University of Vermont — UVM Innovations
Technology transfer is the bridge between academic discovery and the world that needs it. Whether you want to license your innovation, launch a startup, or release it as open source — this guide walks you through every step of the journey.
The Basics
Technology transfer is the formal process of moving research discoveries, knowledge, and intellectual property from creators — like university researchers — into the hands of people who can develop them into products, services, or freely available tools.
The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 was a turning point: it allowed universities to own inventions created through federally funded research and to commercialize them. Before it, most academic patents sat unused in government filing cabinets. Today, university tech transfer generates billions in economic activity and thousands of products used every day.
You've made a discovery. Now what? UVM Innovations helps you evaluate commercial potential, protect your intellectual property, find industry partners, and — if you choose — launch your own company.
The process starts with a single step: submitting an Invention Disclosure Form. The earlier you do it, the more options you have.
See the step-by-step process
Tech transfer isn't just for faculty. If you've developed something innovative — through coursework, a lab, or a side project — you may have IP worth protecting. Programs like ARC, NSF I-Corps, and SPARK-VT are specifically designed to bring students into the commercialization process.
Find student programsChoose Your Path
There's no single route from lab to real-world use. Your goals, the nature of your innovation, and who benefits most will shape which path makes sense.
Work with UVM Innovations to patent your invention and license it to an existing company. UVM retains ownership; you receive royalties. Best for technologies that need significant capital to develop and scale.
Learn more →
Spin out a company around your technology. UVM has launched 39 startups in the past decade. Programs like SPARK-VT, NSF I-Corps, and the UVM Ventures Fund can help you get off the ground.
Learn more →
Not every innovation needs to be commercialized. Open-source release can maximize societal impact, accelerate adoption, build reputation, and still be considered a legitimate technology transfer outcome.
Learn more →The Process
UVM Innovations uses a trail metaphor to describe the journey from initial research to a licensed, launched, or released outcome. Here's the map.
Initial R&D and grant-funded discovery. Connect with the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) for grant writing support and funding opportunities.
Submit your Invention Disclosure. This is where you engage UVM Innovations to evaluate IP strategy, file for patent protection, and set a direction. File early — before any public disclosure.
Prototype, build, and refine. Access the UVM FabLab, Center for Biomedical Innovation, and makerspaces to take your concept toward a functional prototype.
Validate demand. Work through NSF I-Corps, SPARK-VT, or ARC to conduct customer discovery, competitive analysis, and develop your commercialization plan.
Negotiate and finalize your license, launch your company, or release your code. UVM Innovations manages the licensing agreement, royalty payments, and ongoing relationship with your licensee or spin-out.
Inspiration
These examples show how university-led discoveries — across industries and pathways — moved from lab to impact.
A UVM researcher's molecular discovery was licensed exclusively to a biotech firm, which secured FDA approval and brought a new therapeutic to market. The royalties fund continued research.
Read more →An agricultural engineering team used NSF I-Corps customer discovery to validate market demand, then launched a startup with seed funding from the UVM Ventures Fund.
Read more →Rather than patent a hydrological modeling tool, a research team released it under an open license. It's now used by agencies across three continents — maximizing public benefit over private gain.
Read more →