UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), formerly known as the Office of Technology Management, plays a critical role in commercializing research, protecting intellectual property (IP) developed by faculty members and transferring technologies from the lab to the marketplace by working with entrepreneurs, start-ups and companies looking to expand portfolios.
Penn State's commitment to research commercialization encompasses a dedication to bridging academia-industry gaps, fostering innovation and driving impactful change, according to Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at the University.
“The mission of the Office of Technology Transfer is to drive economic growth and societal impact, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship," Read said. “The name change and amplification of this unit is a testament to our continued focus on maximizing the value of Penn State’s great research enterprise.”
Through its IP protection and licensing programs, Penn State provides University inventors — faculty, students and staff — support to make their work available to industry partners. The University also offers flexible licensing approaches tailored to meet business needs. Currently, there are over 320 commercialization opportunities available, showcasing the University's extensive portfolio.
Bin Yan, associate vice president for research and director for OTT, leads a team of technology licensing specialists and staff to facilitate the commercialization pipeline. Working internally with researchers and externally with industry seeking solutions to various unmet needs, OTT identifies and protects commercialization opportunities by beginning with an invention disclosure, a formal document researchers should submit to the OTT when they think it might be patentable. The invention disclosure is the first step in protecting a researcher’s IP. This document captures essential details about an invention or technology, including the concept, potential applications and advantages over existing technologies.
This initial step is crucial as it officially records the innovation, Yan said, as it allows OTT to review the information for patentability and other forms of IP protection. Based on the novelty and utility of the invention or technology, and after consulting with appropriate stakeholders, OTT may decide to file a patent application, typically a provisional patent application, on behalf of the inventors and the University.
A provisional patent is a more cost-effective way to protect the work while allowing industry partners to license it. Once a partner licenses the work, they can continue the patent application process. Copyrights and trademarks may also be used, which can help to protect software and research materials. IP protection makes a technology more attractive to industry, Yan said.
To file an invention disclosure, faculty, graduate students and staff should visit the Technology Disclosure Form and Online Invention Disclosure Portal webpage. By licensing their work, researchers can make their work available to industry and potentially make a tangible impact on society while also generating revenue with Penn State’s revenue sharing program.
Partnerships between Penn State and industry have yielded significant benefits for researchers, companies and the public. For example, HiSQOLTM developed by Joslyn Kirby, associate professor of dermatology at the Penn State College of Medicine, is a clinical outcome assessment measuring the quality of life of those with chronic inflammatory skin conditions.
"Licensing also supports further research within the Penn State community,” Yan said. “As Penn State continues to advance its research commercialization efforts, it remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering collaboration and driving innovation."
To browse currently available commercialization opportunities, visit the Intellectual Property Navigator. For more information about the commercialization processes, for industry or Penn State inventors, visit the OTT’s website.