INVENTORS GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AT AARHUS UNIVERSITY AARHUS UNIVERSITET INVENTORS GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AT AARHUS UNIVERSITY AARHUS UNIVERSITET aarhus university inventors guide The Technology Transfer Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Case Story: Danish-Japanese Research Collaboration Yields Exciting New Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 aarhus university inventors guide An Inventors Guide to Technology Transfer at Aarhus University Dear Researcher Aarhus University wishes that relevant re- search results are commercialized and contribute to business- and socioeconomic development. This is why technology transfer from research to aarhus university inventors guide 5 The technology transfer process How do I work with the Technology Transfer Office (TTO)? We encourage you to contact the TTO du- ring your discovery process to ensure you are aware of the options that will best leverage the commercial potential of your research. T 6 aarhus university inventors guide The Process at a Glance input) the Invention Disclosure and an outside 1. Research. Observations and experiments patent counsel conduct patent searches. during research activities often lead to disco- Other consultants might also work with the veries and invention aarhus university inventors guide This may involve partnering with an existing established companies. An option agreement company or forming a start-up. Your active is sometimes used to enable a third party to involvement can dramatically enhance this evaluate the invention and its market potential 8 aarhus university inventors guide DANISH-JAPANESE RESEACH COLLABORATION YIELDS EXCITING NEW TECHNOLOGY A research collaboration between Associate Professor Peter Kristensen, Department of Molecular Biology, Associate Professor Hiroshi Ueda, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, University of aarhus university inventors guide 9 INVENTION DISCLOSURES What is an Invention Disclosure? An Invention Disclosure is a description of your invention or development that is provided to the TTO. The Invention Disclosure should also list all sponsors of the research and should include any other inform 10 aarhus university inventors guide RESEARCH CONSIDERATIONS AND MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENTS Will I be able to publish the results of my research and still protect the commercial value of my intellectual property? Yes, but since patent rights are affected by these activities, it is best to submit a aarhus university inventors guide What rights does a research sponsor have to any discoveries associated with my research? The Collaboration Agreement should specify the rights of the sponsor regarding intellectual property. AU usually retains ownership of the patent rights and other intellectual pr 12 aarhus university inventors guide INDUSTRY AS THE NECESSARY INTERMEDIARY How many cells are there normally in a liver or brain? And how many cells are thereafter the use of medication, the influence of a toxin or the onset of a specific disease such as cancer or Parkinsons disease? These are some aarhus university inventors guide 13 OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY What is intellectual property? Intellectual property is an invention and/or material that may be protected under the patent, trademark and/or copyright laws. Who owns what I create? Ownership depends on the employment status of 14 aarhus university inventors guide PATENTS What is a patent? A patent gives the holder the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, and importing any patented invention. Note, however, that a patent does not provide the holder any affirmative right to practise a techn aarhus university inventors guide for patent prosecution and maintenance, thus assuring access to patent specialists in diverse technology areas. Inventors work with the patent attorneys in drafting the patent applications and responses to patent offices in countries where the patent is pending. Wha 16 aarhus university inventors guide databases accessible to other people and it will act as prior art against any future patent applications. Is there such a thing as an international pa- tent? No, but an international agreement known as the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) pro- vides a streamlined aarhus university inventors guide 17 Jørgen Kjems COLLABORATION KEY TO COMMERCIALIZING NEXT-GENERATION PERSONALIZED MEDICINE Just as researchers from different institutions collaborate to generate new knowledge and drive research forward, so have the administrative offices servicing the researchers 18 aarhus university inventors guide COMMERCIALIZATION What are the typically steps in a commer- cialization process? Usually a patent application is filed before any marketing of the technology takes place. Often a period of maturing or validating the invention will take place prior to or simulta- aarhus university inventors guide of the market. Most inventions from Aarhus University tend to be in the early stages of development and thus often require further development and validation along with a sub- stantial commercialization effort to licensees who understand the nature and risk of tech- 20 aarhus university inventors guide Who decides whether to form a start-up? The choice to establish a new company for commercializing intellectual property is a joint decision made by the TTO and the in- ventors. If a new business start-up is chosen as the preferred commercialization path, the TTO aarhus university inventors guide the company and your continuing role within Aarhus University. What revenues are generated for Aarhus Uni- versity if commercialization is successful? Most licenses have licensing fees that can be very modest (for start-ups or situations in which the value of the li 22 aarhus university inventors guide REVENUE DISTRIBUTION How are license revenues distributed? The TTO is responsible for managing the ex- penses and revenues associated with tech- nology agreements, e.g. license agreements. Per Aarhus University Policy, revenues from licences fees, royalties and e aarhus university inventors guide 23 COMMERCIALIZING A DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY GAVE ADDED BENEFITS TO RESEARCHERS Today, doctors and medical staff have to examine thousands of cells at once if, for instance, they are looking for signs of cancer. The new method takes much smaller samples by rolling a R 24 aarhus university inventors guide Aarhus university Technology Transfer Office Finlandsgade 29 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark Phone: +45 8942 6884 Facsimile: +45 8613 5910 Web: www.au.dk/pke and: www.au.dk/invent