IP and patent rights: a tool to turn research discoveries into impactful innovations

Ziele

Intellectual Property (IP) is a key driver of innovation and a powerful tool to transform scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. This seminar will introduce you to the various types of intellectual property, with a special focus on patent rights. Additionally, this workshop will introduce you to the fundamentals of IP, with a focus on patent rights, and highlight its strategic importance in valorizing your research.

Kursinhalte

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 be introducing the steps to transfer scientific innovations to the market and further explore, why intellectual property matters. Participants will gain insights into how patents support commercialization, attract investment, and lay the groundwork for building impactful ventures.
To wrap up the workshop, student 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 IP played in his/her journey: how it supported the business case, attracted investment and shaped the go-to-market strategy.
This session aims to provide concrete examples, lessons learned, and practical advice to inspire and guide participants in their own innovation and valorization efforts.

Form

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

Adressatinnen und Adressaten

All Doctoral Candidates & Postdocs

Informationen zu den Dozierenden

Dr. Wolfgang Henggeler Technology Transfer Manager, ICT, Physics, Chemistry, Medical Technology, and Dr. Patrick Sticher, Technology Transfer Manager, Life Sciences and Medical Technology; both from Unitectra AG, the Technology Transfer Organization of the Universities of Basel, Bern and Zurich: unitectra

Alice Freton, Startup Program manager, Innovation Office, University of Basel
Anna-Elina Pekonen, Head of Entrepreneurship Education, Innovation Office, University of Basel
(Innovation Office)

Leistungsspektrum / Workload

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

Preliminary Work (preparation): 2h
Seminar: 1 x 6h

Besonderheiten

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.