Protect Your Research
Secure your innovations before publishing, presenting or self-marketing.
Before you share your breakthrough with the world, connect with Penn State’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Filing an invention disclosure is an essential first step in preserving your intellectual property rights and unlocking future commercialization opportunities. Regardless of your research area, early disclosure ensures compliance with certain funding requirements and opens doors to potential revenue streams and broader impact from your research.
Why It Matters
Public disclosure before filing can jeopardize intellectual property rights—especially internationally.
Filing early allows OTT to evaluate your intellectual property, develop the appropriate strategy to protect it, and help translate your efforts into impact.
Sponsored research agreements often require timely disclosures.
For research sponsored by federal funding, invention disclosure(s) are required for research resulting from that funding.
What to do:
File your invention disclosure before publishing, presenting, or any other public disclosure. If you’re unsure what constitutes a public disclosure, contact OTT first.
Notify OTT immediately if you are contacted by external parties (investors, companies, etc.).
Contact OTT to learn how to navigate the disclosure process and protect your work.
How to Protect Your Work
- Start by Filing an Invention Disclosure
- Submit a disclosure through OTT’s online portal before any presentation, publication, or other public disclosure.
- The online form spells out the information required and is relatively short making submitting straightforward—and you can always reach out to OTT for assistance.
- Engage with OTT Early and Often
- Think your research isn’t quite ready to disclose? An early disclosure is better than a late one, so don’t delay your submission.
- Beyond evaluating your invention disclosure, OTT can provide guidance on future funding, potential licensing, startup formation, and other commercialization pathways.
- Inform OTT if you’re contacted by external parties (e.g., companies, investors).
- Understand the Process
- OTT will evaluate your disclosure, determine the right protection strategy for your intellectual property, and guide you on next steps.
- As your inventions progress through the Research Translation Journey, you might be asked to assist with efforts such as patent applications or market assessments.
Best Practices
- Keep lab notebooks and documentation organized and dated.
- Avoid sharing unpublished data at conferences or online.
- Coordinate with OTT before signing NDAs or MTAs with external entities.
Developing a Commercialization Mindset
Faculty may benefit from guidance on personal positioning—how to demonstrate a commercialization or founder’s mindset. This includes understanding the value of their research beyond academia and being open to entrepreneurial thinking.
Explore Commercialization Pathways
There’s no one-size-fits-all route to market. Consider:
- Startups: Launching a company to bring your innovation to market.
- Joint Ventures: Partnering with existing companies to co-develop solutions.
- SBIR/STTR Grants: Federal funding programs that support early-stage commercialization.
Key Considerations
- Identify Your Target Customer: Who will use or buy your innovation? What are their needs?
- Understand Market Barriers: Consider regulatory hurdles, competition, and adoption challenges.