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Inventor Help

Initiatives

UNCW's faculty are innovative. Parallel to the formal IP process is UNCW's desire to encourage, support, and facilitate all innovative and commercial ideas from its faculty.

Overview

Innovations such as patentable technologies and "non-patentable IP" (NPIP, such as software, integrated IT solutions, databases, research by-products) need to go through a formal process of disclosure and examination.

Every faculty member should become familiar with policies related to innovation-related disclosures.

See IP Policies

The OIC is an integrated, "one-stop shopping" office with a specific mission to also assist faculty entrepreneurs and innovators to transition from "ideation" to "scalability" to "commercialization."

The OIC has a number of resources it can provide faculty innovators and entrepreneurs. These resources include the provision of direct funding, student assistance, mentoring, and guidance for patent processes, market research, and commercial product development.

In addition, the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) may provide incubator space, access to networking events, and other resources.

Disclosure Information

All inventions are required to be disclosed to the Office of Innovation and Commercialization prior to publication.

Please fill out and submit the invention disclosure form to our office email provided below, after which a staff member will respond. Note: Only questions 1-6 are required for the initial disclosure; additional information can be submitted at any time.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Innovation and Commercialization.

Email | Phone: 910.962.2014

Research and Review

It is very important at this stage to conduct a prior art search, which entails scouring databases for projects and ideas which share similarities to your invention. This is an important early step in assessing how broad, if any, the available patent protection for your invention would be. Once this information is obtained, the OIC team will schedule a review to discuss the potential patenting and licensing of your invention.

Review of patentability and commercial applicability is an iterative process between the inventor(s) and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization triggered by the disclosure of a patentable or non-patentable invention.

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NAI Member Institution Since 2023

As a Member Institution of the National Academy of Inventors, UNCW is part of a global network that recognizes and supports academic inventors, promotes innovation and advances the development and commercialization of discoveries.

Learn More About NAI

Founded in 2010, the National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising of U.S. and international universities, governmental agencies and non-profit research institutes. Currently, there are over 4,600 individual members, including Fellows, Senior Members and Chapter Members, affiliated with more than 260 institutions worldwide.

UNCW's NAI Senior Members by Induction Year:

Read more about the NAI Senior Member Program.