1 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

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

3 Research Duties Ideas Research Devices Commercialize IP

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 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

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