The University of Toledo is one of 14 public universities in the state to unite in Columbus today in support of the “Ohio Intellectual Property (IP) Promise,” an initiative led by Lt. Governor Jon Husted.

The event hosted by the Inter-University Council of Ohio showcased how universities are working to strengthen Ohio’s innovation economy, attract researchers, and serve as a magnet for investors and entrepreneurs.

“The University of Toledo is proud to participate in the ‘Ohio IP Promise’ in support of our researchers and intellectual property as a powerful tool for economic development,” said UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber, who serves as chair of the Inter-University Council of Ohio. “As we make discoveries and invent new technologies on campus, we work to provide a clear path for our researchers to navigate the journey from the lab to the commercial marketplace.”

The guiding principles of the Ohio IP Promise are:

• Flexible: Provide industry choices for accessing intellectual property developed through sponsored research;
• Transparent: Publish template sponsored research and license agreements;
• Simple: Deliver fair and streamlined guidelines for faculty creator startups;
• Clear: Communicate licensing processes on university websites in a clear, prominent way;
• Easy: Provide well-defined university entry points for industry, investors and entrepreneurs; and
• Fast: Reduce impediments that hinder the pace of transactions.

“Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted challenged our public universities to bring to life their vision for a stronger economy and IP leadership in Ohio,” IUC President Bruce Johnson said. “Our universities have stepped up in a big way with enthusiasm, creativity and imagination. The residents of Ohio will be the short-term and long-term beneficiaries of this program.”

The Office of Technology Transfer at UToledo helps protect intellectual property and provides professional patenting and licensing services to UToledo’s faculty, staff and students.