Technology Transfer

About Tech Transfer

Invention:  Something invented; a product of the imagination; a composition of matter, device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment.

The University of Toledo Technology Transfer Office (TTO) works with faculty, staff, and students to help identify the value of basic ideas and inventions and bring these new technologies to the marketplace for the benefit of all.

Some inventions are based upon pre-existing models or ideas, and others come from radical breakthroughs, which extend the boundaries of human knowledge or experience. The process of invention is highly creative and exploratory, with outcomes that are often uncertain or unknown.

The first step in the inventive process is the initial idea. Inspiration may start the process, but inventions typically need further development, regardless of how complete the idea seems at first.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to develop and document their ideas and discoveries in order to transform those innovations into technologies that will ultimately improve the human condition!

UToledo continues to make great progress in transferring novel ideas and technologies to the marketplace. A central theme of The University of Toledo’s strategic plan includes translating these inventions to commercial products or services in order to contribute to the revitalization and economic development of the entire region.

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In order to ensure the TTO provides UToledo faculty, staff and students with the best service, we are committed to:

1. Supporting The University of Toledo’s mission to improve the human condition;
2. Providing accessible, responsive, competent and professional patenting and licensing services to faculty, staff, and students;
3. Serving as an efficient and effective conduit to license promising UToledo technologies to industry which promotes their entry into the commercial marketplace while:
   • Attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and students
   • Increasing and expanding UToledo's research enterprise
   • Creating and reinforcing commercial relationships
   • Generating institutional acclaim and recognition
   • Providing an additional revenue stream
4. Encouraging local economic development by licensing locally to start-up companies, by supporting faculty start-up activities, and favoring licenses to those companies; 
5. Operating as a resource for information about patents and licensing, and promoting recognition that such matters have become meaningful and valuable aspects of academic life and education; and
6. Facilitating greater integration and increased sponsored research activity between academia and industry to improve the flow of innovative university technologies to the public marketplace.
   
   For additional information or to begin the commercialization process, please contact the Technology Transfer Office.