Accessibility statement

Confidentiality

It is important to consider how much of the work you hope to undertake with an external organisation is dependent on the knowledge you have developed, and therefore the risks associated with disclosing information about the technology or invention. In many cases, the value of IP will be lost if attention is not paid to ensuring the correct level of confidentiality and the careful timing of disclosures. For example, Background IP may be extremely valuable in helping you and the University to win research funding, but such funding may be seriously prejudiced if you do not ensure that discussions with research sponsors take place under documented conditions of confidentiality. If you wish to conduct such discussions, contact the Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange Contracts Team who will ensure that a suitable confidentiality agreement is put in place prior to any disclosures.

Likewise, if you believe that you have sufficient results and data to support a patent application, contact the Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange Contracts Team or one of the Commercialisation Team in Research and Enterprise before you discuss your results with anyone else. 

Key contact

James Kitson
Head of Commercialisation
Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange
+44 (0) 1904 326564
+44 (0) 7385 035282

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