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The invention must not be published in oral or written form (i.e. made accessible to the public) during these preliminary stages, in order for it to be patentable.From the day the patent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 (Handling inventions at TU Wien – 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 licence agreements)
• Support in creating spin-outs (new companies) together with  i²c and inits

Possible exploitation modells are: continuing research projects, licencing, selling, company spin-outs.

The decision for one of the above models 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 here.

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 in summer semester only)

• Seminar “Technology exploitation” as part of the internal training for TU Wien staff members (for dates use the website)
  The 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:
  • Protection of intellectual property
  • Patent and market searches
  • Exploitation options, assessment and decision 
  • Business development and innovation management 
  • Licence agreements and negotiation strategies

• 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 course is offered in the field of company start-ups in cooperation with the start-up service  i²c, opens an external URL in a new window and inits:, opens an external URL in a new window

• Entrepreneurship for innovative corporations and high-tech start-ups VO 015.110

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, opens an external URL in a new window 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

Students of TU Wien with a Bachelor or Master degree can apply for a year-long (12 months), paid traineeship at the European Patent Office.

More information and details can be found at Pan-European Seal Traineeship @ TU Wien, opens an external URL in a new window

Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws, opens an external URL in a new window)

i2c, opens an external URL in a new window

INiTS (Universitäres Gründerservice Wien GmbH), opens an external URL in a new window

WTZ Ost (Österreichische Wissenstransferzentren), opens an external URL in a new window

Österreichisches Patentamt (ÖPA), opens an external URL in a new window 

Europäisches Patentamt (EPO), opens an external URL in a new window    

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), opens an external URL in a new window 

ASTP-Proton, opens an external URL in a new window (Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals)   

TECNET, opens an external URL in a new window 

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 

United States Patent and Trademark Office, opens an external URL in a new window   

LESI, opens an external URL in a new window (Licensing Executives Society International) und LES Austria, opens an external URL in a new window 

TechnologieAllianz, opens an external URL in a new window - German association for knowledge and technology transfer