Fast-tracking innovation: how U of A researchers can explore their discovery's commercial potential

Many researchers don't think to protect their intellectual property until it's too late. Technology Transfer Services (TTS) at the University of Alberta created the Prospector program to connect researchers with the TTS team in the early stages of researchers’ discoveries for a no-obligation assessment of commercialization potential.

The program was developed under Dr. David Bressler, vice-president (International, Innovation and Enterprise), as part of U of A’s Innovation goal to increase the number and quality of invention disclosures, and make technology transfer more accessible.

Joanna Preston, director of TTS, says researchers can find it difficult to identify the commercial potential of their work, particularly because researchers have varying levels of experience recognizing ideas that could become new products or services.

For instance, Dr. R. Glen Uhrig, associate professor of plant and crop functional genomics in the Faculty of Science, says Prospector has saved him "hours of time" compared to his provisional patent work before the program was available.

Unlike a traditional report of invention, Prospector requires no forms at the early stage. Instead, researchers meet with the TTS team in person or online for a high-level assessment of IP and commercial possibilities. This gives researchers information before they decide whether to pursue commercialization through the university or independently. 

“Prospector gives researchers additional information to make commercialization decisions in a more informed and comfortable way," says Joanna.

“It’s quite a process to fill out that [commercialization] paperwork, so you want to be sure it’s a worthwhile endeavour,” says Glen. “We got really quick, digestible feedback, and we immediately had discussions with Joanna to conceptualize where there could be potentiality for IP.” So far, Prospector assessments have led to six new formal invention disclosures.

The point of Prospector isn't simply to tell researchers whether their idea is a “yes” or a “no.” It's to help them decide what to do next. A green light can indicate room to pursue an idea, while yellow signals potential competition — an opportunity to rethink how the technology could be positioned or protected.

That's what happened for Glen, who received a yellow light. “Prospector allowed us to recalibrate the angle we're going to take,” he says. Rather than abandoning the technology, his team began exploring a trade-secret approach, keeping the technology confidential rather than pursuing public patent protection.

Even a red light can save researchers time and help them avoid costly mistakes. Joanna explains it may reveal an idea isn't sufficiently new to patent, sometimes because a researcher's own previous publication has disclosed too much. It can also uncover competing work that doesn't appear in academic journals. Knowing that early gives researchers a chance to adjust their plans before they publish, pursue commercialization or invest further in an idea. Glen adds that if you're trying to make a decision such as whether to present at a conference, Prospector can help you choose how to carefully craft your messaging, so you don't spoil the potential for a patent in the future.

Researchers also have the potential to create a for-profit incorporated entity around their discoveries if they’re interested, through the support of the Innovation and Partnerships Group led by Dr. David Chang, director of Innovation & Partnerships. Typically researchers consult with the group about how to start a company.

Glen says an excellent example of taking scientific discoveries and turning them into real-world products or services is the U of A’s ICE Engineering Incubator, a mentor-driven hub that helps students, researchers, faculty and recent alumni turn technical ideas and research into scalable businesses for free. He hopes that Prospector can evolve into a simple feedback system for students who have incredible ideas, but not always a means to implement them or a reason to pursue them. 

“There are a lot of irons in the fire,” says Glen. “The U of A has an outstanding number of incredibly motivated people who want to push this space and are coming up with new and fascinating things that have wide-ranging potential and application. I'm sure there are a lot of green lights out there.” 

To learn more about the Prospector program, please email TTS@ualberta.ca.