Ownership of any resulting patented technology depends on the level of involvement by researchers from the participating company and university, Center said. If it was made jointly, then it's 50-50. A participating company has the exclusive right, within six months, to license university-developed technology. After that, the university can license it to anyone, Center said. Universities have become savvy about protecting their investment in human capital.
Small companies have very limited resources for looking at advanced concepts.
The WTC shares that risk.