Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Your partner in innovation

Navigating the path from research to real-world application can be complex—but you don’t have to do it alone. WARF’s experienced team collaborates with UW-Madison innovators to protect intellectual property, explore commercialization pathways and maximize the impact of your research. Together, we turn discovery into opportunity.

Our patenting and licensing process

RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY

Conceive and start to develop your idea for a new technology or an improvement to an existing technology.

INNOVATION DISCLOSURE

Make your innovation known to WARF:

WARF DECISION

The WARF Disclosure Committee assesses your idea:

  • Is there a market for it?
  • Can we license it?
  • Is it patentable?
  • Is there other Intellectual Property protection available?
  • How much additional development work will be needed to garner commercial interest?

NOTIFICATION BY WARF

  • Graduate School Equity Review identifies contract obligations and any related IP obligations.
  • If we accept, you sign a Memorandum Agreement, in which you agree to assign your innovation to WARF.

PATENTING

  • A patent attorney or agent hired by WARF drafts the application with your input and files it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  • The application is examined by the USPTO. (Note: this takes 3–5 years.)
  • If the USPTO determines that your innovation is patentable, a patent issues and WARF notifies you.

MARKETING

  • Your Licensing Manager identifies companies that may be interested in the invention and proactively markets the technology to those companies.
  • A summary of the technology may be written and posted on the WARF website.

LICENSING

A contract between the innovation owner (WARF) and a commercial partner gives the licensee permission to make, use, sell or import the innovation.

REVENUE

Licensing revenue is shared with the innovators and returned to the university where it is used to support further research.

Want to know more?

TIMING OF DISCLOSURE

Notify Your WARF IP Manager ASAP!
The WARF IP management team is your go-to resource at UW-Madison. These experts, often with advanced degrees and patent agent credentials, bridge the gap between research and commercialization and want to hear from you.

Public disclosure of an idea – including some routine academic activities – prior to filing a patent application can significantly impact availability of patent rights. Speak with WARF early to protect your patent rights before public discussions.

If the WARF team decides to proceed with patenting your discovery, they will file a patent application that will be examined at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for utility, novelty and obviousness. It also must be detailed enough for others to replicate your innovation.

PATENT PROSECUTION

The patent attorney WARF hires drafts the patent application and defends or adjusts claims to convince the examiner that your innovation is patentable. This back-and-forth can take years, and not all claims may be accepted. Patent applications are published 18 months after filing, and you will be notified when the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office informs WARF that your invention is patentable and the patent issues.

PATENT TERM

An issued U.S. patent has a life of 20 years from the date the application was filed.

OTHER INNOVATIONS

Beyond patentable inventions, WARF also works with biomaterials, including cell lines and plant varieties, as well as copyrights, trademarks, software, data and more. Your WARF IP Manager can help determine the best path for your innovation.

ADVANCING COMMERCIALIZATION

Through collaborations with researchers, investors and entrepreneurs, WARF can help bring your innovation to market.

  • WARF Accelerator: De-risks technology by engaging with industry and funding proof-of-concept milestones.
  • WARF Therapeutics: Enhances the value propositions of drug candidates using an industry-centric approach.
  • WARF Ventures: Invests in startups based on UW/WARF technologies.

STARTUP OPPORTUNITY

If you plan to launch a startup based on your innovation, WARF’s Startup Advantage Program offers a user-friendly experience, including a standardized license agreement with consistent royalty terms.

LICENSING

WARF may start marketing your innovation once the patent application is filed. The licensing process involves promoting your technology to potential companies. Keep your Licensing Manager updated on any industry interest.

Agreements may include upfront and royalty fees and can be exclusive or nonexclusive. WARF’s team, with their technical and industry expertise, acts as your commercialization partner to find the best market and/or market application for your innovation and ensure agreements comply with laws.

ROYALTY DISTRIBUTION

As an inventor, you’ll share in the royalty revenue from your licensed innovation. Plus, UW-Madison receives a portion of the funds from WARF

About WARF

Incorporated in 1925, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) patents and licenses discoveries from UW–Madison research, manages an investment portfolio generated from licensing and investment proceeds, and provides annual grants to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research to support further scientific investigation and research.

WARF