The invention disclosure process is a mechanism all US research universities use to ensure that university-supported ideas and inventions make an impact in the world.
UT faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff are encouraged to disclose their ideas and inventions to the UT Research Foundation (UTRF). The UTRF licensing team will work with you to develop a patenting and licensing strategy and will help market your ideas to identify potential licensees.
Disclose your invention as soon as practically possible and before you have presented it at any public forum including conferences and poster sessions and before it is published in any form including as an abstract or journal article or online. A publication or presentation can impact the legal status of your future patent.
If you have an innovation or discovery that you believe has commercial potential, or if you are not sure if your idea has commercial viability, we encourage you to contact the knowledge transfer and new ventures team at partner@utk.edu to discuss your ideas.
If you or one of your postdoctoral fellows or graduate students are thinking about creating a start-up, UT has the expertise and other resources to launch you on that path.
And remember, contact the team as early as possible to protect your work. By developing a patent strategy well in advance, you can add significant value to your future intellectual property.