Innovation Support Services

ISS fosters mutually beneficial relationships that drive innovation, ensuring industry partners gain access to the uOttawa’s world-class research, talent, and resources. By supporting collaboration, ISS helps both researchers and industry partners achieve their goals and make a meaningful impact on society.

Facilitates partnerships between researchers and industry, aligning university expertise with partner needs. From ideation to implementation, ISS provides strategic and operational leadership to develop research collaborations, including negotiating agreements and securing funding through programs like NSERC Alliance, Mitacs, and Ontario Centres of Innovation. Industry partners benefit from access to cutting-edge research and talent while sharing in the resulting innovations.

Guide researchers and industry partners through the commercialization process, helping identify market opportunities, negotiate licensing agreements, and establish spin-off companies. By building strong relationships with industry stakeholders, ISS ensures innovations are scaled effectively and brought to market, creating mutual value for both researchers and their partners.

Assist researchers and industry partners in leveraging government funding to maximize the impact of their collaborations. Through programs such as the Strategic Innovation Fund, Mitacs Accelerate, and federal tax incentives like the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program, ISS ensures that collaborations are financially sustainable and impactful.

Provide tailored services to industry partners seeking to engage with university research. This includes matchmaking with faculty experts, accessing specialized facilities and equipment, and developing customized research and development projects. By working with ISS, industry partners can enhance their innovation capacity, solve complex challenges, and gain a competitive edge in their fields.

Simplify the administrative processes for both researchers and industry partners, ensuring research agreements, contracts, and service agreements comply with university policies and external regulations. This allows all parties to focus on their collaborative goals rather than navigating administrative hurdles.

Support both researchers and industry partners in navigating intellectual property (IP) challenges. This includes patent filing, licensing negotiations, and developing IP strategies that protect shared interests while maximizing the potential of collaborative innovations.

Connect industry partners with highly skilled students and researchers. This not only helps companies tackle their immediate challenges but also nurtures the next generation of talent, providing students with valuable hands-on experience in innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Purpose: Initiates the commercialization process by formally documenting a new invention or discovery.
• Activities:
  • Researchers submit an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF) to uOttawa’s Innovation Support Services.
  • The form includes a detailed description of the invention, its potential applications, and information about prior disclosures (e.g., publications or presentations).
• Outcome: The ISS tech experts evaluate the invention's potential for protection and commercialization. This work is conducted in close collaboration with the researcher(s) and external tools and expertise.

• Purpose: Advances the invention from concept to prototype or proof of concept.
• Activities:
  • Identifying funding opportunities such as Mitacs Accelerate, NSERC Alliance Grants, or provincial funding programs like Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI) VIP.
  • Supporting prototype development, testing, and validation.
  • Engaging with industry partners to co-fund development or provide in-kind resources.
• Outcome: The invention matures to a stage where it demonstrates functionality and potential market value.

• Purpose: Identifies the target market and evaluates the invention's commercial potential.
• Activities:
  • Conducting market research to assess demand, competition, and potential customers.
  • Identifying potential industry partners, licensees, or sectors for application.
  • Engaging with business development experts to refine the commercialization strategy.
• Outcome: A commercialization roadmap is created, outlining potential paths like licensing or creating a spin-off company.

• Purpose: ISS experts determine the novelty, patentability, and potential value of the invention.
• Activities:
  • Conducting prior art searches to identify similar technologies and assess novelty.
  • Evaluating the invention’s commercial viability, scalability, and competitive advantages.
  • Deciding on the best IP protection strategy (e.g., patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets).
• Outcome: ISS decides whether to pursue IP protection, typically through filing a patent application.

• Purpose: Converts the invention into a product or service available in the market.
• Activities:
  • Licensing the technology to an existing company or start-up, with defined terms for royalties and revenue sharing.
  • Establishing a spin-off company, including securing funding, developing a business plan, and building a team.
• Outcome: The technology is transferred to a commercial partner or developed through a new venture.

• Purpose: Ensures the long-term success of the commercialization effort.
• Activities:
  • Monitoring licensed technologies for compliance with terms and royalties.
  • Supporting spin-offs with mentorship, incubation space, and connections to investors.
  • Continuously engaging with industry partners for feedback and new opportunities.
• Outcome: Sustained commercialization success, often leading to new collaborations and revenue streams for the university.