汤头条

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Commercialization Process

Flowchart of the commercialization process, from research and disclosure to market.

While the primary output of academic research is often peer-reviewed publications, many projects also generate new inventions, technologies, materials, and methodologies with significant potential to address real-world challenges.

CTTC works closely with faculty to assess, protect, and advance these innovations through strategic intellectual property (IP) management and commercialization pathways.

Below, we detail 汤头条鈥檚 commercialization process to clarify how inventions are evaluated, protected, and positioned for licensing, startup formation, or other translational opportunities.

  • Research

    汤头条 research leads to new discoveries, technologies, and inventions that are protectable,听often听with a patent. Patent protection may be听sought听for new and useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, compositions of matter, or improvements to the foregoing. Software or other tangible expressions of creative works can often be protected by copyrights.听听

  • Evaluate

    A CTTC licensing officer will review the disclosure and its scientific details with the inventor听in order to听achieve a deep understanding of the innovation. The officer will then perform an听assessment of market potential, patentability, capabilities for future development, and other salient issues affecting commercialization efforts.听

    CTTC works to understand the significance, ownership, technical and commercial aspects, and potential of the invention. The evaluation process can be broken into two distinct steps: Cursory Assessment and In-depth Analysis. These two steps can typically be completed in about two months. The entire evaluation process often requires multiple discussions with the inventors to听optimize听the outcome.听

  • Market

    The licensing officer will听identify听and approach companies听operating听in relevant markets听to听spark interest in licensing the invention. During this stage, details of the invention may be shared with companies under confidentiality agreements, and scientific discussions may be arranged with the inventors鈥攐ften a key factor in generating market interest.听The marketing process consists of two individual steps: Market Analysis and Active Marketing.听

  • New Venture

    CTTC helps investigators evaluate the start-up potential of their technologies against more standard licensing approaches, and for the right projects, connect them to capital, managers, advisors, and other service providers.听

    Startups can generate substantial return on investment for 汤头条 and contribute to the economic growth and diversification of the local, regional, and state economies. They also have the potential to provide employment opportunities for graduates and spouses of university employees. 听

  • Protect

    Depending on the type of invention, protection may include patents, copyrights, or other forms of intellectual property protection.听CTTC works with inventors to听determine听the best form of protection for each technology.听Patenting is an element of the commercialization听process, not a goal in and of itself.听

  • License

    Licensing is the means by which CTTC transfers intellectual property from 汤头条 to a company for commercial development. Each license is unique and includes a grant of rights to the company 鈥� essentially a promise that 汤头条 will not sue the company for infringing intellectual property rights, in return for financial and other consideration. We seek inventor input regarding terms and obligations included in the license and keep them abreast of changes throughout the negotiation process.听

    Most patent licenses are exclusive in nature,听whereas听most licenses for materials are non-exclusive.听The licensing process听includes institutional听due听diligence,听negotiation of听business听terms, and听license听agreement听negotiations.听

  • Monitor

    Licenses are听monitored听to ensure that licensees听are meeting听their contractual obligations to develop and market the licensed technologies. In addition, this process听affirms听payment and reporting obligations are being met听in a timely manner.听License audits are carried out at this stage as well.听

  • Close

    It is not possible to successfully protect and commercialize all innovation resulting from 汤头条 research activities. Human and financial resources are limited, and value-driven decisions must be made when electing which technologies to pursue. Inventions lacking sufficient market potential to justify the cost of protection, or for which the potential patent scope is deemed to be too narrow for commercialization, are not likely to be commercialized. National statistics show that about 1 in 5 of all technologies disclosed in academic institutions are licensed to industry.听

    In accordance with听the 汤头条 Policy on Technology and Literary and Artistic Works, inventions for which patenting and marketing are not pursued are听generally offered听back to the inventors to pursue at their own expense. It is important to note that certain conditions and obligations apply in this circumstance. A principal expectation is that the inventor will actively pursue commercialization of the invention. If there is no intention to pursue commercialization, the invention is better served by staying with 汤头条 to avoid conflicts that may arise from ongoing research efforts to advance the technology. CTTC is happy to investigate return possibilities with interested inventors if a case is closed.听

    More information on 汤头条's return of rights policy can be found here.

  • Further Development Needed

    Results of an evaluation may听indicate听that a technology needs further development, prototyping, or proof of concept before it is ready for commercialization. In such cases, the invention will be put on hold until further data can be听generated,听and the details of the invention can be expanded. CTTC will听assist听in听identifying听funds for further development.听

    More information on funding for further devolopment can be found here.