The Tech Transfer Trail: An innovators guide to technology transfer at the University of Vermont
Welcome to the UVM Innovation’s Tech Transfer Trail! You are about to embark on an adventure to summit Catamount Mountain and commercialize your invention. Each pathway to commercialization is going to be different and UVM Innovations is here to guide and support you every step of the way.
Research Meadow
Research and Invention
Before embarking on the trail stop by the Research Supply Cafe to “fuel up” or head to the Research Meadow for final preparations. The resources below can guide you through the research development process, research funding searches, and grant development support.
Support Resources
- Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)
- Sponsored Project Administration (SPA)
- Research Development
- Grant Writing Support
Funding
Technology advancement trails
Development path
The next area along the trail is technology advancement, and the main activities can include product design, engineering, and prototype testing. UVM Innovations works with you to identify and manage your technology advancement pathway and connect you with resources along the way.
Resources
- UVM's Center for Biomedical Innovation
- UVM SEED Program
- UVM FabLab
- Open Research Community Accelerator (ORCA)
- Generator Makerspace
- Fuentek Technology Evaluation
Funding
Market assessment meadow
In the Market Assessment Meadow, you are identifying market requirements through customer discovery and developing your technology to meet those market needs.
Our office conducts a preliminary market analysis where we ask: Is your invention commercially viable? There should be a likelihood that one or more companies will pay for the right to license and develop it. Our marketability assessment includes an estimate of market size, a list of potential licensees, and related market and industry data. In addition, we make use of our industry contacts to identify prospective partnering companies.
Accelerator programs can help to identify market needs technology development needs, connect with potential stakeholders, conduct customer discovery, and gain research development funding.
Programs and resources
Mountain summit
Licensing
When assessing prospective licensees, we consider their existing product lines, production and marketing capabilities, and financial status. This process usually yields multiple firms that are both interested and qualified.
We then negotiate mutually beneficial license agreements with the firms. Terms covered in the license include upfront fees, royalties, license maintenance fees, commercialization milestones, and specific intellectual property rights.
Licence management
After licensing the invention, we monitor licensees to ensure they meet commercialization milestones, and submit timely payment of any fees, royalties, and reimbursable expenses. We also monitor and litigate any non-licensed use.
UVM policy determines the distribution of licensing revenues. See section 4.1.5 in the UVM Intellectual Property Policy Statement (PDF) for current distribution guidelines.