A substantial amount of research is being conducted at UNIL and CHUV and results in new findings, developments, and discoveries that can benefit society. For this reason in particular, the interface between academic institutions and industry is very important.
The transfer of the discoveries to the commercial sector is coordinated through the intellectual property management and commercialisation for which PACTT is competent.
Researchers contact PACTT regarding research discoveries that may have commercial value, in order to secure IP rights (e.g., patents, copyrights) for such discoveries, and for IP commercialisation strategies.
PACTT advises researchers on how to work with companies regarding IP issues and sponsored research and how to maximize research impact by combining publications with IP rights.
PACTT covers the expenses of the preliminary analysis of the invention and all patent related costs. If the commercialisation is successful, these costs are deducted before net revenues are distributed.
Once an invention is protected by a patent, there are several commercialisation possibilities.
In many cases researchers already have contacts with potential commercialisation partners. PACTT identifies suitable industrial partners and negotiates a license agreement for the development of the invention. Close collaborations between PACTT and the inventors are often a prerequisite for successful commercialisation.
The Institutions encourage innovation and commercialisation of intellectual property rights (IP) and entrepreneurship. Therefore, a part of the revenues is returned to the inventor and to his/her research unit.
The net income from license agreements (after deduction of all patent application expenses and a fixed rate of 10% to cover operational costs of the technology transfer office) is distributed as follows:
- 1/3 to the inventor(s)
- 1/3 to his/her unit
- 1/3 to the Institutions
If the inventor would like to develop and commercialise the invention himself or herself, PACTT provides advice on the business aspects of an invention and about creating a start-up company.
PACTT has put in place financial support called InnoTREK with the goal of accelerating innovation and creating start-up companies.