Capture Your Innovation

Capture Your Innovation

Start your innovation journey by submitting a 
DCU Innovation Disclosure Form (IDF)

 

Our IDF allows you to document your idea, which we then evaluate for potential patentability and market potential. The form contains specific queries designed to extract necessary data for gauging its industrial applicability and commercial viability. Please be mindful not to disclose the innovation publicly before consultation with our team, as public disclosures can impede the successful commercialisation of your invention.

 

Precautions Before Disclosure

Before filling out the IDF, we encourage you to discuss your invention with a member of our team. Be cautious not to jeopardise your invention's potential by prematurely publishing the research before patent application filing. Public disclosure can occur in various ways like grant applications, journal publications, presentations, online posts, theses, and even emails to individuals without a confidentiality agreement. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to contact a member of the DCU Invent team for advice.

 

Steps for Potential Commercialisation

If you have a promising idea that you believe has market potential, follow these steps:

1.  Submission of IDF
Document your idea using an IDF and submit it to DCU Invent. Our Business Development Directors will review your submission and schedule a meeting to assess its commercial potential.

2.  IDF Evaluation
Our Business Development Director, assigned to your school or research centre, will evaluate your IDF. It is crucial to confirm a present or future market for your idea and to assess the idea's novelty before proceeding further.

3.  Intellectual Property Rights Protection
DCU Invent may decide to draft a patent application if the IDF indicates a patentable innovation. However, if it is not initially suitable for patenting, it can still be safeguarded through non-disclosure, implying that the idea should not be published or presented, even among colleagues.

4.  Commercialising Innovations
Based on the IDF assessment, a decision will be made on whether to commercialise the innovation. The chosen strategy might involve further development, marketing to a company, or creation of a spinout company. If a company shows interest, we will sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to securely share confidential information for comprehensive opportunity evaluation.

5.  Licensing Innovations
Successful marketing efforts ideally lead to licensing your innovation, either on a non-exclusive or exclusive basis, to a company.