Invention, Idea or Concept

Three things to do when you have your next big invention, idea or concept:

• Spend some time doing online research to see if your idea is novel. 25% of all “new” ideas have been invented before. Remember, over one million patent applications are filed each year!
• If you intend to commercialise your idea, do not publish or disclose your new invention to anybody without firstly considering the IP implications. Public disclosure destroys the novelty of your new invention, meaning that it is impossible to patent and protect.
• Talk to TU Dublin Innovation.

Talk to a member of the TU Dublin Innovation team

TU Dublin Innovation encourages colleagues, researchers and students to publish their research in peer- reviewed journals wherever possible. However, colleagues, researchers and students should consider the commercial potential of their research results and scholarly works. Where intellectual property is thought to exist, colleagues, researchers and students should engage with one of our team who can advise on protecting the research appropriately before publishing.

Written description of invention

In order for TU Dublin Innovation to fully evaluate your new invention, it is important that we firstly capture a number of points:

• brief summary of the invention,
• why it is more advantageous than what is currently on the market,
• if a patent search has been carried out by you to determine its novelty ,
• who the inventor(s) are and their contribution,
• at what stage of development is the invention (idea, prototype, field tested),
• funding received from any state bodies to develop the idea.

Please contact innovation@tudublin.ie for more information. The IDF is the first step in the TU Dublin process of identifying intellectual property and determining how to proceed with it. It should be submitted to TU Dublin Innovation when something new and useful has been invented. Completed IDFs are important legal documents in that they record what has been invented as well as the circumstances under which the invention was made. Submitted IDFs are treated as confidential until a patent application has been filed or the invention is publicly disclosed. IDFs should be completed with as much detail as possible, with each of the inventors signing the form.

IP assigned to TU Dublin

Unlike most other third level institutes, TU Dublin does not claim ownership of work carried out by TU Dublin inventors in the course of their work. Rather, the creator (staff or students) owns all legal rights to the IP () except where:

• contracts exist with sponsors requiring IP assignment to TU Dublin,
• TU Dublin resources were used in the creation of the IP, or
• administrative materials were developed for TU Dublin.

In these cases, and where the inventor wants TU Dublin to commercialise their invention on their behalf, the IP must be formally assigned to TU Dublin.

This assignment can be carried out simply by getting each inventor to separately complete an TU Dublin Innovation Assignment Agreement. Please contact innovation@tudublin.ie for more information.

Both an IDF and an IP Assignment Agreement form should be completed in all cases where something new and useful has been invented. 

Commercialisation Strategy

Once the IDF and IP Assignment Agreement have been received and reviewed, our team, in agreement with the inventor(s) will put in place the most appropriate commercialization strategy, comprising:

• IP strategy
• Product strategy
• Funding strategy
• Marketing strategy

Potential Industry Partner

When your invention is at an appropriate stage to be placed on the market, TU Dublin Innovation, in agreement with the inventor(s) will approach a number of potential industry partners. These industry partners can:

• provide direction and market validation for your invention;
• come on board as an industry collaborator, possibly funding further development costs;
• seek access to the IP (through licensing) to incorporate it into their current product offering; or
• seek access to the IP (through licensing) to launch a new product.

Spin-Out

Should you (and your fellow inventors) wish to start a company based on the IP, we will help you set up a new business based on your invention, idea or concept. TU Dublin Innovation offers support, advice and mentoring to help you and your new business become successful and grow rapidly. The team has considerable experience in starting and running businesses, from small university-based start-ups to working for some of the largest multi-nationals in the world.

Royalties Generated

According to TU Dublin IP Policy, up to 75% of net revenues received from commercialisation are returned to the inventor.