The Office of Technology Management (OTM) serves the University’s faculty, students, and staff in the technology transfer and commercialization processes of new discoveries.
This section provides information, instructions, forms, and additional resources to help you work with OTM in technology commercialization. In addition, you may find it helpful to review our General Process Guidelines listed below or visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) page, which provides answers to common questions about OTM and technology commercialization. You may also contact us to help answer any questions.
General Disclosure Process Guidelines
Report of a new technology or discovery to OTM should occur when a creator believes he/she has a new discovery, creation, software, and/or invention before a public disclosure. This report is completed by the filling out, signing and sending to OTM one of 4 technology report forms, as appropriate:
The type of form (or multiple forms) used to report the new intellectual property to OTM depends on the nature of the technology being reported.
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Forms and Instructions
Technology Report Forms
OTM has launched an online portal for the submission of the information collected under Technology Report Forms. This is OTM's preferred method of disclosure, and will allow creators to track progress. Please request access using your UTHealth Houston email address and credentials (note: login using non-UTHealth Houston emails is not permitted) via the following link: UTHealth Inventor Portal
More detailed instructions on using the UTHealth Houston Inventor Portal are under development, although the general concepts, process description, and content instructions listed below still apply except as otherwise noted.
For a limited time, OTM will continue to also accept the following paper/emailed forms for disclosures, along with any additional required detail, that can be submitted via email:
- Technology Report Form: Patents (for something that might be patentable)
- Technology Report Form: Software (for software code)
- Technology Report Form: Copyright (for text, content, pictures or the like, including that used in conjunction with software code)
- Technology Report Form: Research Material (for cell lines, mouse models, etc.)
Instructions for submitting a Report Form to OTM
Please read the following important instructions prior to completing a report form. The submission of a report form (either paper version below or through the Inventor Portal link above (portal is the preferred method)) is the initial step in the intellectual property process.
STEP 1: Select the appropriate form for your disclosure.
- For potentially patentable technology (i.e. medical device, compound, a method), fill out Technology Report Form.
- For Research materials, fill out the Research Material Report Form.
- For copyrightable work (i.e. book, video, art, photo, curriculum), fill out the Copyright Report Form.
- For software or application program, please fill out the Software Report Form (if the software or application is potentially patentable, please also include a Technology Report Form).
If you are unsure, please contact us and we will assist you in selecting the appropriate disclosure form.
STEP 2: Completely fill out the appropriate report form (including all required attachments).
Please print the report form, have all UTHealth Houston creators sign the form and date their signature (original signatures please, as this is a legal document). OTM can assist with the signature process if a pdf of the form and its attachments is sent unsigned to [email protected]. OTM will then utilize Docusign to collect signatures. (Note: These printing and signature steps are not applicable if using the Inventor Portal, as Docusign signing and electronic documentation of the submission is built into the process).STEP 3: Return the completed original report form to “UCT 1400” via email to [email protected].
Please include all documents and/or papers that are relevant to your disclosure, including unpublished abstracts, manuscripts, and write-ups.(Note: This submission step is not applicable if using the Inventor Portal, as electronic documentation of the submission is built into the portal).STEP 4: Evaluation & Determination of Applicable Next Steps.
OTM will begin evaluation of the report to determine the UT System Board of Regents’ interest in and rights to the intellectual property. This evaluation may include interviews with the inventors/creators, searches in various databases for prior art, patents or other publications, or other diligence as applicable for the type of intellectual property reported (see more detail below). The intellectual property is also reviewed with regard to for commercialization potential, including what existing companies are there that might be interested in licensing such intellectual property, and/or what interest is there in forming a new startup company based on such intellectual property.Typical Evaluation Process for a Technology Report Form
OTM will make a recommendation that may include the some or all of following:
- place the report on a hold/deferred status and request additional research data/information from the inventors/creators;
- perform a preliminary patentability search through a law firm/commercial service, or in-house;
- file a patent application or copyright registration;
- pursue a research sponsorship or licensee; or,
- license/release of some or all of the rights back to the inventor, while retaining certain rights on behalf of UT.
Recommendations for Software, Copyright and other types of technologies may have similar, alternative and/or additional recommendations.
If the decision is made to file a patent application, the detailed application will be prepared by an outside patent attorney engaged by UTHealth Houston (and under contract with UTSystem via the State of Texas Attorney General's Office) with the assistance of the inventor and OTM.
A decision NOT to file may result in the:
- holding of the Report for more data, with the Board of Regents retaining rights; or
- closing the Report, with no release of rights; or
- return of some or all rights in the Report to the inventor by license or assignment; or
- commercialization without securing patent rights (may be typical scenario for software, copyright materials and/or research materials)
Commercialization of the Intellectual Property
Commercialization of intellectual property involves drafting, negotiating and executing an option and/or license agreement with a third party company. UTHealth Houston does not transfer ownership or assign its rights in the intellectual property to the company, but instead grants the company an exclusive or non-exclusive license to make, use and sell products based on the intellectual property. OTM negotiates these agreements on behalf of UTHealth Houston, as well as any contractual documents representing the Board of Regents’ intellectual property interests developed at UTHealth Houston, including but not limited to confidentiality agreements, option agreements, etc. OTM regularly consults with inventors/creators on terms and conditions of these agreements.
Once the intellectual property is licensed to a company, OTM monitors the license agreement for compliance regarding the obligations due the university, including collection of fees/royalties, and ensuring that any diligence milestones and/or other obligations of the company are completed in a timely manner. When OTM receives cash under a license agreement, OTM manages the distribution of those funds, both within the university as well as to the individual inventors, all in accordance with HOOP policy (and in accordance with any royalty sharing agreement if multiple inventors are involved).
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call: 713-500-3369.
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Policies and Regulations
UTHealth Houston Intellectual Property Policy
UTHealth Houston’s Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) (Policy Number 201) outlines University Intellectual Property policy regarding inventions and intellectual creations.UT System Intellectual Property Policy
Regents’ Rules & Regulations outline The University of Texas System policies regarding intellectual property.UTHealth Houston Research Conflict of Interest Policy
UTHealth Houston Royalty Distribution Policy
Pursuant to UTHealth Houston’s HOOP (Policy Number 201), and after certain costs of licensing and patenting are recapture (i.e. outside patenting costs), UTHealth Houston divides any remaining royalty income* as follows:50% Creator(s)
5% Lab of Creator(s)
5% School of Creator(s)
5% Department of Creator(s)
35% Office of Technology Management*stock, equity, and proceeds therefrom may be handled differently per HOOP 201
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Education and Training
Training available to UTHealth Houston faculty members and staff:
UT System Copyright Crash Course
Benefits of Working with OTM
There are a wide range of benefits when University technologies are successfully developed and commercialized. The public benefits through job creation, as well as through the availability of innovative and life-saving products and services. The University, its researchers, and its students all benefit from commercialization revenue, where such revenue is directly shared both on a personal level as well as through critical funding for other academic programs.
OTM has a history of successfully licensing and commercializing University technologies, and has consistently ranked among the top universities in licensing income. Over the last 10 years, OTM has brought in millions of dollars in licensing income to the University.
For more information or to report your invention, please see the Forms and Instructions menu under the Forms, Policies, and Education section above.