Honoring Innovation and Innovators

At Ohio State, the act of discovery is at the core of our academic mission. In the classroom, lab, clinic or field, our faculty, staff and students pursue knowledge so that they may disseminate their discoveries to solve real-world problems and create new opportunities. 

Knowledge transfer at Ohio State is integral to that mission and to the university’s strategic plan, which sets a course to make the next bold leap in the university’s land-grant history of excellence and impact. 

As a leading national flagship public research university, Ohio State has a responsibility not only to our researchers but also to our state and country.

In fiscal year 2018, our faculty, staff and students submitted more than 400 invention disclosures – novel ideas that are part of fulfilling the university’s academic mission. Ohio State’s Corporate Engagement Office exists to evaluate, protect and advance these innovations. We work on behalf of the university and for our faculty, staff and students – many of whom have devoted their careers to solving complex issues.

The benefits of commercialization enhance future creative expression, research and discoveries. In accordance with the university’s Intellectual Property Policy, shares of the royalties are distributed to the inventors and their departments, allowing them to further invest in innovative solutions to problems. 

The university stewards significant resources to obtain and license patent rights on inventions that arise from these research endeavors. Ohio State is committed to enforcing these patent rights by upholding and protecting the integrity of the work of Ohio State’s researchers to the benefit of our faculty and staff, the university, the state of Ohio and the world.