The Office of Innovation and Commercialization at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) facilitates the efficient transfer of knowledge and technology from the Michigan Tech campus to the private sector. The Office of Innovation and Commercialization works with technology creators (which include Michigan Tech faculty, graduate students, research staff, entrepreneurial support organizations, public funding agencies, and private investors) and industry to facilitate licensing agreements with established companies or the establishment of new startup businesses for the commercialization of technologies developed at Michigan Tech. The Office of Innovation and Commercialization will review, with the assistance of appropriate external and internal advisors, technology disclosures and will make recommendations as to whether the technology described within a disclosure is feasible to be pursued for commercialization. The persons making such disclosures will be informed of the Office's recommendations within 45 days for software disclosures and 60 days for invention disclosures. Those disclosures accepted for the University will be processed by the Office and developed for licensing with the assistance of the technology creator(s).
Terms and conditions for licensing agreements are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Often, additional research and development is needed in order to bring a new technology to the marketplace. In consideration for corporate sponsored research, exclusive license and option-to-license arrangements may be negotiated.
Revised:
07/02/2019 - Updated University title, "Innovation and Industry Engagement is now
Innovation and Commercialization."
10/04/2017 - Annual Review: In an effort to clarify the current practices, changed
"The Office of Innovation and Industry Engagement works with inventors (which include
Michigan Tech faculty, graduate students, and research staff) and industry to facilitate
licensing agreements for technologies developed at Michigan Tech." to "The Office
of Innovation and Industry Engagement works with technology creators (which include
Michigan Tech faculty, graduate students, research staff, entrepreneurial support
organizations, public funding agencies, and private investors) and industry to facilitate
licensing agreements with established companies or the establishment of new startup
businesses for the commercialization of technologies developed at Michigan Tech."
Changed "...with the assistance of appropriate external and internal advisors, invention
disclosures and software disclosures and make recommendations as to whether a disclosure
should be pursued for commercialization." to "...with the assistance of appropriate
external and internal advisors, technology disclosures and will make recommendations
as to whether the technology described within a disclosure is feasible to be pursued
for commercialization." Changed "...Office's action within 45 days..." to "Office's
recommendations within 45 days..." Changed "...the Office and licensed with the assistance
of the inventor(s) and author(s)." to "...the Office and developed for licensing with
the assistance of the technology creator(s)." Changed "...exclusive license and option-to-license
arrangements can be negotiated." to "...exclusive license and option-to-license arrangements
may be negotiated."
12/08/2016 - Annual Review: No changes made to content.
02/25/2015 - Annual Review: To reflect current practice, the email address for questions
is now policy@mtu.edu. No changes made to content.
02/26/2014 - Annual Review: Updated Michigan Tech and Handbook banners. Section "9.5.5
Intellectual Properties" was renumbered to read "9.5.6 Intellectual Properties".
07/20/2011 - Annual Review: Was previously 9.6.6. The sentence "The Intellectual Property
Office will review, with the assistance of the Intellectual Property Committee, invention
disclosures and software disclosures and make recommendations as to whether a disclosure
should be accepted or returned to the inventor(s) or author(s)" now reads "The Office
of Innovation and Industry Engagement will review, with the assistance of appropriate
external and internal advisors, invention disclosures and software disclosures and
make recommendations as to whether a disclosure should be pursued for commercialization."
To reflect current University titles and practice, Intellectual Property Office is
now Office of Innovation and Industry Engagement, MTU is now Michigan Tech and the
email address for questions is now hbwebmaster.