Faculty Seeking Corporate Support

Corporations value opportunities to engage with faculty, align research interests, and enhance their philanthropic image. Stanford has a long history of productive relationships with companies of all sizes. Our office can assist faculty who seek corporate support by providing insight into the company’s interactions with Stanford, facilitating introductions to key contacts, coordinating campus visits, and reviewing proposals.

Office of Technology Licensing

The Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) is responsible for managing the university’s intellectual property assets. OTL works with inventors to develop a licensing strategy, file a patent, identify interested companies, and negotiate a licensing agreement. Although patentable inventions constitute the majority of licensing activities, OTL also handles copyright (software), Tangible Research Property (TRP), and outgoing Material Transfer Agreements for biological materials. For more information, contact the Office of Technology Licensing.

Industrial Contracts Office

The Industrial Contracts Office (ICO) negotiates research contracts with companies, including Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs) and Industrial Affiliates programs. For SRAs, ICO and the Stanford PI work together to negotiate contract terms such intellectual property, publication, payment, and confidential information. Industrial Affiliates programs facilitate dialogue between industry and Stanford researchers working in the same field of interest. Affiliates programs are headed by two or more faculty members and supported by membership fees from a group of companies.  For more information, contact the Industrial Contracts Office.