Technology Transfer & Commercialization

Helping JSU faculty, staff, and students identify research with commercial potential — from patenting and licensing to startup formation and industry collaboration.

Welcome

Technology Transfer & Commercialization at JSU

The Division of Research and Economic Development manages the technology transfer, licensing, and commercialization process at Jackson State University. The Tech Transfer Unit assists faculty, staff, and students in identifying research with potential commercial interests and helps to develop strategies for how to exploit these interests. Strategies may include patenting, copyrighting, and trademarking; seeking licensing opportunities; and promoting startups.

The Unit also manages the university’s intellectual property portfolio, establishes collaborations between industry and JSU researchers on SBIR and STTR projects, and facilitates the process of obtaining Mississippi Urban Research Authority (MURA) approved status to have material and financial interest in companies.

Tech Transfer Process Meet the Director

Location: Technology Transfer & Commercialization
Administration Tower, 6th Floor
1400 John R. Lynch Street
Jackson, MS 39217-0280
Phone: 601.979.1815
Director: Almesha L. Campbell
Director Title: Director of Technology Transfer, Commercialization and Research Communications
Division: Division of Research
Innovation Center: JSU Innovation Center

Quick Links

Resources & programs

💡 JSU Innovation Center 🏫 JSU I-Corps Site 🔗 NIGMS Southeast Xlerator Network 📋 Workshops 📷 Virtual Reality Academy

What Is Technology Transfer?

Understanding technology transfer & commercialization

Technology transfer at universities refers to the process of transferring research and innovation developed within the university to the private sector for commercialization. This process is typically managed by a technology transfer office (TTO) within the university, which is responsible for identifying potential technologies, assessing their commercial potential, and then licensing or transferring the technology to a company or entrepreneur who can bring it to market.

Universities have a wealth of knowledge and resources that can be used to create new technologies and products, and technology transfer is an important way to ensure that this research is used to benefit society. By transferring technology from the university to the private sector, companies are able to develop new products and services, create jobs, and promote economic growth. Additionally, many universities also receive royalties from the commercialization of their technologies, which can be used to fund further research and innovation.

The process of technology transfer at universities can include a variety of activities, such as intellectual property (IP) management, licensing, and startup formation. The TTO typically works closely with researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners to identify and develop commercially viable technologies, and to help navigate the process of bringing a technology to market. It is important to note that the technology transfer process is not only a way to commercialize the research but also a way to protect the intellectual property rights, ensure compliance with regulations and laws, and to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between the university and industry partners.

Our Vision

Turning research into real-world impact

Technology transfer and commercialization refer to the process of transferring technology developed in academic or research institutions to the private sector for the purpose of creating a product or service that can be sold in the market. This process involves identifying potential technologies or innovations, assessing their commercial potential, and then transferring the technology to a company or entrepreneur who can bring it to market. The goal of technology transfer and commercialization is to promote economic growth and job creation by turning cutting-edge research into commercial products and services. Additionally, it helps in the development of new technologies, products, and services which can be beneficial for society as a whole.

Learn More About the Process

Inventors Toolkit

Resources for university inventors

University inventors are researchers, faculty members, and students who are responsible for creating new technologies and innovations. They play a critical role in the technology transfer process, and the TTO works closely with inventors to help identify and develop commercially viable technologies.

Inventor resources & programs

Tech Transfer Process Policies and Agreements Venturewell Faculty Grants JSU I-Corps Program Xlerator Network EnRICH Program SBIR Funding NIH Applicant Assistant Program SBIR Tutorials USPTO Webinars/Meetings Invent Together Patent Academy

Intellectual property essentials

Invention Disclosure

Any publication, published abstract, or public presentation of an invention prior to filing a U.S. patent application may destroy your ability to obtain patents in most foreign countries.

JSU policy requires its employees and students to disclose inventions. As soon as you believe that you have a potentially patentable invention, contact Almesha L. Campbell, Director of Technology Transfer, Commercialization and Research Communications, who will explain the technology transfer process at JSU. You will be required to complete a Disclosure of Invention form, which provides the necessary information to evaluate patentability, inventorship, obligations to research sponsors, and other critical information.

It is imperative that information pertaining to an invention be kept confidential until a patent application is filed. Before publishing, talking to potential investors, or making a public presentation on an invention, contact the IP manager. Disclosure of invention to individuals outside the University could result in the loss of patent rights.

What Is a Patent?

A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted to an inventor by the Government. This right gives the inventor the opportunity to “exclude others from making, using or selling the invention” for a term of 20 years from the date of filing the application. In return for this period of exclusivity, the inventor must disclose the details of the invention so that others may seek improvements or new uses.

Who Is an Inventor?

Determining who is named as an inventor on a patent is a legal decision rather than a choice made among participants. Only those individual(s) who furnish an idea can be named as inventor(s). An inventor is the one who first conceives of the invention in sufficient detail that someone skilled in the art could reproduce the invention. If two or more persons work together to make an invention, and each had a share in the ideas forming the invention, they are joint inventors.

What Is a Patentable Invention?

An invention is a discovery or creation of new material (either a new manufactured product or a new composition of matter), a new process, a new use of an existing material, or any improvement of any of these. Most of these inventions generally can be patented. However, aesthetic creations or scientific discoveries without specified application cannot be patented. Things that exist in nature which are discovered and not invented, machines that defy the laws of nature, scientific theories, or mathematical methods cannot be patented.

In general, a patent will be granted for an invention so long as it:

Is new or “novel”: the invention must never have been made in public in any way, anywhere, before the date on which the application for a patent is filed.
Involves an inventive or “unobvious” step: this step must not be obvious to others with good knowledge and experience of the subject of the invention.
Is capable of industrial/useful application: an invention must be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry.

Full Inventors Toolkit Page

Industry Partnerships

Industry collaboration

The Tech Transfer Unit establishes collaborations between industry and JSU researchers on SBIR and STTR projects. Industry partners can access JSU’s research capabilities, facilities, and expertise to drive innovation.

Industry Page News Resources