Protecting your idea

Protecting your ideas and discoveries made through research is important and the University can help you to protect your Intellectual Propery (IP) and commercialise it.

As a student, you may have a novel idea which has the potential to become a new product, service or even inspire you to form your own startup company. But how do you know if your idea – your  IP  – has commercial potential or needs protecting? And what steps can you take to do that?

Intellectual property describes creations that may be legally owned and protected.

If you plan to create impact from or commercialise any IP you own, you may decide to assign your ownership to the University.

We have experts who can help you explore the potential of your IP and work with you to protect it. In return for assigning IP ownership to the University, the University will support you to commercialise your discovery and you will share in any revenue the University makes from it.

The first step in protecting your IP is to tell us about it, via an IP Disclosure. When you disclose your IP to the University, it starts a process which could lead to your idea or creation being developed into a new product or service.

First published on 7 March 2023.


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