Why Tech Transfer - Conduct Science

Why Technology Transfer

Dr. Alex Martins

Innovative thinker with novel ideas Has innovative tools for science

By partnering with ConductScience, academic-private partnerships allow for Dr. Martin’s ideas to flourish. His devices, designs, and tools are used by his colleagues when they are readily available through ConductScience. And he gets a royalty.

Product Design

Product Design 100%

Academic Reach

Academic Reach 100%

Automated Software

Automated Software 100%

Sales and Marketing

Sales and Marketing 100%

Training

Training 100%

Customer Support

Customer Support 100%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Easy Access IP model?

Easy Access IP differs from the standard TTO (Technology Transfer Office) model of patenting and licensing for profit as many inventions as possible. Instead, a university still patents the invention, but it gives away the majority—often up to about 95%—of its IP licenses for free, thus bypassing the high costs and lengthy negotiations that often prevent academic discoveries from being commercialized.
Conduct Science encourages minimal patent protection or sometimes no protection at all. Rather we prefer endorsements, trademarks, or any other low-cost option. the device is driven by sales and distribution in which we would then Profit Share the sales of those products/licenses with the originating institution.

Is a patent on the device necessary?

A patent is a sword, not a shield. It gives you the right to attack a competitor who makes commercial use of (“infringes”) your patented technology. Contrary to common belief, it does not give you the right to practice your technology free of interference. In fact, patents are often quite narrow and hence can be easily circumvented: they might apply to a specific design element or combination of characteristics. Furthermore, they have effect only in the jurisdiction of the patent-granting authority.
In our experience, science is a worldwide customer base with an international competitive landscape. Thus, multiple patents would be required, significantly increasing costs. A patent in the United States would not give any advantage to selling to customers abroad. If you do not have a patent, or are a TTO seeking to patent, this agreement will still work without one.
Ultimately, we believe that patenting simply removes the profit potential of many scientific innovations by limiting distribution and market demand. Capturing that profit that can be shared with the original inventor is our goal as we share in that profit as well.

How does Conduct Science generate revenue without patent protection, and why does our institution benefit?

Using rapid development cycles, lowering the cost of a device, and innovative marketing and sales techniques, Conduct Science delivers a product to market that is ultimately a competitively priced product that allows widespread distribution. This allows for rapid proliferation and use of the invention. All revenue is then shared with the originating inventor and institution.
This means your ideas turn into reality, quickly. Your ideas are your most valuable currency, and they should be spread far and wide. We can help.

If we don't have a patent, what do we license to Conduct Science?

In our experience, the best partnerships are “Endorsements.” Like athletes, your professors are the most valuable commodities. Scientific devices are unique in that the expertise of the original inventor has significant value. For example, the Barnes Maze was named after Carol Barnes.
What we ask for is the exclusive right to make this device with endorsement by the institution. Thus, revenue can be shared back to the original institution, and this allows our company to invest in marketing, sales, and production of the device.

If I have an idea, what are the next steps?

Step 1: Get in touch, and we will work to understand the device and its production implementation. We’ll work with our manufacturers and subsuppliers to make the device a reality.
Step 2: You publish your device, and note in the acknowledgements your distribution deal.
Step 3: Simultaneously, the device will go immediately to market on date of paper publication.
We highly discourage seeking patent protection for scientific apparatuses. In our experience, this does not improve the profitability of the device. In fact, it increases the cost and thus decreases utilization. These devices are not consumer-oriented devices, this raises the cost of the device for a limited user base. Costs cannot be diffused into the larger consumer market.

Why Technology Transfer

Innovative thinker with novel ideas Has innovative tools for science

Collaboration Model

Licensing Model

Frequently Asked Questions

Interested? Get in Touch