1.5 Technology Commercialization Office

Revised 06/05/00

1.5.1 Mission

The purpose of the University Technology Commercialization program is to facilitate application of scientific research findings for the public welfare and to reward University employees professionally and financially for their initiatives and inventiveness. University ownership of inventions, together with appropriate licensing arrangements can best assure these goals. For more complete information see www.tco.utah.edu/.

1.5.2 Responsibilities

A main responsibility of the Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) is to find industrial concerns interested in commercializing University technologies. This process involves evaluating a new technology's legal protectability and its commercial appeal and identifying potential commercial partners. In addition, TCO may also formulate development plans for each invention and may stimulate further research on the invention or facilitate the formation of new business entities based on the invention. The result of this process is a license agreement with one or more companies which acquire the right to exploit the technology commercially.

Authority to enter into agreements for the disclosure, transfer and commercialization of University technology resides only with TCO under the Vice President for Research. All faculty and staff involved with outside companies expressing interest in University technology must refer such companies to TCO. No agreement reporting to disclose, transfer or commercialize intellectual property owned by the University can be honored by the University without prior approval of the TCO and the Vice President for Research.

Specifically the TCO's responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA) - TCO reviews, approves and executes CDA's regarding the transfer of data or technology into or out of the University.

Material Transfer Agreements (MTA) - TCO reviews, approves and executes MTA's regarding the transfer of material technology into or out of the University.

Intellectual Property Terms in Research Agreements - TCO reviews and approves all Research Agreement terms related to the ownership and licensing of intellectual property developed under that research and the confidentiality and publication of research results.

Fulfilling Obligations to Research Sponsors - TCO fulfills the University's obligations to commercial research sponsors pertaining to disclosure and licensing of new inventions or technologies and the University's obligations to all Federal-funding agencies.

Protecting Intellectual Property - TCO is solely responsible for seeking the appropriate protection of intellectual property owned by the University of Utah including patenting, trademarking, and registering copyrights.

Licensing University Intellectual Property - TCO manages all aspects of the commercialization of intellectual property owned by the University by marketing that property and negotiating options and licenses with commercial entities to insure the appropriate development and dissemination of these technologies.