We focus on discoveries and developments that may solve a significant problem for society or have potential commercial value. Examples of inventions may include:

• Devices, such as a new tool or scientific instrument.
• Processes, such as a new computational technique, manufacturing method, assay or purification process.
• Compositions, such as a new chemical/drug compound or functional protein.
• Copyrightable works, such as educational tools and technologies or software.
• Software, which can be copyrighted and sometimes patented.
• Biological materials, such as a new cell line, animal model, or plant variety.
• And more!

Join our monthly Innovators’ Coffee Hour: a monthly gathering of our researchers to network, discuss innovation tactics, and get their questions answered.

Or, schedule a 1:1 consultation about your research. This first meeting will explore your research, goals, and technical planning for your project.

The Pathways to Impact Workshop and Seminar Series is a great place to start your project in partnership with the Office for Innovation. This program provides essential training for any researcher who is interested in translational research for societal impact. Early, phase 1 Lab Bench to Commercialization (LB2C) funding is also available.

The Innovation Fellows Program will require participants to select a specific use case for their technology, evaluate the commercial potential and challenges, and plan experiments that will address the required performance criteria for that use case. 

The Lab Bench to Commercialization (LB2C) Phase 2 Program provides funding to perform the experiments. This stage is for evaluating the KPI and developing implementation planning.

By the end of our programs, researchers are positioned to submit an internal Invention Disclosure. This formal submission documents the invention and initiates both patent evaluation and federal compliance processes.

Engagement with the Office for Innovation is strongly recommended for good outcomes. Best practices include:

1. Engage early. Include the Office for Innovation in follow-on correspondence to help advocate for your desired commercialization pathway.  Schedule a 1:1 consultation to support your disclosure.
2. Disclose before public disclosure. Submit an Invention Disclosure once there is evidence supporting commercial utility — and prior to presentations, abstracts, or publications.
3. Clarify the intended use case. Before initiating patenting, critically evaluate how the technology may be used in the market. Patents filed without a defined use case are often misaligned with potential licensees.

With a defined use case and supporting evidence in hand, the next step is choosing the most effective route to real-world impact. Not every technology should form a startup. At this stage, we evaluate which pathway best fits the opportunity, the market, and the researcher’s goals:

• Corporate partnership
• Straight licensing
• Startup formation
• Federal translational funding
• Non-profit or foundation support

Our role is to pressure-test assumptions, select the path that maximizes feasibility, speed, and impact, and connect you to the right downstream process at Penn State to move it forward.