Apply Request info Virtual Visit

For Inventors

About technology transfer

NAU researchers are continually generating new ideas and developing innovative solutions for solving real-world issues, from strengthening cybersecurity to advancing human robotics to creating new vaccines and biomedical assays.

Technology transfer is the process of transferring knowledge, discoveries, and innovations resulting from university research to the public realm through commercially viable technologies.

The NAU Innovations team is here to assist our inventors with patent filing, technology licensing, agreements, and partnering with industry.

Start the process by submitting an invention disclosure

Ready to get started? Find out about intellectual property, the patent process, and more.

Learn more about tech transfer at NAU and the many ways in which the transfer of intellectual property from the university to industry benefits NAU.

Intellectual property (IP) is defined as any product of the human intellect that the law protects from unauthorized use by others. Learn more about IP at NAU and how to protect your inventions.

Image of book with the text How to patent an idea

A patent is a grant of legal rights by the U.S. government through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Learn more about the patent process at NAU and how to patent your inventions.

Richard Hofstetter Use of acoustics to disrupt and deter wood-infesting insects from and within trees invention.

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a legally binding document that governs the transfer of the possession of tangible property without transferring ownership of the property. Learn more about MTAs and when you should use them to protect your research.

Two people shaking hands on an agreement.

NAU inventors work with a wide variety of industry partners to conduct research and develop technologies for commercialization. Learn more about working with industry partners and how NAU Innovations can support you.

Abolfazl Razi sitting in his office in the SICCS building.

Many researchers are developing software at NAU. Protecting IP rights related to software development can be different than protecting IP with other types of technologies. Learn more about protecting your software.