Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer

The Office of Technology Transfer assists faculty and staff inventors in assessing the commercial potential and protectability of their inventions. See the website for services offered, procedures, and more.

Faculty and staff who have an invention or technological development are urged to inquire about patent and copyright matters as early as possible--before publication or public presentation, if feasible.

The Board of Regents endorsed policy on intellectual properties, effective January , 2007, provides flexibility and options to faculty and staff seeking to further develop intellectual properties through the use of University facilities.

Staff of the Office of Technology Transfer -- marketing representatives, attorneys, new business specialists and support staff -- work closely with DRDA on matters relating to intellectual properties, licenses, and patents.

The University recognizes and supports technology transfer and intellectual property development activities as an integral component of its mission, and asserts that the guiding principle governing the conduct of these activities shall be the service of its mission.

The objectives of the technology transfer and intellectual property development activities of the University shall be: to facilitate the efficient transfer of knowledge and technology from the University to the private sector in service of the public interest; to support the discovery of new knowledge and technology and to attract resources for the support of University programs; to provide services to the University faculty and staff to facilitate their efforts to carry out the University's mission; and to promote local and national economic development.

University employees have an obligation to disclose promptly and completely to the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) any intellectual property developed or discovered as described in Regents' Bylaw 3.10.

Last Reviewed: February 2008