Report an Invention

Support for Your Innovation Journey

The path from innovation to commercialization can be complex. Technology Transfer Services (TTS) is here to guide inventors through every stage of that journey. Our team provides comprehensive strategy and assistance for the commercialization of new technologies, including patentability and market assessments, intellectual property support, guidance on spinoff creation, and establishing business relationships with industry partners.

Getting Started with Prospector Early Assessments

We encourage inventors to contact us at tts@ualberta.ca as soon as an invention is identified. With our new Prospector early assessment service, we can provide a commercialization snapshot to help you decide the path that is best for you, with no commitment and prior to completing a formal Report of Invention.

New to commercialization? Episode 7 of the TTS Thin Ice podcast is a great way to meet the team and understand our workflow. Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

During your research at the University of Alberta you may have created a new innovation. The first step in protecting that invention, called intellectual property or IP, is confidentially reporting it to the university before publishing or sharing at a conference, in a lecture or in a poster. Any patentable IP created at the university must be disclosed before commercialization per the university’s Patent Policy and Patentable IP Commercialization Procedure. In addition, the university may require other types of inventions be disclosed to facilitate compliance sponsored research agreement terms (or other similar agreements).

This is the formal start of the commercialization process. If patentable IP was created at the university, the inventor must complete a confidential Report of Invention (ROI)— the first step in protecting that invention and IP. Reporting complies with external contractual requirements and the university’s Patent Policy and may also be required to comply with sponsored research agreements. Inventors can easily file and sign a ROI with the help of the university’s Technology Transfer Services (TTS) office and using the Inventor Portal.

Reporting is sharing complete information about your invention so that patentability and commercial potential can be evaluated.The report describes the idea/invention, identifies inventor(s), funding details, if any public disclosure has occurred, and other related agreements so ownership and rights can be determined.

Why report

Confidential reporting is the first step to determining patentability and commercial potential. Reporting is also required before commercialization, licensing or selling of your invention, and to comply with most industry contractual requirements, as well as with the university’s Patent Policy. Reporting may also be required to comply with sponsored research agreements.

IP Ownership Options

Unless there is a specific written agreement stating otherwise, the inventor(s) own the newly created intellectual property. When reporting, inventors may choose between two IP ownership options:

1. Commercialize the technology through the university, which assigns ownership of the technology to the university, wherein the university supports and assumes responsibility for commercialization. In this case, TTS will provide IP assessments, help form IP strategy, cover initial patent filing costs (if applicable), and undertake commercialization activities like marketing and licensing.
2. Commercialize independently, where the inventor retains ownership of the technology and assumes responsibility for commercialization and associated costs. If the IP ownership remains with the inventor, these costs will be borne by the inventor, but less royalty revenue will be shared with the university.

There are a variety of reasons for choosing either ownership structure. Notably, revenue sharing between the university and inventors differ under both options as per the Commercialization of Patentable Intellectual Property Procedure, except when the technology is commercialized through a spinoff company. Please visit the Create a Spinoff page for a detailed outline and FAQ for this processand consult a TTS Associate Director if you are considering creating a company to commercialize your innovation.

After filing

After a report is filed, it is assigned to one of the university’s Technology Transfer Services team for a thorough assessment of patentability and commercial potential. The team can also help you navigate the commercialization process and help you determine the best strategy and next steps, which could be licensing or creating a company, or other options depending on the invention.