DoD SBIR Guide: Topics, TPOCs, and Winning Strategy
How DoD SBIR differs from civilian agencies: the component breakdown, the DSIP portal, why you must call the TPOC first, and Phase 3 paths that fund production.
A 7-step prior art search method using free databases: Google Patents, USPTO PatFT, Espacenet, CPC classification, and non-patent literature, with a worksheet.
How NIH SBIR really works in 2026: picking the right Institute, engaging your Program Officer, study sections, the Specific Aims page, and review criteria.
How NSF SBIR (America's Seed Fund) works: the Project Pitch screening, invitation-only proposals, NSF's deep tech lens, and its technical-plus-commercial review.
Patent claims are the patent. Inside: claim anatomy, independent vs dependent claims with examples, the broad/narrow trade-off, and 5 drafting mistakes.
Provisional Patent Application: The Founder's Guide
What a provisional patent application actually does, what it costs, when to file, and how to convert it within 12 months — for founders and researchers commercializing technology.
Provisional vs Non-Provisional Patent: When to Convert
The mechanics, costs, and options at month 12 of a provisional patent: convert to non-provisional, file PCT, abandon, or refile, with a framework for choosing.
The SBIR commercialization plan often decides Phase II. A section-by-section template, agency-specific requirements, and 5 annotated excerpts from funded plans.
SBIR eligibility in 2026: the three core tests, the VC-ownership rule applicants get wrong, foreign-influence limits, PI employment, and required registrations.
What each SBIR phase funds, the Valley of Death between Phase 1 and Phase 2, the Phase 2B/CAP supplements, and the 5-7 year arc from feasibility to revenue.
SBIR vs STTR compared: the university partnership requirement, the PI employment rule that matters for academic founders, IP allocation, and a decision tree.
University Patent Filing: Invention Disclosure to PCT
How a university invention becomes a filed patent: the disclosure form, Bayh-Dole timing, TTO triage, who pays, and the typical 3-9 month filing timeline.
Utility vs Design vs Plant Patents: Which One Fits?
The three U.S. patent types compared: term, scope, cost, what each protects, an invention-type lookup table, and when to file multiple types for one invention.
What Is AUTM? The Association Behind US Tech Transfer
A plain-language guide to AUTM: what the university tech transfer association does, its annual licensing survey, the Innovation Marketplace, and how to use it.
The 1980 law that built the modern US tech transfer system: how Bayh-Dole works, what it requires of universities, and the march-in debate, explained plainly.
A researcher''s playbook for commercializing your own work: when to disclose, working with your TTO, the license-vs-spin-out decision, and mistakes to avoid.
The Technology Transfer Agreement: Anatomy of the Deal
What a technology transfer agreement contains, how each major clause works, and where the real negotiation happens. A plain-language guide for first-time deals.
10 Tech Transfer Examples That Built the Modern Economy
From Google PageRank to mRNA vaccines, ten real-world examples of how university research became commercial products, and what they reveal about tech transfer.
What Is Tech Transfer? A Plain-Language Guide for 2026
Tech transfer moves research inventions from university labs to market. A plain-language explainer of what it is, who does it, and how the two main paths work.
The Complete Guide to Licensing University IP in 2026
A step-by-step guide to identifying, evaluating, and licensing IP from US university tech transfer offices, from finding technology to negotiating terms.
Which US universities have the strongest AI and machine learning IP available for licensing? An editorial ranking for founders and corporate innovation teams.
Top 10 Universities for Licensing Biotech IP in 2026
An editorial ranking of the best US universities for licensing biotech IP, weighing research strength, licensing activity, portfolio depth, and commercialization record.
Five ways tech transfer offices can use AI to prioritize portfolios, research markets, plan patents, find licensees, and value deals, plus how to measure the results.
The five cleantech subsectors with the strongest near-term commercialization potential, the policy and capital forces behind them, and how to time market entry.
Learn how to create a winning go-to-market strategy for your innovation using AI-powered insights, with step-by-step guidance and real success metrics.
Where to search for licensable university inventions, the signals that a technology is undervalued, and how to vet and approach the tech transfer office.
