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.
Our Process:
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) Program provides funding to perform the experiments. This stage is for evaluating the KPI and developing implementation planning.
At the end of our programs, our researchers will be ready to submit an internal invention disclosure to trigger the technology transfer process.
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When to engage Office for Innovation
- It's never too soon to engage Office for Innovation.
- Come to us with ideas, new discoveries, or mature inventions.
- We will discuss your idea, assist you in developing a plan, and provide resources to support your goals.
- Our Pathways to Impact Workshop and Seminar Series offers essential training for translational researchers.
- Our Innovation Fellows Program provides hands-on guidance to develop your idea.
- Our Lab Bench to Commercialization Seed Grant provides funding for you to action on the plan and advice.
- 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:
- Researchers are encouraged to include the Office for Innovation in the subsequent correspondence to serve as an advocate for their desired outcome.
- Inventions can be disclosed when a concept is reduced to practice but before presentations, abstracts, or publications are given.
- Disclosure initiates the patenting and marketing process for the invention, triggering a one-year window to complete the technical development needed for patent claims.
- Researchers can submit an Invention Disclosure to notify the Penn State Office of Technology Transfer.