Commercialization Process

Vanderbilt research leads to new discoveries, technologies, and inventions that are protectable, often with a patent. Patent protection may be sought for new and useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, compositions of matter, or improvements to the foregoing. Software or other tangible expressions of creative works can often be protected by copyrights.  

A CTTC licensing officer will review the disclosure and its scientific details with the inventor in order to achieve a deep understanding of the innovation. The officer will then perform an assessment of market potential, patentability, capabilities for future development, and other salient issues affecting commercialization efforts. 

CTTC works to understand the significance, ownership, technical and commercial aspects, and potential of the invention. The evaluation process can be broken into two distinct steps: Cursory Assessment and In-depth Analysis. These two steps can typically be completed in about two months. The entire evaluation process often requires multiple discussions with the inventors to optimize the outcome. 

The licensing officer will identify and approach companies operating in relevant markets to spark interest in licensing the invention. During this stage, details of the invention may be shared with companies under confidentiality agreements, and scientific discussions may be arranged with the inventors—often a key factor in generating market interest. The marketing process consists of two individual steps: Market Analysis and Active Marketing. 

CTTC helps investigators evaluate the start-up potential of their technologies against more standard licensing approaches, and for the right projects, connect them to capital, managers, advisors, and other service providers. 

Startups can generate substantial return on investment for Vanderbilt and contribute to the economic growth and diversification of the local, regional, and state economies. They also have the potential to provide employment opportunities for graduates and spouses of university employees.  

Depending on the type of invention, protection may include patents, copyrights, or other forms of intellectual property protection. CTTC works with inventors to determine the best form of protection for each technology. Patenting is an element of the commercialization process, not a goal in and of itself. 

Licensing is the means by which CTTC transfers intellectual property from Vanderbilt to a company for commercial development. Each license is unique and includes a grant of rights to the company – essentially a promise that Vanderbilt will not sue the company for infringing intellectual property rights, in return for financial and other consideration. We seek inventor input regarding terms and obligations included in the license and keep them abreast of changes throughout the negotiation process. 

Most patent licenses are exclusive in nature, whereas most licenses for materials are non-exclusive. The licensing process includes institutional due diligence, negotiation of business terms, and license agreement negotiations. 

Licenses are monitored to ensure that licensees are meeting their contractual obligations to develop and market the licensed technologies. In addition, this process affirms payment and reporting obligations are being met in a timely manner. License audits are carried out at this stage as well. 

It is not possible to successfully protect and commercialize all innovation resulting from Vanderbilt research activities. Human and financial resources are limited, and value-driven decisions must be made when electing which technologies to pursue. Inventions lacking sufficient market potential to justify the cost of protection, or for which the potential patent scope is deemed to be too narrow for commercialization, are not likely to be commercialized. National statistics show that about 1 in 5 of all technologies disclosed in academic institutions are licensed to industry. 

In accordance with the Vanderbilt Policy on Technology and Literary and Artistic Works, inventions for which patenting and marketing are not pursued are generally offered back to the inventors to pursue at their own expense. It is important to note that certain conditions and obligations apply in this circumstance. A principal expectation is that the inventor will actively pursue commercialization of the invention. If there is no intention to pursue commercialization, the invention is better served by staying with Vanderbilt to avoid conflicts that may arise from ongoing research efforts to advance the technology. CTTC is happy to investigate return possibilities with interested inventors if a case is closed. 

More information on Vanderbilt's return of rights policy can be found here.

Results of an evaluation may indicate that a technology needs further development, prototyping, or proof of concept before it is ready for commercialization. In such cases, the invention will be put on hold until further data can be generated, and the details of the invention can be expanded. CTTC will assist in identifying funds for further development. 

More information on funding for further devolopment can be found here.