Developing or Commercializing Inventions
Technology transfer is the formal transfer of rights from Rensselaer to another party for the use and commercialization of new discoveries and innovations resulting from scientific research. The process of transferring Rensselaer technology generally includes identifying, protecting, and licensing Rensselaer intellectual property.
Who owns an Invention
Effective December 15, 2024, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute owns Intellectual Property when any of the following conditions apply:
• The Intellectual Property is subject to or created within the scope of a sponsored research, capstone, grant, or other institutional agreement;
• It is created or co-created by a member of the Rensselaer Community—other than an enrolled undergraduate student—using Significant Use of Rensselaer Support;
• It is created within the scope of a creator’s employment or as a direct result of their Rensselaer duties;
• It qualifies as a “work made for hire” or is otherwise contractually assigned to Rensselaer; or
• It is a trademark or service mark related to Rensselaer Intellectual Property, programs, or activities.
Each creator must execute Rensselaer’s Intellectual Property Agreement and, where applicable, assign their rights to Rensselaer.
When in doubt, or to review the full policy, see the Intellectual Property Policy
For questions, please contact the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing (IPTL) at 518-276-6023 or innovation@rpi.edu.
Assessment of Intellectual Property
Working closely with the inventor, IPTL will perform a commercial and technical evaluation of the invention. The decision to pursue patent protection is based upon the following
two factors:
• Patentability and ability to enforce the patent
• Marketability and commercial potential of the invention
Protection of Intellectual Property
If IPTL decides to file for patent protection, it will engage a law firm that specializes in the subject matter of the invention. The law firm will identify the inventors, construct claims when necessary, and submit the required paperwork to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and applicable foreign patent offices. The inventor works personally with attorneys to review drafts and to ensure the technology is thoroughly understood.
Licensing and Commercializing an Invention
The appropriate path for commercializing an invention depends upon marketplace conditions, attributes of the technology, the expertise of potential entrepreneurs, and the availability of funds. Certain technologies, particularly software packages, may be licensed directly from IPTL’s website. Terms of these agreements vary, but may include up-front fees payable to Rensselaer, royalty percentages and schedules payable over a number of years, or further research funding with options to license the resulting technology.