Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer

Technology transfer supports the life cycle of technology, from inception to market diffusion and commercialization.

What is technology transfer?

Technology transfer (TT) is a collaborative process that allows scientific findings, knowledge and intellectual property to flow from creators, such as universities and research institutions, to public and private users. Its goal is to transform inventions and scientific outcomes into new products and services that benefit society. Technology transfer is closely related to knowledge transfer.

Why is intellectual property (IP) important for technology transfer?

Intellectual property (IP) is an important instrument at the research and development level. It helps assure the ownership over intellectual findings and the capacity to control the use of IP in line with an institution's mission and core values.

IP is also a powerful business tool to gain position on the market and exclusivity over a new product or process. This makes it an important instrument to attract partners and potentially obtain return on research investment through development collaboration or licensing deals.

Understanding how IP serves technology transfer is the first step towards managing your technology transfer processes effectively.

Read the full list of FAQs on technology transfer.

Video: Learn more about technology transfer and its relation to intellectual property.

Incentives in Technology Transfer

A practical guide on how to effectively encourage, recognize and reward researchers and technology transfer professionals.

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Technology transfer within the innovation ecosystem

For successful technology transfer, universities and research institutions need to operate in an effective innovation ecosystem – an interconnected network of governmental, industry and research institutions and enabling factors (such as human capital, technology transfer structures, and sophistication of businesses and market). In such an ecosystem, the parties bring their resources and expertise together to collaboratively achieve innovation in the service of regional and economic development.

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IP Policies for Universities and Research Institutions

All you need to know about what an IP policy is, why your institution needs one, and how to create an effective policy using the WIPO IP Policy Toolkit.

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Technology Transfer Organizations

Learn more about the different types of technology transfer structures, their roles of intermediaries, and how they can enhance the technology transfer process.

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People at the Service of Technology Transfer

Find out how can you incentivize and support the development and training of your institution’s researchers and technology transfer managers.

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From Lab to Market

Learn how to navigate common market challenges related to academic technology transfer.

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Technology Transfer Agreements

Find our more about the different types and features of technology transfer contracts.

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Management of Academic Assets

All you need to know about effectively managing the IP rights of your institution's intangible assets for technology transfer.


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Knowledge and Technology Transfer

Supporting the life cycle of technology, from inception to market diffusion and commercialization

What is knowledge and technology transfer?

Knowledge and technology transfer​​​​​​​ (K&TT) is a collaborative process that allows scientific findings, knowledge and intellectual property to flow from creators, such as universities and research institutions, to public and private users. K&TT​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ serves to transform inventions and scientific outputs into new products and services that benefit society.

Intellectual property (IP) is an important instrument at the research and development level. It helps assure the ownership over intellectual findings and the capacity to control the use of IP in line with an institution's mission and core values.
IP is also a powerful business tool to gain position on the market and exclusivity over a new product or process. This makes it an important instrument to attract partners and potentially obtain return on research investment through development collaboration or licensing deals.
Understanding how IP serves technology transfer is the first step towards managing your technology transfer processes effectively.
Read the full list of FAQs on technology transfer.
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WIPO Global Awards 2025 – Call for Applications

Are you a university spinout in tech, fashion, publishing, media, music, design, agriculture or any other industry? Do you use IP to achieve your business goals and improve society? If so, this is your chance to be recognized on a global stage.

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Incentives in Technology Transfer

practical guide on how to effectively encourage, recognize and reward researchers and technology transfer professionals.

Knowledge and technology transfer​​​​​​​ from lab to market

For effective K&TT​​​​​​​, universities and research institutions must thrive within a dynamic innovation ecosystem that fosters collaboration among academia, industry and government. This ecosystem supports the commercialization of research by providing essential resources, networks and policies, enabling the flow of ideas and technologies for societal impact.

1. Identify and disclose innovation

Researchers identify promising innovations and disclose their findings to the institution's technology transfer office (TTO), initiating the K&TT process.

2. Assess and secure IP

Technology transfer organizations evaluate the invention's commercial potential and secures intellectual property (IP) rights to protect the research outcomes.

3. Develop and de-risk innovation

Innovations are refined through prototyping and testing, using input from potential users or buyers, to reduce risks and make the technology attractive to licensees or investors.

4. Develop commercialization strategy

A tailored commercialization strategy is created and implemented to bring the derisked innovation to market through licensing, partnerships, or spinouts.

5. Negotiate and finalize deals

TTO assesses the technology’s market value, negotiates technology transfer agreements, and finalizes deals with partners to bring the technology to market.

6. Monitor agreements & assess impact

TTO monitors compliance with licensing or partnership agreements, oversees revenue sharing, and assesses the societal and economic impact of the innovation after it enters the market.

Institutional IP Policies Database

Most universities and research institutions have developed IP policies. Browse WIPO’s Database of IP policies for examples of policies to help you better understand how other institutions deal with IP issues.

This database is indispensable for developing IP policies. It allowed us to analyze existing university policies and IP management approaches. It's an excellent resource for TTOs, offering contract templates, confidentiality agreements, and other key information for effective IP
management. I frequently use it to identify emerging IP trends in academia and promote IP policy importance.

José Luis Solleiro, UNAM, Mexico

Knowledge and technology transfer publications

IP Policy Toolkit

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Technology Transfer Negotiations

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Successful Technology Licensing

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Incentives to Engage in TT

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IP Valuation for Technology Transfer

Series on IP Valuation for TT Professionals
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IP Policy Toolkit

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This toolkit provides resources like checklist, template, and guidelines to help academic institutions develop effective IP policies.

Technology Transfer Negotiations

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Successful Technology Licensing

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This manual focuses on issues essential for understanding licensing, including the context in which licensing may occur, key terms of a licensing agreement and negotiation methods, and how to prepare for and negotiate a win-win licensing contract.

Incentives in Technology Transfer

[Why not same "Incentives in Technology Transfer" title as feature at the top?]

practical guide on how to effectively encourage, recognize and reward researchers and technology transfer professionals.

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IMAGE: LOREM IPSUM

Technology Transfer and Life Sciences

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Video: Learn more about technology transfer and its relation to intellectual property.

Knowledge and technology transfer in action

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