FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2015
Media Contact: Clare LaFond: 206-616-9540-office / 206-953-8532-cell / clarela@uw.edu
University of Washington introduces pre-packaged IP to optimize
industry sponsored research
UW’s new Washington Innovation Advantage program allows companies to pay fixed cost
upfront for licensing potential intellectual property
In an effort to make it easier for businesses to partner with the University of Washington in
transforming discoveries into innovative solutions, the UW is launching a new “pre-packaged”
intellectual property (IP) program for sponsored research.
The program, called the Washington Innovation Advantage, allows industrial sponsors and UW
researchers to opt into set financial terms for non-exclusive or exclusive commercial licenses to
intellectual property upfront, at the time the sponsorship agreement is negotiated. By providing
companies with a convenient and cost-effective means to license intellectual property before a project
begins, this new program streamlines execution of sponsored project agreements, reduces financial
uncertainty for sponsors, and minimizes the time spent on licensing negotiations. The Washington
Innovation Advantage program aims to increase transparency and reduce barriers to industry research
engagements with the University.
“This is an opportunity to make it easier for potential partners outside of UW – local companies
as well as those in other regions, states and countries – to engage and do business with us,” said UW Vice
Provost for Innovation Vikram Jandhyala.
With this new pre-packaged IP program, companies pay a fixed percentage of the project cost for
an exclusive worldwide license to any IP that is developed on their funded project. A royalty of one
percent applies if net product sales exceed $20 million. Businesses can ensure patent filings associated
with the technology developed during the research project meet their strategic goals, and are free to
sublicense at any time. The program also offers an option for a non-exclusive commercial license to
project IP for a lower cost.
“Our research institutions are engines of economic growth in the state, yet there remain
opportunities to find new models for transferring technology and research to commercial viability,” said
Brian Bonlender, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. “This pre-packaged
program offers a clear, no-hassle mechanism for companies to collaborate with UW and quickly take the
resulting innovations into the marketplace to generate job-creating activities.”
By allowing companies to pay an upfront, pre-determined cost for an exclusive or non-exclusive
commercial license to use potential IP, they can bypass negotiation of IP terms in sponsored research
agreements.
“Growing our partnerships with industry is a top priority for the College of Engineering,” said
Michael Bragg, Frank & Julie Jungers Dean of Engineering at UW. “Engineering’s impact is greatest
when lab breakthroughs enter the marketplace and when industrial challenges motivate our research.
Offering a pre-packaged IP option to companies is a tangible demonstration of UW’s commitment to
expanding and improving industry engagement.”
While the UW College of Engineering’s interest in partnering with industry was a key driver of
the Washington Innovation Advantage program, Jandhyala said other UW schools are equally excited
about the new program’s potential.
About CoMotion
As one of the leading recipients of federal funding for research, the University of Washington is
producing innovations that have the power to change the world—from biofuel alternatives, to more
effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and brain cancer, to purification technology for drinking
water in the developing world. CoMotion is the UW’s collaborative innovation hub. Through close
partnerships across campus and the community, CoMotion works with innovation leaders to grow
successful programs that leverage the cross-disciplinary expertise of UW faculty, staff and students. A
national leader in university technology transfer, CoMotion offers expertise in models for distribution, in
managing software and digital assets, in IP planning and protection, and in licenses and negotiation. With
partners across the UW and throughout Seattle, CoMotion provides UW researchers with an excellent
environment for starting new technology companies. By promoting entrepreneurial thinking, innovation
mindsets, creative problem-solving, and experiential, team-based project learning, CoMotion delivers the
tools and connections the UW community needs to accelerate the impact of UW innovations and to grow
local and global innovation ecosystems.
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