What is commercialization

At Pitt, commercialization is how a research discovery becomes a product or service people can use. It usually begins with an invention disclosure to the Innovation Institute. A licensing manager reviews the disclosure for intellectual property and commercial potential and, where appropriate, works with a patent attorney to file a provisional patent application. The technology then reaches the market through a license to an established company or a license to a new Pitt startup.

If a license earns income, inventors receive a share under University Policy RI 10, Intellectual Property. To start, submit an invention disclosure before you publish or present the discovery. Questions: email the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at oiehelp@pitt.edu.

Benefits of Commercialization

Societal Benefit

Innovations from university research—in health care, the environment, wellness and fitness, education, industry, and everyday life—are most impactful when they reach the people who can benefit from them most. Societal benefit is a key reason Pitt encourages researchers to commercialize their work.

Economic Growth

Taking innovations to market through commercializing university research at Pitt also provides significant economic benefit. Whether it be through the licensing of technology to other companies or through the development of new startup companies, research commercialization provides new revenue generation and job creation locally, regionally, and potentially across the globe.

Industry Partnerships

Commercializing university research at Pitt provides an opportunity to engage with industry partners, investors and other businesses. These partnerships can result in additional funding sources to further University research. The University often serves as a supplemental R&D resource for industry partners, who in turn help carry research to the broader market. In addition, the University can generate revenue that can be reinvested into research, cover commercialization-related costs and fund the pursuit of entrepreneurship.

Recruitment and Retention

The successful efforts to commercialize university research at Pitt result in positive publicity and also generate awareness of the research, inventions, and the entrepreneurial culture of the University. These successes and publicity can help to retain and attract both faculty and students, as well as additional research and commercial partners.

Entrepreneurship

By having a focus on entrepreneurship and research commercialization, Pitt faculty and staff can gain exposure to the business community, which can be beneficial in multiple ways. Bridging academia and industry can result in increased knowledge of the business sector, career development opportunities and investor relations. Commercializing university research can take several shapes—from licensing a technology to an established company or entrepreneur to creating a startup company from the ground up.

Inventor's Guide

See each step of commercialization at Pitt, from submitting an invention disclosure to licensing a technology or starting a company.

Read the Inventor's Guide
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