Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer

Hello everyone. I'm Mary Gower. Today, as part of our research Compliance Chat series, we're talking about intellectual property and technology transfer.

In simple terms, intellectual property refers to rights that protect new creations like inventions, software, designs, and creative works. Technology transfer is the process universities use to move those discoveries from the lab or studio into real world use through protection like patents or copyrights, or partnerships such as licensing or startups.

These activities are not just opportunities. They also come with specific compliance obligations, especially when federal funding or external collaborators are involved.

00:40

Today I'm joined by two University of Alaska Fairbanks experts:David Park, the director of the Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization or OIPC, and Aaron Menhouse, research security manager in the Office of Research Integrity. While David and Aaron are based at UAF, the information they'll share is helpful for researchers, staff, and students across the University of Alaska system, including at UAA, UAF, and UAS.

The main takeaway today is knowing when and why to check in with our university system offices so you can protect your work, meet grant requirements, and stay compliant while your research moves forward.

Contact UAF's OIPC or UAA's Office of Research Technology Commercialization when you think you may have created something protectable; are preparing to publish, present, post, or publicly share results; need to submit an invention, disclosure or process an NDA; are considering licensing, commercialization, or a startup.

Contact UAF's ORI, research security, or UAA's OIC when you: have foreign collaborators or visitors; are shipping equipment, software, or samples overseas; are traveling internationally with research technology; have publication restrictions or control technology.

01:51

So, David, let's start with the basics. What do offices like OIPC do, and what kinds of things count as intellectual property at the university?

Offices like OIPC help faculty, staff, and students protect and commercialize innovations and creative works for the public benefit. That includes patents for inventions, copyrights for software or creative works, trademarks, and sometimes, but very rarely, trade secrets. When someone discloses an innovation to OIPC, we work with them to evaluate whether it can be protected and what pathways make sense. That can include licensing to an existing company, supporting a startup, or simply ensuring the work is properly documented and protected before it's shared publicly.

2:42

That's helpful. Now, let's talk about timing. When should somebody reach out to you, especially when their work is federally funded? And what is a subject invention?

A subject invention is a specific term under federal law. It means an invention that was conceived or first actually reduced to practice while working under a federal funding agreement. This is where the Bayh‑Dole Act comes in. 

Bayh‑Dole allows universities to retain rights and inventions that come out of federally funded research as long as certain requirements are met. One of the most important is disclosure. If you think you've created something new and potentially protectable, you should contact OIPC early, especially before publishing, presenting, or posting anything publicly. Once an inventor discloses a subject invention in writing to the university, required reporting timelines are triggered. OIPC helps manage those reporting obligations so researchers remain compliant without having to navigate the federal process on their own.

Thanks David.

3:54

Aaron. Where do research security and export controls intersect with intellectual property and technology transfer?

They intersect frequently, especially from a compliance perspective. Research security and export controls come into play when research involves sensitive technology restrictions on who can access information or international collaborators. We help researchers identify whether export control regulations apply at key stages, such as proposal submission, award receipt or when the scope of a project changes. These reviews are a core part of research compliance and are designed to protect both the researcher and the institution.

What are some practical triggers that should prompt researchers to contact you before moving forward?

Common triggers include: shipping items overseas, traveling internationally with research technology, working with foreign collaborators, or signing agreements that limit publication or data access.

Each of those situations carries obligations under federal research security and export control regulations. Checking in early allows us to identify requirements and put safeguards in place before issues arise.

5:08

To wrap up, intellectual property and technology transfer aren't just about innovation, they're also about research compliance.

If you think that your work may lead to intellectual property, whether you're at UAA, UF, or UAS, and especially on federally funded projects, reach out to your university office that handles these matters early to support disclosure, reporting, and protection requirements.

And if your research involves international collaboration, travel, shipping, or sensitive technologies, connect with your systems or ORI early to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

Staying engaged with these offices throughout the life of your project helps protect your work, your funding, and the university.

Thanks to David and Aaron for joining us, and thank you for tuning in.