Today's universities and research centers have facilities and equipment to conduct groundbreaking research and develop technologies that can solve health, energy and other global problems. Academic institutions, unfortunately, are challenged by limited funding and difficulty in attracting and retaining top faculty, researchers and students. Development executives spend countless hours soliciting contributions from alumni, parents and foundations. At many schools the path to financial sustainability and growing endowments may be obtainable by helping foster an environment where the process by which innovative ideas is captured, shared, nurtured, and evaluated is a positive experience.

Disclosure Capture, Knowledge Transfer and Collaborative Relationships

Our Academic Innovation Practice can help with this knowledge management process. We can work with administrative executives, technology transfer professionals, or directly with researchers, faculty and students. Developing a good disclosure is the first step. An experienced IP professional can help ensure that the ideas are documented and evaluated by experts. We can give insight into related research and possible collaborative relationships in the U.S. and around the world.

Dynamic Innovation and the Patent Process

If a disclosure has potential for IP protection, we can help with a strategic approach to further developing the innovation. The development of technology assets is not not concluded by documenting the disclosure. It is not a static process. It is a dynamic process. The first disclosure is only the beginning. We can help with follow up improvements and coordinate these disclosures with the patent filing strategy in the U.S. and internationally, while technology is developed and a commercialization strategy is implemented.