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Office for Innovation

The process from idea to invention

Start Your Impact Journey Here

You’ve made a discovery. Let’s explore how it can change the world.

When to engage Office for Innovation

  1. It's never too soon to engage Office for Innovation.
  2. Come to us with ideas, new discoveries, or mature inventions.
  3. We will discuss your idea, assist you in developing a plan, and provide resources to support your goals.
    1. Our Pathways to Impact Workshop and Seminar Series offers essential training for translational researchers.
    2. Our Innovation Fellows Program provides hands-on guidance to develop your idea.
    3. Our Lab Bench to Commercialization Seed Grant provides funding for you to action on the plan and advice.
  4. The Office for Innovation is your on-ramp to other Penn State resources and programs.

 

What kinds of projects can we assist:

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!

 

When to submit an invention disclosure:

  1. Researchers are encouraged to include the Office for Innovation in the subsequent correspondence to serve as an advocate for their desired outcome.
  2. Inventions can be disclosed when a concept is reduced to practice but before presentations, abstracts, or publications are given.
  3. Disclosure initiates the patenting and marketing process for the invention, triggering a one-year window to complete the technical development needed for patent claims.
  4. Researchers can submit an Invention Disclosure to notify the Penn State Office of Technology Transfer.