Our Licensing Process

1. Inventor discloses an invention to Tech Transfer

2. Tech Transfer assesses invention and files a patent

3. Tech Transfer markets such inventions

sends non-confidential abstracts to targeted industry
holds special presentations for potential licensees

4. Licensing negotiations are managed, maintained and monitored by Tech Transfer

About Licensing

A license is an agreement under which the licensor (Northwestern University) grants a licensee (the company) the right to make, use and sell products based on patent rights, copyrights, trademark, proprietary materials or research tools and know-how. This grant may be exclusive or non-exclusive.

- Licenses may be granted for a few years or for the life of patents, copyrights or trademark.

- License provisions include the University's right to take back the technology if the licensee is not aggressively pursuing its development

- Reimbursement to the University of all patent costs, in the case of exclusive licenses, to protect the licensed technologies;

Financial terms include:
   - a license fee (or "up-front" payment) or equity in the case of
      spin-off companies
   - milestone payments
   - minimum annual royalties; and royalties on net sales of products.

Occasionally, a company may want a short-term, exclusive option for a license while further evaluation is carried out to determine the invention's efficacy.

	For Inventors For Industry and Investors Available Technologies Start-Ups News and Events About Tech Transfer Contact Home		Our Licensing Process 1. Inventor discloses an invention to Tech Transfer 2. Tech Transfer assesses invention and files a patent 3. Tech Transfer markets such inventions sends non-confidential abstracts to targeted industry holds special presentations for potential licensees 4. Licensing negotiations are managed, maintained and monitored by Tech Transfer More on agreements Success of a license agreement depends on both parties satisfying some basic goals: - The Inventor and the University must be assured that the technology will be diligently developed for public use - The licensee must have sufficient rights to develop a product that will be profitable for a certain period of time - NU will receive an equitable share of the financial rewards resulting from the invention's commercialization About Licensing A license is an agreement under which the licensor (Northwestern University) grants a licensee (the company) the right to make, use and sell products based on patent rights, copyrights, trademark, proprietary materials or research tools and know-how. This grant may be exclusive or non-exclusive. - Licenses may be granted for a few years or for the life of patents, copyrights or trademark. - License provisions include the University's right to take back the technology if the licensee is not aggressively pursuing its development - Reimbursement to the University of all patent costs, in the case of exclusive licenses, to protect the licensed technologies; Financial terms include: - a license fee (or "up-front" payment) or equity in the case of spin-off companies - milestone payments - minimum annual royalties; and royalties on net sales of products. Occasionally, a company may want a short-term, exclusive option for a license while further evaluation is carried out to determine the invention's efficacy.