What We Do
We provide an intellectual property and innovation management (also known as technology transfer) service for all Northern Ireland health and social care staff. Our aim is to ensure that ideas that have the potential to improve patient care or offer benefits to healthcare providers are developed, with a focus on ideas that can be protected by a patent and are commercially viable.
Our activities include:
- IP and innovation awareness and training events
- Identification and assessment of new ideas and technologies
- Evaluation of the novelty, potential market and clinical benefits of an idea or technology
- Protection and management of IP assets
- Development and progression of strategies for the development of healthcare products and services
- Unmet clinical needs workshops
We can also provide:
- Advice on IP rights and strategies for commercial development
- Advice on IP clauses in research, confidentiality, materials transfer and other agreements
- Advice on the Research Governance Framework as it relates to IP
- Template agreements (for example: CDA, MTA, licences)
- Confidential enquiry service (for both health and social care staff and external organisations)
- Training of staff in the management and development of HSC IP assets
- Links with the healthcare industry and academia for access to and commercialisation of IP
- Access to and funding for work performed by specialist organisations (technology development companies, IP and legal professionals, clinical trials/regulatory approval advice)