Home » Tech Transfer & Commercialization » Faculty Researchers

Faculty Researchers

As MSU’s technology transfer office, MSU Technologies (MSUT) works with MSU faculty members and researchers on the licensing and commercialization of inventions and copyrightable materials developed at the university. Our goal is to move MSU’s technologies from the lab to the marketplace to advance the common good.

Since the office was formed in 2007, MSUT has successfully negotiated nearly 100 licenses with companies such as the Garmon Corporation, Pearson Education, BASF Plant Science Company, and Michigan Crop Improvement Association. These licenses provide revenue to both the researcher and the university and fund additional research and education.

Find the technology manager assigned to work with your campus unit.

Technology Transfer Process

The first step in the technology transfer process is to complete an invention disclosure form. The form should be filed shortly after the invention or copyrightable work is conceived to comply with applicable laws, contractual obligations, and MSU policies.

Agreement Portal instructions can be found at the bottom of this page.

Other Areas Where We Can Help

Other areas where MSUT staff can assist MSU faculty include:

facilitating material transfer, confidential disclosure and data use agreements (MTA/CDA/DUA)
protecting inventions by filing patent applications for those technologies identified to have commercial promise
providing information and resources for starting a company based on a technology
applying for research funding

Disclose an Invention

Invention disclosure forms and copyright disclosure forms are confidential documents that provide a written, dated record of the creation of an invention or copyrighted work.

My Tech Manager

Our technology managers are assigned to work with specific campus units, based on their backgrounds and areas of expertise.

Forms

MSUT’s disclosure forms are confidential documents that provide a written, dated record of the creation of an invention or copyrighted work. Forms which gather pertinent information when working with MSUT are linked here.

Patent & Copyright Information

Intellectual property (IP) is any work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or design, and can be protected by statute or legislation, such as patent or copyright.

MSU Patent Policy

Michigan State University’s primary obligation in conducting research and scholarly activities is the pursuit of knowledge for the benefit and use of society.

MSU Copyright Policy

MSU follows standard academic practice in disclaiming ownership of, and royalties proceeding from, traditional academic works unless one or more “Special Circumstances” exist.