We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

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Commercialization Process

Step 1: Invention Disclosure

An invention disclosure is a document that details the information necessary to evaluate the patentability, inventorship, market and any obligation to research sponsors.

Inventors must disclose all inventions to the University prior to any commercialization activity.

Ontario Tech University has an inventor-owned Intellectual Property (IP) policy. However, if the inventor elects to have the University commercialize the technology on their behalf, the IP ownership must be assigned to the University.

Connect with our IP Officer if you have any questions regarding this process.

Step 2: IP Assessment

Inventors can indicate in the invention disclosure form if they wish to work with the University to commercialize their technology. Our team will review the submitted technology and perform a due diligence analysis that will include novelty, prior art search, technology readiness level (TRL), market size, competitive landscape and future outlook. This analysis helps our team to decide if the University should invest into this technology, and to formulate an IP protection strategy and the best knowledge mobilization avenue (eg. start-up, licensing, partnership).

The University will consider investing in technologies that have reached the validation stage in development (TR4). IPs that are approved for commercialization must then be assigned to the University by the inventors. If the Office of Research Services (ORS) decides to not proceed with commercialization after the assessment, then ownership of the IP will be retained by the inventors.

IP validation stage flow

Step 3: IP Protection

A critical step in commercialization is to keep your invention confidential from any public disclosures prior to IP protection. The ORS will ensure the IP is protected and that it will be given proper stewardship to ensure the technology is developed to its highest potential.

IP protection is a costly and a complex process. The ORS provides expertise to navigate through this complex process in a strategic approach. Our team will take the lead in securing IP assets and handling all legal and administrative expenses associated with patent filing and prosecution.

Protected IP can be leveraged to bring in revenue from third parties for collaborative development of the IP.

In some cases, inventors may elect to launch a new venture around the protected IP.

In either case, a licensing agreement or an option agreement from the University is needed to facilitate these transactions