Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer

We are here to assist with bringing new technologies to society by negotiating commercial licensing agreements, helping create new ventures, fostering social entrepreneurship, and facilitating investments in promising discoveries and technologies.

By investing in innovators and creators, our goal is to extend the University's impact on the future of academic research and education by fostering academic collaborations and relationships with industry and community partners.

These collaborations and relationships have led to and can further generate many beneficial real-world technologies including treatments for cancer and infectious diseases, vaccines, cyber security, forensic science, and environmental applications.

The development of research innovation, creative works, and other forms of intellectual property into successful products or commercial uses can be achieved through intellectual property protection and technology transfer.

Our goal is to help bring Duquesne research and technology to society and we will work with innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors toward developing partnerships and transferring knowledge from lab to market.

Generally, innovation developed at the University may fall into two categories: a well-developed technology close to being useable by an established industry or a very new technology outside of what is commonly found in the marketplace. In the case of the former, this type of technology may thrive when developed further by existing companies. The pursuit of licensing options with those established companies would be advantageous in this case. In the case of the latter, the risk and demands related to developing the technology may be too much for an established company, and an exclusive license to a new start-up company would be a strategic alternative.

We will start marketing the University innovation once the patent application has been filed with the Patent and Trademark Office, as this will allow a proper evaluation of the commercial potential of the associated intellectual property. At this stage, we can provide interested companies with publications or marketing packages describing the technology. We will also regularly invite each innovator or creator to review the technology and describe any developments that may affect the technology value and marketability. In cases where the technology is especially cutting-edge or in its early developmental phase, an extended timetable will be considered to fully evaluate the commercial potential and value of the invention.