How we patent your invention

In order to create IP with a high commercial value, we have a patent office that ensures a high quality of patents to form a solid foundation for spin-outs and license agreements with external companies.

In order to achieve a technical relevant scope of a patent, the inventors are involved in drafting the patent application and in delivering technical input etc. to the prosecution of the patent application.

The first steps towards a patent

Your first step is to get in touch with your Department’s innovation responsible who will help you hand in a required Notification of Invention (NoI) to DTU Technology Transfer. A guide on how to do this is found under the tab "Submit a notification of Invention".

When we have evaluated the commercial possibilities and the patentability of the invention, DTU decides whether or not to take over your and your co-inventors' ownership. If ownership is taken, the initiation of the patent process begins.

DTU Technology Transfer runs the patenting process in close collaboration with the inventor and the DTU department in question.

The patent process

Our standard patent process is to first to file a European patent application (the priority application). We will get the first examination report from European Patent Organisation (EPO) about 6 months after filing. Within 12 months, we file an international patent application (the PCT application), and approx. 4 months later we receive an examination report. Finally, we will file national patent applications in the essential countries within 30 months.

Then the patent application is examined simultaneously in the individual countries, considering their respective national laws. The granting of a patent depends on the different patent offices. The timeline depends on the research area and the evaluation at the national patent office.

The standard patent process is subject to change. DTU Technology Transfer will customise your specific process to achieve a high quality of the patent and commercial process, and make sure there is a match between the patent scope and the need of the commercial partner, incl. choosing the right countries.

Meanwhile…

During the patenting process, we work with the project commercially to find a commercial partner who can either license or purchase rights to the patented invention.

DTU aims at finding a commercial partner before entry into the national phase (30 months). This is important since the choice of geographical coverage depends on the demands of the end-user of the patented invention, for example a license.

Regarding publications and further technology development, please see the tab "Confidentiality" on the left or talk to your department’s patent specialist at DTU Technology Transfer.