Why is IP important to a Researcher at RIT? Ryne P. Raffaelle Professor, Physics & Microsystems Engineering Director of NanoPower Research Laboratories Brian J. Landi PhD Student, Microsystems Engineering

Overview Why? How? Research Duties Scientific Credibility Student Benefits Financial Rewards How? Approach NPRL Examples

Research Duties Research Commercialize Ideas IP Devices

Scientific Credibility - Grants Synergy between Grant Proposal Writing and IP – “Secure IP” Chicken & Egg: Qualifications to get money but money is needed to do work Industrial partnerships for commercialization – technology transfer

Student Benefits Education Exposure of Technology in field – the business of science Curriculum Vitae Financial rewards

$ $ $ Financial Rewards Technology Transfer to industry Licensing Collaboration for future grants Personal Income $ $ $

Approach Awareness of Professional Field Conferences, Seminars, local chapters Literature Collaborations Identifying a Need…is there a Demand? Innovate a Novel solution Incremental Improvement? Paradigm Shift? Cost effective? Existing IP?

NPRL Examples: a-Voltaics Need: Microelectronic power supplies Demand: Microsystems, Remote sensing, long-lived sustainable batteries (pacemaker) Novelty: Nanomaterials afford utility-radiation tolerance and efficient luminescence

NPRL Examples: SWNTs Need: Solvent Dispersions and Separation Demand: Analysis, chemical reactions, phase-pure material (metallic vs. semiconducting) Novelty: Simple organic solvent – cost effective

NPRL Examples: QD-SWNTs Need: Additives for Polymeric Solar Cells Demand: Nanomaterials which can be dispersed in a conducting polymer to improve exciton dissociation and charge transport Novelty: Wavelength selective, high electron affinity, extraordinary electrical conductivity

Conclusions IP can facilitate a researcher’s ability to be awarded grant money IP development is synergistic with other research duties Successful IP will allow for a revenue stream for the university lab and the researcher