Frequently Asked Questions

Reach out to us if you are interested in the following: 

• Before making a public disclosure. A public disclosure refers to the act of sharing details about an invention, idea, or business concept with the public, often through presentations, publications, or online platforms. This disclosure can impact the ability to secure intellectual property protections, such as patents, because it may trigger a timeline for filing patents or invalidate the novelty of the idea. Public disclosure essentially makes the information accessible to anyone, including competitors. We strongly encourage you to contact us before you do this. 

• Seeking education and training in commercialization for medical innovations – we offer programs to learn more about the processes and pathways for faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral fellows. 

• Developing a new idea or investigating a new discovery and looking for assistance in directing it towards a commercial application – we can provide guidance. 

• Seeking funding to develop technology for commercial application – internal and external opportunities are available. 

• Facing questions regarding business development, regulatory pathways, reimbursement considerations – we have experts who can help. 

• Looking to connect to collaborators, partners, entrepreneurs, or leadership within the region – we have connections across central PA and beyond. 

• Looking to engage industry – our alumni network and industry partners are eager to connect. 

• If you aren’t sure where your project fits in the innovation and commercialization ecosystem. We are here to help.  

As a full-service organization, the CMI team will help you understand the pathways open to you, help you find resources to achieve your goals and guide you every step of the way.

The first meeting will focus on learning about you and your technology to determine what is needed. Each project is unique and will require personal support from one of our program managers.

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind that are legally protected from unauthorized use by others. IP includes inventions, artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and proprietary knowledge. Legal protections typically grant the creator exclusive rights to use, license, or sell the IP for a certain period.

Common Types of Intellectual Property:

1. Patents – Protect inventions, processes, or new ways of doing something.

2. Copyrights – Protect original literary, artistic, and creative works (e.g., books, music, software).

3. Trademarks – Protect brand names, logos, and distinctive identifiers of goods or services.

4. Trade Secrets – Protect confidential business information (e.g., formulas, manufacturing processes, proprietary data).

The Office of Technology Transfer at Penn State, a key partner of the CMI, protects and supports Penn State IP. Visit the OTT website to learn more about IP protection, management, development, and commercialization.

Penn State Policies can be found here. Below are relevant policies and guidelines you may find helpful:  

Intellectual Property Policies

• IP01 – Ownership and Management of Intellectual Property 

• IP02 – Co-Authorship of Scholarly Reports, Papers and Publications 

• IP03 – Courseware 

• IP04 – Royalty Payments for Course Materials 

• IP05 – Policy Governing Copyright Clearance 

• IP06 – Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurial Activity (Faculty Research) 

Intellectual Property Guidelines 

• IPG01 – Faculty Guidance on Student Intellectual Property Rights 

• IPG02 – Special Student Intellectual Property Agreement Forms 

• IPG03 – What to Expect When Licensing a Penn State Technology into a Start-Up Company 

• IPG04 – Acceptance of Donated Intellectual Property by The Pennsylvania State University 

Research Administration Policies

• RA06 SBIR Collaboration  

• RA07 STTR Collaboration  

Conflict of Interest

• Conflict of Interest