Intellectual property (IP), generated by university academics, can be licensed to third parties to realise commercial and socio-economic impact. There are several common themes and/or stages associated with licensing IP from the university ecosystem that require due consideration by certain stakeholders. This information has been captured in the ‘licence pathway map’.
The licence pathway map
The diagram below provides an overview of the interactions that occur during a typical university licensing process. There are three major stages: preparation, negotiation, and close. This overview maps out sets of actions to be taken within each major stage and, importantly, which stakeholder – the licensee (L), Technology Transfer Officer (TTO), or academic originator (AO) – takes ownership of each action.
Swipe graphic to see pathway
Identify your role
As a TTO, academic originator, or licensee, you are expected to manage certain actions as part of the university licensing process.
Many of these actions are interdependent, so it is essential that all stakeholders clearly understand their own roles and responsibilities, as well as those of others involved in the pathway. Effective communication and collaborative working are key to ensuring the timely completion of these actions.
Technology Transfer Officer
A Technology Transfer Officer (TTO) provides central support in the university licensing process by helping other stakeholders navigate the licensing process. The main objective for the TTO is to facilitate licence execution with the third party (including negotiation of terms) while protecting the university’s and academic originator’s interests.
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Academic Originator
The Academic Originator (AO) holds essential knowledge about the IP being licensed and will play a key supporting role throughout the licensing process. Their main responsibility is to assist the TTO with the university’s formal licensing procedures – for example, by clearly defining the IP and reviewing legal agreements before execution.
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Licensee
A licensee is a third party who intends to commercialise a specific piece of university IP by executing a mutually beneficial licensing agreement (often royalty-bearing). The licensee is typically an established organisation in the field of the IP to be licensed and, as such, represents significant potential to realise successful commercialisation by transforming the IP into viable products or services.
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