Inventions, which represent clear technical innovations, have the chance to be protected by a patent. These innovative solutions need to be suitable for industrial applications.

It is required to perform a preparatory patent and literature search and append it to the invention disclosure.

ESPACENET, opens an external URL in a new window | DEPATISnet, opens an external URL in a new window | Google/patents, opens an external URL in a new window

The invention must not be published in oral or written form (i.e. made accessible to the public) during these preliminary stages, in order for it to be patentable. From the day the patent application is filed, it is safe to publish the invention.

Detailed information regarding patent search, patent procedures etc. is available in our guide, opens an external URL in a new window – Part 1 and 2 - currently only available in German).

Your invention disclosure will be processed by one of our patent & licence managers.

Our support includes:

Evaluation

• Clarifying the ownership structure (students, other universities, companies)
• Search for patent literature and market opportunities

Patenting

• Drafting, submitting and monitoring patent application filings (in co-operation with external patent attorneys and patent offices)

Exploitation

• Marketing and searching for industry and research partners
• Negotiations with corporate partners (e.g. option contracts and license agreements)
• Support in creating spin-outs (new companies) together with i²c and INiTS

Possible exploitation models are: continuing research projects, licensing, selling, company spin-outs 

The decision for one of the above model depends on multiple factors, especially on the state of development, possible applications, the interests of TU Wien, individual plans of the involved researchers and of course on the interest of potential industry partners.

Close co-operation between Research and Transfer Support and the team of inventors is a prerequisite for successful patenting and the subsequent exploitation. Researchers with their expertise and contacts play a key role in this issue.

Research and Transfer Support provides information events and regular lectures and workshops in the field of patenting and exploitation:

• Lecture  "Technology exploitation"  VO 015.082 (offered in winter semester [WS] and summer semester [SS])
• New lecture "Searching prior art based on patent applications" VU 061.001 (offered only in summer semester)
• Seminar "Technology exploitation"  as part of internal education  for TU Wien staff members
  • Protection of intellectual property
  • Patent and market searches
  • Exploitation options, assessment and decision 
  • Business development and innovation management 
  • Licence agreements and negotiation strategies

• Lecture and seminar provide knowledge of intellectual property (IP) and how to handle it correctly, from the point of view of universities and companies. The topics include:

• Workshop on patent search
  In addition to the literature search, the patent search is a key tool to avoid duplicate research, since many developments by companies are only published within the framework of patent application filings.

  This workshop provides knowledge on the basics of patent searches and an introduction to patent searches with Espacenet as well as the opportunity to participate in practical exercises and hands-on searches on your own research topics at a PC.

  Upcoming dates  

The following courses are offered in the field of company start-ups in cooperation with the start-up service INiTS, opens an external URL in a new window and i²c, opens an external URL in a new window 

• Entrepreneurship for innovative corporations and high-tech start-ups 
• Management and leadership in innovative companies  

You can also find further events offered by the WTZ Ost knowledge transfer centre in the field of intellectual property and knowledge transfer in the Events calendar of TU Wien using the search term “WTZ”.

TU Wien is a strategic partner university within the Pan-European Seal Traineeship Programme , opens an external URL in a new window at European Patent Office (EPO)  and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)., opens an external URL in a new window

Students of TU Wien with a Bachelor or Master degree can apply for a year-long (12 months) paid traineeship until middle of March.

More information and details can be found on  Pan-European Seal Traineeship @ TU Wien., opens in new window

• Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws)
• i2c Innovation Incubation Center TU Wien
• INiTS (Universitäres Gründerservice Wien GmbH
• WTZ Ost (Österreichische Wissenstransferzentren)
• Österreichisches Patentamt (ÖPA) 
• Europäisches Patentamt (EPO)    
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) 
• ASTP-Proton (Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals)   
• TECNET  tecnet equity NÖ Technologiebeteiligungs-Invest GmbH
• ESPACENET   Espacenet patent search
• DEPATISnet  - database for online searches on patent publications from around the world
• Google/patents 
• United States Patent and Trademark Office   
• LESI Licensing Executives Society International  - und LES Austria  Licensing Executives Society Austria
• TechnologieAllianz - German association for knowledge and technology transfer