Protect and Develop Your Research Ideas

WHY PROTECTING YOUR IDEA MATTERS

Every research breakthrough - whether a new technology, method, design or creative work - has the potential to create value. Protecting your intellectual property (IP) early ensures you retain options for commercialisation, collaboration and future development. It also helps La Trobe secure the right pathways to translate your work into industry, community and global benefit.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind that can be legally protected. For researchers, this may include:

• Inventions and technologies
• Software and algorithms
• Research data and designs
• Creative works and educational materials
• New processes, formulations or methodologies.

La Trobe provides guidance to help you identify what can be protected and which protection pathway is most appropriate.

WHEN TO DISCLOSE YOUR IDEAS

Early disclosure is essential. If you believe your research output may have commercial, social or industry value, you should contact La Trobe’s Commercialisation team before:

• Publishing results
• Presenting at conferences
• Sharing details with external partners
• Filing grant applications involving external collaborators.

Early engagement ensures your IP can be assessed, protected and developed without limiting future opportunities for yourself.

HOW LA TROBE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Our Commercialisation team works with researchers across all disciplines to:

• Assess the commercial potential of your technology
• Advise on IP protection strategies (e.g., patents, copyright, trade secrets)
• Manage disclosure and documentation
• Connect you with industry partners and investors
• Support licensing, startup creation or collaborative development
• Provide training on IP, entrepreneurship and research translation.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

Where appropriate we will protect intellectual property for the purposes of being able to use that IP to generate positive impact.

Ownership and control of IP should generally vest with the party best placed to manage the intellectual property on behalf of all parties and across the full scope of the technology and its application.

We understand and support that this is often the industry partner(s) we are collaborating with. IP co-ownership arrangements will include a governance framework regulating the exercise of all relevant application of the IP including cost allocation

Where the IP is expected to generate commercial returns, we expect a reasonable and proportionate return in exchange for access rights. This return can manifest in multiple ways e.g., royalties, milestone payments, equity interest, ongoing R&D support etc. We will retain sufficient intellectual property access rights to enable the conduct of further research

To maximise impact from our research we will endeavour to ensure that intellectual property and knowledge is made available for humanitarian uses and the public good.

GROWING YOUR IDEA

La Trobe can help you develop your technology further through:

• Investment funding pathways
• Industry co‑development projects
• Access to specialist facilities and innovation precinct
• Mentoring and commercial readiness programs
• Startup and spin‑out support.

YOUR NEXT STEP

If you think your research may have commercial potential - or you’re unsure - reach out to our team for a confidential discussion. We’ll help you understand your options and map the best pathway forward.

The Commercialisation Team are co-located in Eagleworks Innovation Centre every Wednesday and Thursday and are available for walk-in or appointments.