From lab to legacy inside UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub

The key to safeguarding these innovations lies in the swift and savvy journey through the 1819 Innovation Hub’s technology transfer and patent licensing process, a vital approach for both faculty and the university.

“At our research-1 university, brilliance knows no bounds across engineering, medicine, pharmacy, design, biology, education and business. We're not just discovering; we're hatching life-changing ideas that can truly benefit society. Thanks to the Ohio IP Promise, we're turbocharging faculty through tech transfer, ensuring the process is seamless while safeguarding the university with state-of-the-art patent licensing,” said Geoffrey Pinski, assistant vice president for technology transfer in UC’s Office of Innovation.

Tech transfer and licensing begin with intellectual property born within the university, crafted by the brilliant minds of faculty, staff and students using university resources. Pinski emphasized that creating opportunities for startups is also a beacon, attracting innovative enthusiasts to the university and magnetizing external investors and entrepreneurs, while giving Ohio's economy a power boost.

Goals for faculty transferring technologies across a broad array of research and innovation fields include:

• Understanding the market potential of your research
• Enhancing your impact on society
• Recognition and financial reward for your discoveries
• Generating additional funding for you, your department or center
• Attracting new research sponsors
• Creating educational opportunities for your students
• Linking students to future job opportunities
• Patenting and securing IP around your research

Faculty wanting to reach any of the above listed goals can contact UC’s tech transfer.

The journey starts with the birth of an idea and its protective shield. Once a partner is identified, the licensing process begins, turning the concept into reality. UC’s tech transfer team negotiates with the partner, reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. The culmination of this process sees the intellectual property being entrusted to the company, which takes it from there, breathing life and transforming it into a tangible product. The caveat lies in the company’s commitments back to the university, embodying fair play in the world of groundbreaking ideas.

"We play matchmaker, connecting these innovative sparks with business visionaries hungry for the next big thing. It could be a startup, a company looking to enhance an existing product or one aiming to expand and complement their lineup — all depending on the treasure trove of research coming from the university," Pinski said.

Occasionally, the best option for a technology is the creation of a new startup. In this dance with entrepreneurs, tech transfer has partnered with the Venture Lab and Center for Entrepreneurship to propel ideas into capable hands.

"Sometimes it's an entrepreneur, sometimes it's the faculty themselves becoming entrepreneurs," Pinski said. "The goal is clear — to bridge the gap between groundbreaking ideas and the hands that shape them, and we couldn’t do that without the support of the Center for Entrepreneurship."

To address potential conflicts, UC's Office of Research Security and Ethics plays an essential role in encouraging ethical conduct and transparent practices.

"Our Conflicts of Interest Committee is dedicated to guiding faculty along a path of integrity and transparency, ensuring that ethical standards are not just met but exemplified in all their endeavors," Pinski said.

"The ultimate goal is societal impact. We're not just generating knowledge or filling patents; we're creating products that make the world a better place. It's about amplifying the impact of university research in a way that transcends new knowledge, giving birth to innovations that reshape the world," Pinski concluded.

Have more questions?

We’ve assembled answers to commonly asked questions in our FAQs.

Featured image at top: Geoffrey Pinski, assistant vice president for technology transfer in UC's Office of Innovation, discusses the tech transfer process with a faculty entrepreneur. Photo/Aidan Wallace/Creative Services/UC 1819 innovation Hub