You’ve conducted your research and found that, along the way, you may have developed an invention, or innovation, with commercial potential. Now what? That’s where we can help.

Before you publish your data, present it at a conference, or otherwise share your ideas with outside parties, submit an invention disclosure to us.

The information in the invention disclosure will be reviewed by the technology transfer committee, a committee of Pitt administrators and faculty peers. This is the first step in seeking patent protection for your innovation and determining its commercial potential.

How to Submit

You should submit an invention disclosure as early as possible once you’ve established that you have an innovation with commercial potential. Here are instructions on the invention disclosure online submission process. Click the button below to submit your invention disclosure.

Submit Disclosure

What to Submit

A well-written invention disclosure will provide the Technology Transfer Committee with the best possible opportunity to, first, understand the potential both technically and commercially, and then make a decision based on those merits. It also will help the University’s patent counsel to draft a more comprehensive patent strategy and application. Below are a few examples of what is needed.

  • Working title
  • How innovation works
  • Potential commercial partners
  • Advantages of innovation

See this section on a more comprehensive list of questions in the online application.

Required Signatures

All innovators who have contributed to the invention must sign an assignment/acknowledgement form. The applicable form is determined by your place of employment at the time the invention was developed. Please select the appropriate form, insert printed name and sign in the designated location.

  • University of Pittsburgh innovators must sign the “Acknowledgement Relating to Invention Disclosure and Assignment Agreement for Invention(s)” form.
  • Non-University of Pittsburgh innovators must sign the “Acknowledgement for Non-University of Pittsburgh Innovators” form.

Disclosure Review

Disclosures received by 5 p.m. on the deadline date will be considered for discussion at Tech Transfer Committee (TTC) meeting that month.  Otherwise it will be reviewed the next month.

2016-17 submission deadlines

September 14, 2016

October 12, 2016

November 9, 2016

December – No Meeting

January 11, 2017

February 15, 2017

March 15, 2017

April 12, 2017

May 10, 2017

June 14, 2017

July 12, 2017

August- No Meeting

September 13, 2017

October 11, 2017

November 15, 2017

December – No Meeting

If you have any questions or concerns about the new procedure, please contact us at 412-383-7680.