Intellectual Property, Patents & Licences

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intellectual property, patents & licences

Introduction

Isis Innovation Limited is the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford. The company was established in 1988 and received a significant increase in resources in 1997.

In recent years the interactions between academic researchers and commercial interests have increased in number and complexity. Isis works closely with the University and researchers to ensure that the results of research (i.e. intellectual property) from the University are exploited wherever appropriate and possible to bring reward to the researchers and the University.

Isis Innovation has a strong track record in the two key exploitation routes of:

Licensing intellectual property to existing companies; and

Creating new companies involving researchers and intellectual property.

Isis Innovation has licensed out a wide range of technology generated within the University and has been instrumental in establishing fourteen successful spin-out companies since 1998. These follow the many spin-outs from the University which achieved a stock exchange listing (Oxford Instruments, Oxford Molecular, PowderJect Pharmaceuticals, Oxford Asymmetry International, Oxford GlycoSciences, Oxford BioMedica).

Isis Innnovation acts as a focus for identifying, evaluating, protecting, and marketing research output from the University; providing researchers with commercial advice; funding patent applications and legal costs; negotiating exploitation agreements; and earning revenue - with researchers and the University.

Isis Innovation manages the Oxford Innovation Society, founded in 1990, to enable industrial companies to benefit from Isis Innovation's activities by having a "window" on Oxford science. In addition to three major meetings each year and specialist seminars the members receive notification of all patents in their areas of interest filed by Isis Innovation on behalf of the University as well as a regular newsletter and portfolio of the patents currently available for licensing.

Isis Innovation manages the University's £4m University Challenge Seed Fund (UCSF), established in 1999. The UCSF is made up of contributions from the University, the Office of Science & Technology and the Wellcome Trust. The UCSF can make investments of any amount up to a maximum of £250k to advance the commercial development and exploitation of University of Oxford technology, in any field.

Isis Innovation manages the Isis Angels Network, established in 1999 to ease the flow of business angel investment capital and management resource into spin-out companies from the University of Oxford.