Technology Transfer & Commercialization Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Technology Transfer & Commercialization flashcards as text
A university researcher discovers a new polymer with industrial applications. Which office is typically the first point of contact for initiating technology transfer?
Answer: The technology transfer office (TTO)
Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) are the designated university units that evaluate, protect, and commercialize inventions disclosed by faculty and staff.
What is the primary purpose of a field-of-use restriction in a technology licensing agreement?
Answer: To restrict the licensee to specific application markets so the licensor can license to others in different fields
Field-of-use restrictions allow licensors to grant multiple licenses in different market segments, maximizing commercialization breadth while avoiding conflicts.
Which metric best measures the commercial traction of a technology licensed from a university?
Answer: Royalty income generated and product sales by licensees
Royalty income and licensee product sales directly reflect whether the technology has achieved market adoption and commercial value.
A startup wants to license university IP but cannot afford upfront fees. What deal structure is commonly used to accommodate early-stage companies?
Answer: Equity-plus-royalty arrangement with deferred milestones
Equity-plus-royalty deals with milestone-based payments allow cash-strapped startups to access technology while giving universities upside if the company succeeds.
What is the Bayh-Dole Act's primary impact on technology commercialization in the United States?
Answer: It allowed universities and small businesses to own patents on federally funded research inventions
The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 transferred ownership of federally funded inventions to universities and small businesses, dramatically increasing academic commercialization.
In technology commercialization, what does 'freedom to operate' (FTO) analysis determine?
Answer: Whether a company can commercialize a product without infringing existing patents
FTO analysis reviews existing patents to determine if a product or process can be commercialized without risking infringement liability.
Which technology readiness level (TRL) is typically required before most commercial partners will consider licensing a university technology?
Answer: TRL 4–6 (validated in lab/relevant environment)
Most industry partners prefer technologies at TRL 4–6, where the concept has been validated, reducing their commercialization risk to manageable levels.