Manage your intellectual property (IP)

It’s safe to assume you'll need to use IP owned by the University if you're considering a start-up based on research you’ve done while working here.

To understand when the University will let you use its IP in this way, you need to understand our commercialisation objectives.

The University of Melbourne engages in technology transfer to create impact. In other words, to change the world for the better and enhance the University’s reputation.

Revenue generation is an important but secondary goal. It flows from success in creating impact.

To achieve its goals, the University must consider all commercialisation options for its IP. This means considering not only your proposal, but also licensing the same IP to established companies.

As owner of the IP, the University will choose the option or options it believes best meet its goals.

To consider all options for its IP, including your proposal, the University needs to understand and have confidence in your plans.

Help us understand the advantages of your proposed commercialisation pathway over the alternatives. Make sure your business plan includes:

If you looked at other ways to create impact for your research, like a partnership with an established company, use this information in your plan. Include your findings on why your start-up is a better path to market for the University’s IP.

The type of license or IP agreement the University offers your start-up depends on:

license agreements are often complex. When they are complex, their negotiation can take months. This is another reason to engage early with your Faculty’s Business Development team member.

You can find a template for a typical license agreement.

Your start-up’s commercialisation and business plans will define what else you need from the University. Other negotiations with the University could cover:

At some point, the University will charge your start-up market rates for the use of University facilities and capability.

The University may be willing to discuss a gradual move towards market rates as part of its investment in and support of the start-up. This could be in return for a larger financial share of the start-up’s success.

This is another way in which the University can be your start-up’s most valuable partner. It’s still a good idea to assume in your business plan that the start-up will pay market rates to its partners as early as possible.