INVOINNOVATION AND NEW VENTURES

Patent and Invention Policy

Covered by this policy: Any invention or discovery made within an individual's normal field of employment/activity at the University, or using University resources.

• More on the policy
• Download the policy

Copyright Policy

Covered by this policy:  Members of the University's academic community who create works at the University resulting from their research, teaching, artistic creativity or writing. 

• More on this policy
• FAQs for software and copyrightable works

Student Invention Policy

Covered by this policy: All students (including graduate, undergraduate, full-time and part-time). 

• More on the policy
• More on the process to petition the release of University's intellectual property rights

Royalty Distribution Policy

Covered by this policy: If there is more than one Northwestern inventor, this policy covers those inventors, as well as their departments, schools and centers

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University Technology Licensing and Equity Interest Policy

Covered by this policy: Ccircumstances and processes for receiving and managing Equity investments in Commercial Ventures, and determining how and when to sell and distribute any resulting proceeds to best protect and promote Northwestern University’s educational and research missions.

• More on the policy
• Download the policy

Conflict of Interest Policies

The following policies and guidance are available on Northwestern's Conflict of Interest Office website:

• Faculty Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest Policy
  
• Guidelines for navigating COI issues when faculty start-up companies engage in University research
  

Disclosure forms

• Log in to the Inventor Portal to access online Disclosure Forms

• Learn more about the Inventor Portal 
• Inventor Portal FAQs

Petitions to release intellectual property

• Student Petition to Release IP Form A: Used by most students
• Student Petition to Release IP Form B: Used by undergraduate, Kellogg and Pritzker students using the Garage
• Student Internship Release Form

Agreement templates & forms

• Confidentiality Agreement template
• Mutual Confidentiality Agreement template
• Software Digital Startup License Agreement
• Therapeutics Startup License Agreement
• Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) forms are available on the Office for Sponsored Research (OSR) website