are licensed (without relinquishing ownership) for financial and other benefits. A license agreement is used with both a new startup business or with an established company. An option agreement is sometimes used to enable a third party to evaluate the technology for a limited time before licensing.
Learn more about licensing.
Disclosure
The written notice of invention to OTT that begins the formal technology transfer process. An invention disclosure remains a confidential document and should fully document your invention so that the options for commercialization can be evaluated and pursued.
Learn more or submit an invention disclosure.
Marketing
With your involvement, OTT staff identify candidate companies that have the expertise, resources, and business networks to bring the technology to market. This may involve partnering with an existing company or forming a startup. Your active involvement can dramatically enhance this process.
Learn more about marketing.
Research
Observations and experiments during research activities often lead to discoveries and inventions. An invention is any useful process, machine, composition of matter, or any new or useful improvement of the same. Often, multiple researchers may have contributed to the invention.
Assessment
The period in which your technology licensing officer reviews (with your input) the invention disclosure, conducts patent searches (if applicable), and analyzes the market and competitive technologies to determine the invention’s commercialization potential. The evaluation process will guide our strategy on whether to focus on licensing to an existing company or creating a new business startup.
Learn more about assessment.
Commercial Development
The licensee company continues the advancement of the technology and makes other business investments to develop the product or service. This step may entail further development, regulatory approvals, sales and marketing, support, training, and other activities.
Learn more about commercialization.