If you are new to innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Pittsburgh, or just need a primer on particular parts of the innovation commercialization process, the Innovation Institute has created a new Inventor’s Guide to assist you.
When your work as a Pitt researcher begins to yield discoveries that may translate into products or services that can make a difference in people’s lives, the first step in that journey is filing an invention disclosure with the Innovation Institute. We recognize that the pandemic response has disrupted many of your research programs. While far from ideal, the current situation may be an opportunity to begin assessing the commercial potential of your work. Innovation Institute licensing managers are key partners throughout the innovation commercialization process. As a group, they have helped usher thousands of Pitt discoveries from disclosure to patenting or copyrighting, and finally to licensing. As a result, the lives of millions of people around the world have been improved--even saved--by discoveries made here. Here they offer their advice for submitting a strong invention disclosure that can help start the commercialization process off on the right foot.
Pitt professor of mechanical engineering and materials science William "Buddy" Clark is no stranger to innovation and entrepreneurship. During his illustrious career he has been associated with 33 invention disclosures, has been issued five patents, and has had his discoveries licensed from the University eight times, including four startups. He is affiliated with the Center for Medical Innovation, the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and the Center for Energy, all at the Swanson School of Engineering, where he also coordinates the Innovation, Product Design and Entrepreneurship certificate program.