Technology Transfer Information: Starting Your Journey
The Tech Transfer Trail: An innovators guide to technology transfer at the University of Vermont
Welcome to the UVM Innovation’s Tech Transfer Trail! You are about to embark on an adventure to summit Catamount Mountain and commercialize your invention. Each pathway to commercialization is going to be different and UVM Innovations is here to guide and support you every step of the way.
Research Meadow
Research and Invention
Before embarking on the trail stop by the Research Supply Cafe to “fuel up” or head to the Research Meadow for final preparations. The resources below can guide you through the research development process, research funding searches, and grant development support.
Support Resources
- Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)
- Sponsored Project Administration (SPA)
- Research Development
- Grant Writing Support
Funding
Technology Transfer Supply Shop
Invention Disclosure
The next step on your way to the summit is to visit the TTO Supply Shop. Here you will connect with the UVM Innovations office, complete an Invention Disclosure, and discuss IP protection strategies.
The formal commercialization process starts once you have connected with our office and submitted an Invention Disclosure. UVM Innovations strongly encourages faculty, students, and researchers to disclose their inventions with our office early on.
Learn More About Invention Disclosures Download Invention Disclosure Form
Intellectual Property
About intellectual property (IP)
Intellectual Property (IP) is any intellectual creation such as inventions, creative, and literary works. By law, IP is protected through patents, copyright, trademarks, open source, and more.
Patent process
The patent process typically begins with a confidential provisional application filing, which is converted to either a worldwide Patent Cooperative Treaty Application (PCT) or a US non-provisional application. The PCT reserves worldwide rights for 18 more months at which time national phase non-provisional applications are filed in countries of interest. Non-provisional applications are prosecuted in each country's patent office and if deemed inventive, are issued as a patent. This process usually takes from 3-5 years.
UVM Innovations has limited funds available for patent filing and prosecution university-wide. Our office must assess the commercial potential of each technology upon disclosure to make a business-informed decision on whether patent protection is necessary and possible. Technologies with the greatest potential to be legally protected and become valuable assets are given priority. Our patent assessment includes a literature search, initial market assessment and evaluation of prior art, conducted in collaboration with the inventor and a patent attorney.
If we decide to pursue patent protection for your disclosure, we will arrange for the inventor(s) to meet with a patent attorney to start the initial application preparation. To help guide the patent attorney, a preliminary discussion of the invention's marketing potential and possible licensees will also begin at this time. Any information from the inventors on these paths is always appreciated
The inventors role
Your involvement can be very helpful as we consider and pursue patent protection, especially in these areas:
- Evaluating previous patents and publications in the field
- Supplying information to the patent attorney
- Reviewing draft patent applications
Patent expenses
Legal counsel and patent application fees are major investments for UVM Innovations. While we provide these at no cost to the inventor, we expect reimbursement from our licensees, including UVM spinouts, and per the UVM IP Policy, all costs are reimbursed prior to net income distribution to inventors.
Additional resources
Technology advancement trails
Development path
The next area along the trail is technology advancement, and the main activities can include product design, engineering, and prototype testing. UVM Innovations works with you to identify and manage your technology advancement pathway and connect you with resources along the way.
Resources
- UVM's Center for Biomedical Innovation
- UVM SEED Program
- UVM FabLab
- Open Research Community Accelerator (ORCA)
- Generator Makerspace
- Fuentek Technology Evaluation
Funding
Market assessment meadow
In the Market Assessment Meadow, you are identifying market requirements through customer discovery and developing your technology to meet those market needs.
Our office conducts a preliminary market analysis where we ask: Is your invention commercially viable? There should be a likelihood that one or more companies will pay for the right to license and develop it. Our marketability assessment includes an estimate of market size, a list of potential licensees, and related market and industry data. In addition, we make use of our industry contacts to identify prospective partnering companies.
Accelerator programs can help to identify market needs technology development needs, connect with potential stakeholders, conduct customer discovery, and gain research development funding.
Programs and resources
Mountain summit
Licensing
When assessing prospective licensees, we consider their existing product lines, production and marketing capabilities, and financial status. This process usually yields multiple firms that are both interested and qualified.
We then negotiate mutually beneficial license agreements with the firms. Terms covered in the license include upfront fees, royalties, license maintenance fees, commercialization milestones, and specific intellectual property rights.
Licence management
After licensing the invention, we monitor licensees to ensure they meet commercialization milestones, and submit timely payment of any fees, royalties, and reimbursable expenses. We also monitor and litigate any non-licensed use.
UVM policy determines the distribution of licensing revenues. See section 4.1.5 in the UVM Intellectual Property Policy Statement (PDF) for current distribution guidelines.