It's a long leap from the laboratory to the patent office and an even longer one to the marketplace. But universities are waking up to the money-making potential of intellectual property.
Technology transfer starts with identifying research that has patent potential.
The patent application process is complicated enough that even scientists who may be internationally recognized for their research will still need legal help. Once a technology project looks like a good patent candidate, there comes the question of marketing it for maximum returns to the university and the researchers. Some research may spawn startup businesses that need venture capital. Others can best be marketed by licensing arrangements with existing companies. Only a relatively small share of university research projects will yield patents and only a minority of the patents will become products.