The document summarizes the role and activities of university technology transfer offices. It discusses that these offices work to commercialize intellectual property created at universities by managing patents, licensing technologies, and assisting with startup formation. The offices are staffed by licensing specialists with technical expertise who assess inventions, file for intellectual property protection, market technologies to companies, and negotiate license agreements. Companies can interact with these offices by regularly checking websites for available technologies, communicating interest directly, and monitoring university patents and research publications.

1. Licensing From Universities
Matthew Bell
Senior Licensing Specialist
University of Michigan
msbell@umich.edu
734 972 5386

2. Agenda
• What is Tech Transfer Office?
• Types of Tech Transfer Offices.
• Who is in a Tech Transfer Office?
• Standard Activities.
• Shopping for Technologies.
• How to interact with Tech Transfer.

3. What is a Tech Transfer Office?
• Create and Manage the IP of the University
• Facilitate the Transfer Process for University IP
• Manage IP Related External Relations
• Assist with Recruiting Activities for Univ.
• Assist with Tech Transfer Related Training
• Startups

4. Who is in a Tech Transfer Office
• Standard Setup:
– Licensing Staff with defined specialties
– Business Development
– Support Functions

5. Standard Activities of a Tech Transfer Office
Research
Early contact w/TT to obtain
•Written notice of invention to
TT Assessment
Pre-Disclosure
guidance
•Used for review of protection
and commercialization options Disclosure
Assess commercial potential and
Patent, Copyright, Trademark, Intellectual Property
Assessment protection
Other
Protection
Decision based largely on market
Find or Form a Licensee
forces and dynamics
Marketing/Business Planning
Existing Company Marketing
Find Form
Business Planning
Developing the License
Business Formation
Components
Agreement in which U’s rights
Startup
are exchanged for financial License to Existing & sells
Licensing •Company develops
and other benefits
Company Company research relationship
products
•Potential
Commercialization, Relationships,
Revenue, Reinvestment •Licensing revenue distributed to
schools, colleges, departments, &
inventors

6. Project Assessment
Science Business
Licensing Specialist
Legal

7. Shopping for Technologies
• Websites:
– http://techfinder.techtransfer.umich.edu/
– http://www.ibridgenetwork.org/
• Communicate with the Office
– Offer to Help
– Visit
– Continuous Email/Calls
• Monitor Patents and Publications
• Target Researchers

8. UM Tech Transfer Mission
To effectively transfer University technologies to the
market while generating and providing resources
to encourage research, education and service
for the University, the community
and the general public.

9. Next Steps/Future Interactions
• License Agreement
• Option Agreement
• Co-Development Project (SBIR/STTR)
• Sponsored Research