Our Process

Georgia Tech’s Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) collaborates with GT researchers and industry professionals to champion innovation and transform discoveries into real-world impact. The technology transfer process begins the moment researchers share their innovation with our office and continues through the patenting and commercializing of the invention. To understand the key stages of our process and the inventor’s role, each step is outlined with details highlighting best practices.

The inventor’s journey starts by submitting a disclosure to OTL. The disclosure should provide enough detail to describe the new invention for evaluation. To provide sufficient time to obtain intellectual property protection, researchers should submit disclosures at least two business days before any public presentation or publication. 

Do you have a new innovation with commercial value? Submit a Disclosure today! 

Once the disclosure is accepted, OTL reviews the technology to: 

Establish inventorship and ownership – who are inventors? Is this soley owned Georgia Tech IP or joint with another institution? 

Once a preliminary evaluation is complete, the assigned licensing professional will schedule a meeting with the inventor(s) to discuss technical details and pathways forward. If warranted, OTL moves forward with IP protection.

When pursuing a patent, OTL works with inventors and outside patent counsel to file patent applications and ensure proper IP protection. Patent counsel will have experience in the technology area, but the inventor’s involvement is critical in this stage. The inventor’s expertise helps the patent attorney to draft and review patent applications. 

Obtaining a patent gives the holder the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing the patented invention. 

There are 4 key requirements to obtain a patent:

1. 1. Invention must be novel – invention must be new and not previously known or publicly disclosed. - In the U.S., there is a one-year grace period for inventors to file after public disclosure, but many foreign countries have an absolute novelty requirement - If someone discloses your invention before you file your patent application, then your invention is no longer novel, and a patent will not be issued to you
2. Invention mut be non-obvious – invention must be unique (i.e., “patentably distinct”). The invention cannot be obvious to a Person of Ordinary Skill In The Art (“POSITA”)
3. Invention must have an enabling description – invention must be sufficiently described to allow a POSITA to make and use the invention.

4. Invention must have utility – invention must perform an intended function 

    

OTL’s patent process includes: 

1. File a Provisional Patent Application.
   1. A provisional application establishes an early filing date, but the application is not examined by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A patent may be obtained by filing a non-provisional application within twelve months of the provisional filing date.
2. Convert Provisional Patent Application to either a U.S. Non-provisional application or a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
   1. Depending on the market and the identification of a potential licensee, OTL will work with the inventors to decide on filing only in the U.S. or filing a PCT. These patent applications are examined for patentability.
3. Patent applications are examined by the USPTO and/or foreign patent offices. Inventors will work with the patent attorneys to file responses to office actions received.
4. If your responses are accepted by the USPTO and/or foreign patent offices, a Notice of Allowance is received, and a patent is granted. Shape

 (if you are a Georgia Tech inventor interested in a start-up opportunity, skip to Licensing the Technology)

Once protected, we actively market your innovation to potential industry partners and licensees. We highlight Georgia Tech’s groundbreaking research to connect your discovery with companies that can develop it further.

OTL markets protected Georgia Tech inventions to companies with expertise in the technology area. Our team, alongside the inventor(s), creates a non-confidential summary (NCS) to highlight the technology’s benefits and value to companies. The NCS is shared with companies directly and displayed on OTL’s website.

Once a potential licensee is identified, the licensing professional and the inventor(s) work together to promote the technology. If additional technical details are requested and are not already publicly available, a confidentiality agreement is put in place before conversations continue.

When a company or startup is ready to adopt your technology, OTL and the prospective licensee begin negotiations to define the terms of the license agreement. These terms vary based on the technology, its market, and the licensee. 

Learn More About the Licensing Process 

The inventor(s) will be made aware when OTL is negotiating a license agreement. However, you are not directly involved with license negotiations. Inventor involvement varies after a technology is successfully licensed. To avoid conflicts, Georgia Tech has established policies that govern the terms and conditions of faculty employment, academic affairs and research activities.

Georgia Tech IP Policy - Conflict of Interest 

Conflicts of interest (COI) can arise when inventors, founders, or investors have a financial stake in commercialization while also conducting related research at Georgia Tech. To maintain transparency and integrity, an inventor with a potential COI must complete a COI declaration before a license agreement is executed. Learn More About Conflict of Interest

Following a license, OTL monitors the licensee’s progress throughout the term of the agreement. During this time, OTL ensures compliance with the agreement’s terms and manages royalty reporting and payments in accordance with Georgia Tech’s IP policy.

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• Software Resources
• University Policies
• Inventor FAQs
• View Full Process Flowchart (PDF) - This need to be tested against ADA Title II Compliance
• Research Tools