Profit distribution / Remuneration

What happens when your invention has been commercialised?

When your invention has been commercialised, for example, through a sales or license agreement with a company, DTU Technology Transfer ensures a follow up on the agreement so that DTU receives the payments it is entitled to under the agreement.

At least twice a year, all projects related to inventions (patents) and commercial software are reviewed to determine whether the project has generated a profit. For projects with a net profit, the funds are distributed depending on whether it is an invention or a piece of software that has been commercialised.

Distribution of profit from inventions (patents)

 If your invention generates a net profit (see the Remuneration rules for the definition), the net profit is shared between DTU, you (the inventor), and any other co-inventors from DTU. In general, the net profit is divided so that you and your co-inventors receive one third of the profit, the department where you and your co‑inventors are employed receives one third, and the final third goes to DTU’s central fund. You can read more about how the net profit is distributed in DTU’s Remuneration rules.

Distribution of profit from commercial software

 If you have contributed to a piece of software, any profit is distributed with two thirds paid to the department(s) where the software was created and one third paid to DTU’s central fund.

DTU does not hold the rights to your invention, and you have commercialised it yourself

If DTU has chosen not to take over the rights to your invention, or if DTU later returns the rights to you, you have the opportunity to commercialise the invention yourself. If you commercialise your invention and succeed in generating a net profit, DTU is entitled to receive one third of the net surplus generated (cf. DTU’s Remuneration rules).