Phase II: Assessment

The UILO assesses each invention disclosure to determine how best it should be advanced. This includes an evaluation of:

  • the potential for protection of the technology via traditional intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright) mechanisms and, what the breadth, enforceability, and freedom to operate of resultant intellectual property is likely to be
  • the competitive advantage and market for the technology, including potential receptor companies
  • knowledge mobilization pathways for the technology

The assessment phase involves an initial assessment during which a technology transfer manager from the UILO will meet with the principal inventor to ensure that we fully understand the technology and its various aspects. Following this meeting a brief assessment will be undertaken that includes a first cut assessment of the existence of a market for the technology, the existence of prior art that may prevent intellectual property protection, and how ready a disclosure is for any form of commercialization.  Taking into account sector specific considerations this assessment will lead to a series of decisions that influence how the technology advances.

There are a myriad of reasons why a technology may not progress past the initial assessment phase, generally speaking if an invention disclosure is not considered for further advancement it will be either:

  • Returned to the inventor for further research if it is too early-stage for any type of commercialization or intellectual property protection.
  • Closed if there is prior art that will prevent any form of commercialization.
  • Under certain circumstances, where there may be some intellectual property, but little chance of commercialization success due to a limited market opportunity, the UILO can assign the rights to the invention to the inventor(s), so that the inventor(s) can try to independently commercialize the technology.

It is important to note that in cases where there are few perceivable financial benefits from protecting the intellectual property of an invention, but there are clear potential academic and/or societal benefits, the UILO may propose that the technology be directed to knowledge mobilization resources such as Flintbox, Open Source or data, and materials repositories.

Technologies that deemed to have a high potential for commercialization are subject to a more in-depth analysis of the intellectual property position and market opportunity. If the technology is determined to have a potentially high societal, economic, or financial impact the UILO will work with the research team to developing a commercialization strategy that may include: obtaining intellectual property protection (usually patenting), working with development organizations to advance the technology, creating a marketing / investment strategy and ultimately licensing or spin-off company formation.

  

Phase I: Research      

Phase III: Development & Marketing      Phase IV: Outcomes & Impacts