Technology Transfer Process at UC San Diego

The UC San Diego recognizes the importance of fostering the development and utilization of innovations that result from research activities on campus for the public good. The proper management and protection of innovations as intellectual properties under various intellectual property laws and international trade treatises is an essential endeavor undertaken by the university to promote the successful placement of innovations for development and to advance the university's missions. In November 1994, UC San Diego established its campus Technology Transfer Office (TTO) to promote and facilitate this process. With its close proximity to UC San Diego researchers and the administration leadership, TTO is ideally positioned to manage the intellectual property developed at UC San Diego and to provide educational and information services on intellectual property matters to the UC San Diego community. It is the goal of the university to nurture a highly proactive culture committed to the development and transfer of innovations from campus to the private sector for the benefit of society.

Mission of UC San Diego TTO

  • Promote and facilitate the transfer of UC San Diego innovations for the benefit of the University community and the public.

Responsibilities of TTO

  • Administer intellectual property developed by UC San Diego researchers as a result of UC employment or use of UC resources.
  • Develop appropriate protection and transfer strategies to maximize the value and usage of UC San Diego intellectual property.
  • Signatory authority for licenses and other intellectual property agreements.
  • Assist and educate UC San Diego employees on matters related to intellectual property.

Operating Philosophy of TTO

  • Serve and protect the interests of the university and UC San Diego researchers.
  • Active and equal-opportunity marketing of available UC San Diego innovations.
  • Fair risk- and benefit-sharing with licensees.
  • Long term and cross-cultural partnership with industries

What to Do With Your New Innovations?

The first step is to make a disclosure to the UC San Diego TTO. For your convenience, standardized disclosure forms are available directly from TTO or can be down loaded from the TTO Web site.

If the innovation is related to a new invention, discovery, or tangible research material, the invention disclosure form will be appropriate. New inventions or discoveries include such subject matters as new methods, new compositions of matter, new uses of existing materials, new devices, or combinations of the above. Tangible research materials are unique and valuable proprietary materials derived from UC San Diego research and exploration that third parties will have to invest much time, effort, and money at risk to duplicate them independently.

If the innovation is related to a work of creative authorship, the copyright disclosure form will be appropriate. A work of authorship includes writings, program codes, images, or architectural designs and layouts etc. The work must be creative and fixed in a medium; but it may be an original work or a derivative of an existing work. Utility is not required.

What Do We Do With Your Disclosures?

Once we receive a disclosure, we will start an evaluation process that will include investigating and/or determining:

  • Proper inventorship or authorship.
  • If the Regents of The University of California or any third party should be the proper owner of the intellectual property.
  • If any sponsor of the work leading to the innovation should be notified.
  • If any sponsor has pre-assigned rights to the innovation.
  • The need or strategy to protect the innovation.
  • The potential users and market of the innovation.

Then, we will initiate an active marketing campaign to transfer the innovation to the private sector by licensing. Your assistance is important in making this whole process successful and rewarding. TTO looks forward to an opportunity to work with you in this meaningful endeavor.

If you need assistance in making a disclosure, have any questions or suggestions, or would like to have a presentation to your unit on intellectual property issues and policies, please don't hesitate to contact us.

UC San Diego

Technology Transfer Office

10300 N. Torrey Pines Rd.
TPCN, 1st Floor
La Jolla, CA 92093-0910
Tel: (858) 534-5815
Fax: (858) 534-7345
E-mail: invent@ucsd.edu