The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office

The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office

Introduction

The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) was established in 2006 under the leadership of Prof. M. O. Faborode as the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. L. O. Adekoya was the pioneer Director. The IPTTO is one of the offices under the Central Office of Research (COR) of OAU. The IPTTO is an initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP). The office officially commenced activities on the 21st of August 2007. The Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University approved the establishment of IPTTO on the 17th of September, 2010, and NOTAP officially commissioned the office on the 17th of June 2011.

Roles of the IPTTO in OAU include:

  • Creating an IP culture
  • Developing an IP knowledge in academic circles
  • Fostering the use of IP system
  • Adopting IP policies
  • Providing access to technological and legal information of IP documents
  • Identifying and assessing IP assets generated in universities
  • Transferring research results/inventions to industry
  • Establishing a network of universities, R&D organisations, national IP offices and NGOs so as to share knowledge and experience in IP protection

The IPTTO is responsible for the management of IP assets of the University for the benefit of all stakeholders and societal impact.

 

Activities

IPTTO supports research activities in the university through the following engagements:

  • IP Policy development and reviews
  • IP Sensitization and capacity strengthening workshops and seminars
  • Specialized IP training for faculties
  • Registration and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
  • Developing IP component of grant proposals
  • Linking inventors in the OAU with collaborative opportunities
  • Recognition of inventors in the university through awards

 

IP cycle in OAU

Disclosure

An inventor or group of investors who want to protect their invention will disclose such invention(s) to IPTTO to initiate the process of protecting such invention(s).

Application

This is the next step after disclosure of invention. An inventor or group of investors will fill relevant forms obtained from the IPTTO to apply for IP right for their invention.

Processing

At this stage, the submitted applications will be processed at the Patents and Designs Registry, Commercial Law Unit, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja, Nigeria, after the payment of the required application fee by applicants.

Award

The Intellectual Property Right (IPR) is awarded by the relevant government agency. The certificate is usually presented to inventors by the OAU Vice-Chancellor, as a way to recognize and appreciate the efforts of researchers in generating IPR.

 

Transfer

Inventor may thereafter decide to license the IP to industry or entrepreneur for exploitation

 

Startup

Inventor may decide to form a new company (start-up) around the protected invention for exploitation

 

Commercialization

This is the end goal of every invention. At the stage, the invention is transformed to products in the market for community impact.

IPRs in OAU by Category in the past 7 years

S/N Category Number Owners
1. Patents 33 Lecturers and Students
2. Trademarks 4 Students and Entrepreneurs
3. Total 37  

 

IPRs in OAU by Faculty in the past 7 years

S/N Faculty Number
1. Health Sciences 7
2. Pharmacy 8
3. Science 5
4. Technology 13
5. Total 33

 Further details are contained in the following attached documents

  1. [wpdm_package id=’22842′]
  2. [wpdm_package id=’22841′]
  3. [wpdm_package id=’22839′]

Contact us

oauiptto@oauife.edu.ng
oauiptto@yahoo.com