University Intellectual Property Committee:
Presenting Your Invention
What is the University Intellectual Property Committee (UIPC)?
The UIPC is a committee of faculty, representing each college of the University, who meet to make recommendations on the disposition of intellectual property that may be subject to the UIPC's jurisdiction. Additionally, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, the Senior Technology Transfer Specialist, the Faculty Association representative, and University Legal Counsel representative are ex officio members.
Purpose of UIPC meeting
After viewing a short presentation by the inventor(s), the University has two options: (1) retain the invention and manage the patent process while working with the inventor(s) to market and license the invention, or (2) release the invention to the inventor(s). To make a recommendation, it is important for the UIPC to understand the invention (or other intellectual property) you are presenting. Another purpose of the meeting is to assess the potential value of such an invention. Committee recommendations can be based on a number of factors, with the committee concentrating on what is novel and valuable about your invention and what its market potential may be.
Ideas for your presentation
You will be given a limited amount of time, typically about 20 minutes, for your presentation. This can include any information you deem necessary for communicating your ideas and concepts to people who may not share your area of expertise. Some specific areas that are of particular interest are as follows:
- The specific novelty of your invention.
- Comparisons to similar technologies now in use.
- Related patents or publications.
- Value of the invention to people and society in general.
- Commercial applications of your invention.
- Value of the invention to industry.
- Research and development possibilities for the University.
- Special groups who may need or want this technology.
- Any contacts with people/companies who wish to license/use this invention.
This list is intended to provide guidance; it is not all-inclusive. INVENTORS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO SEARCH THE LITERATURE AND ONLINE PATENT DATABASES FOR SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES (aka prior art).
What happens after you give your presentation?
Shortly after you have presented your ideas to the UIPC, they will make a recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Research, who will forward an approval or denial of that recommendation to our office. We will forward this memo to you as soon as we receive it. This process takes up to one month.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Myers, Senior Technology Transfer Specialist, Office of Research Development and Administration, at jmyers@siu.edu or (618) 453-4553.
For more information, see the University Intellectual Property Policy.
