Disclosure of the invention is the first formal step in the commercialization process. All inventions made by faculty, staff and students must be disclosed to CTL regardless of the monies (federal, private, etc.) that funded the research leading to the invention. The invention disclosure form should be submitted with a written description of the invention (additional manuscripts, explanatory drawings, and supporting data are also very helpful). When you disclose the invention to CTL, a licensing professional will be assigned to manage the invention and will be in contact with you shortly.
To complete your disclosure, CTL will work with you to:
- arrive at a concise definition of your invention
- explore potential commercial applications of your invention
- complete any remaining gaps in the invention disclosure form – the more information you provide up front, the more efficient your first meeting will be
Cornell Policy 1.5 – Inventions and Related Property Rights
For Plant Breeders, please see the Disclosing Plant Materials guide.