Frequently asked questions

Why have you decided to offer some intellectual property (IP) for free?

We are an open-innovation university and we are committed to transferring as much IP into commercial use as we can to the benefit of our partners, the community and the economy.

Some IP can be difficult to commercialise through traditional ways, either because it is too early stage or presents some uncertainties for a company to risk investment. By offering free access to our IP, we’re allowing our partners to evaluate it and put it use quickly, accelerating the amount of knowledge we’re disseminating and fulfilling our mission.

Will you still be offering IP opportunities that have licence fees and royalties?

There will continue to be some opportunities that are sufficiently mature or capable of further development at the University of Exeter before licensing, so we will still protect this IP and offer these commercial opportunities as before.

Is the IP available in the Easy Access IP portfolio completely free?

Yes, the Easy Access IP portfolio is completely free. There is no upfront free and we won’t ask for royalties, even if the technology makes money in the future. However, companies and individuals who license our Easy Access IP technologies will be required to acknowledge the university’s contribution and report to us on the progress.

How do you decide which IP should become part of the Easy Access portfolio?

Our Easy Access Portfolio contains IP and opportunities which, although they have inherent value, are difficult to commercialise through traditional ways. This may be because the IP is too early stage or uncertain for a company to risk investment and
to pay for a commercial licence or the development of the technology at the University of Exeter is proving a difficult challenge.

We discuss each individual opportunity with our inventors to ensure the IP goes down the right route for the greatest impact
and value.

Aren’t you concerned that the IP offered for free might bring in significant income for the licensee and therefore, there’s a risk of missing out on future royalty fees?

We expect all IP to generate a return, but our Easy Access IP portfolio contains the IP that is difficult to commercialise through traditional ways. We’re choosing to forgo an immediate, financial return in order to stimulate the development of the IP and
promote new partnerships which will benefit the university in the long term.

Are you concerned that by offering Easy Access IP in tough economic times, you’re removing a portion of income that the University needs?

Our mission is to disseminate as much knowledge and expertise to the community as possible to the benefit of society and the economy. We feel that by giving some of our IP away for free, we are not only fulfilling our mission, but this will also help to bring strong, long-term relationships with companies who wish to work with us.

As a university, we have limited time and resources and must dedicate these carefully in a way that will provide the most impact to the economy, society and therefore the University.

If there is more than one interested party in licensing an Easy Access IP opportunity, how will you decide who should be granted the licence?

To decide on the most appropriate licensee, those interested need to tell us how they will use the IP to benefit the economy or society. IP offered under the Easy Access portfolio will have an additional three conditions:

They must acknowledge the [university’s] contribution and report on the progress.
They agree that if they have not exploited the IP within three years, it will be transferred back to the University.
There will be no limitations on our use of the IP for our own research.