IP and Patent Rights: A Tool to Turn Research Discoveries into Impactful Innovations

Aims

Intellectual Property (IP) is a key driver of innovation and a powerful tool to transform scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. In the first part, this seminar will introduce you to the various types of intellectual property, with a special focus on patent rights. In the second part, you will learn about the steps to transfer scientific innovations to the market. You will gain insights into how patents support commercialization, attract investment, and lay the groundwork for building impactful ventures.

Content

In the morning, the first part will provide an introduction to the concept of intellectual property protection. The essential requirements for patenting will be explained, and examples will be shared.

In the second part, a hands-on example of an invention disclosure will be provided. Students will assess the patentability of the invention in small groups and discuss their findings in class. The students will learn how to evaluate an invention and what drives the decision whether to file a patent or not.
In the third part, the different paths to exploit inventions resulting from academic research are presented. Commercialization usually occurs by licensing the invention to a third party, which may either be an existing company, or a spin-off company.

In the afternoon, the Innovation Office will introduce the steps involved in transferring scientific innovations to the market and further explore why intellectual property matters. In addition, a lawyer working in the field will provide expert insight into the strategy behind patents and explain their importance. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how patents support commercialization, attract investment, and lay the groundwork for building impactful ventures.

To conclude the workshop, students will hear directly from a startup founder who has successfully navigated the path from academic research to market entry. Through an interactive discussion, the founder will share real-world insights on the role intellectual property played in their journey, including how it supported the business case, attracted investment, and shaped the go-to-market strategy.

This session aims to provide concrete examples, key lessons learned, and practical advice to inspire and guide participants in their own innovation and valorization efforts.

Methods

• Presentations
• Group discussion
• Structured group work
• Exercises
• Feedback

Target Group

All Doctoral Candidates & Postdocs

About the Trainer

Dr. Wolfgang Henggeler Technology Transfer Manager Dr. Patrick Sticher, Technology Transfer Manager, both from Unitectra AG, the Technology Transfer Organization of the Universities of Basel, Bern and Zurich (unitectra)

Lara Brantschen, Innovation Manager, Entrepreneurship Education, Innovation Office, University of Basel
Anna-Elina Pekonen, Head of Entrepreneurship Education, Innovation Office, University of Basel
(Innovation Office)

Workload

9:00-12:30 Unitectra
Lunch break 60min
13:30-16:00 Innovation Office & Startup Founder

Preliminary Work (preparation): 2h
Workshop: 6h

Feature

Once registration is open, applications will be collected for 24 hours and course places allocated by lot. All registrations received after the initial 24h period will be put on a waiting list and assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Course places/places on the waiting list will be confirmed by e-mail. Course registrations can only be canceled before the registration period ends (send an e-mail to grace@unibas.ch). Full course attendance is mandatory. Participants who fail to attend a course without prior notification or withdraw after the registration deadline are subject to a fee of CHF 30. In addition, participants who cancel their course registration at a later point in time, are absent without an excuse or do not attend the entire course will, for reasons of fairness, not be considered for course registration in the following semester and will be removed from other courses offered in the same semester. Please find the detailed regulations on the Transferable Skills Homepage.