Innovative Ideas Disclosure & Commercialization Project

An often overlooked area of innovation is the routine, yet novel, laboratory protocols and the instrumentation and reagents which support them.  A multi-billion dollar industry, generally referred to as the research tools business, has it's foundation in providing to researchers easy-to-use and improved procedures and processes which facilitate their research.

The most important sources of such innovations are the laboratories of the researchers themselves.  Almost every skilled scientist has modified in some way a rather routine, widely accepted laboratory process or has invented an entirely new one.  The modifications and/or inventions are made usually to improve the quality and quantity of data, reduce preparation time, and/or to reduce the cost.

The Research Tools Commercialization Project (The Project) is designed to actively solicit from researchers at Utah State University innovations which could have commercial potential.

The Project will be conducted by having Department Heads invite faculty to complete the attached form and submit it to the Technology Commercialization Office.  Your submission will be reviewed.  If it is selected for further consideration, an interview will be conducted by a team consisting of: a representative of the TCO, to ensure that any disclosures would be properly handled for Intellectual Property (IP) protection, and an individual who has experience in commercialization of research tools discovered in this manner.

The ultimate outcome of The Project is to identify innovations, properly protect University IP, and actively move them into the market.  The commercial sucess, if any, of The Project would be shared according to University Policy for sharing financial returns with the inventor(s) and the University.  The Team will be sensitive to your desires for sharing ideas among colleagues while at the same time providing proper protection of intellectual property.

Click here to Download and Submit Idea form today!