Protect your idea

Hangaia te ā mua

Create the future

For more than 30 years, UniServices has been supporting University of Auckland researchers to turn their ideas into impact.
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Hangaia te ā mua

Create the future

For more than 30 years, UniServices has been supporting University of Auckland researchers to turn their ideas into impact.
If you believe your research at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has investment potential, the first step is to confidentially share your idea with us so we can help ensure your intellectual property (IP) is protected.

Disclose your idea to UniServices today

UniServices is committed to doing what’s best for the University of Auckland researchers and the University. That’s why we work to ensure research IP is protected.

You've invented something

Securing a patent, which we can help you with, ensures you’re recognised as the inventor. This ensures you can benefit from any commercialisation opportunities.

If you don’t disclose your idea to us early and get advice on next steps, there’s a significant chance that you or someone else may inadvertently disclose the idea through publication or public presentation.

This may make it impossible for you to patent your idea and commercialise it later. Patenting and publishing are not mutually exclusive but it is important to get the timing right, otherwise the opportunity to apply for a patent may lapse.

Learn more about patents

You have an interest in entrepreneurship

Securing your Intellectual Property (IP) rights, including patents, copyright and trademarks  means you’re starting your company on a solid foundation. We can help you with this. We even have template documents you can use to legally start your company on solid footing. 

New business venture also need capital. UniServices manages the University of Auckland Inventors’ Fund, which might be able to help.

Learn more about commercialising research

Not keen on launching a start-up?

Starting a company is inherently risky and not for everyone. Furthermore, inventions from academia are typically in the early stages of development and require significant investment before a product gets to market, so sometimes it’s better to allow existing businesses to further develop an idea and take it to market.

Licence agreements can transfer the necessary rights to the company while ensuring that the inventors will share in any returns that may come from the licensee in exchange for these rights.

Learn more about intellectual property

How to disclose your idea

An idea disclosure is a submission that involves providing a description of your invention or development to us. You can use our idea disclosure form (available for current Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland staff and students only), or you can phone or send an email to our team. We will ask:

  • What your idea or invention is, including what problem it solves and what applications it can be used for.
  • Who invented it, including names and institutional affiliations.
  • Whether you’ve published or presented the idea.
  • If you’ve had funding for the research, from what sources.
  • If there are any mātauranga Māori aspects to your idea.
  • Why you think your idea may have commercial value.
  • How we can contact you and any co-inventors.

Contact our Investment Team

What to expect after you disclose your idea

After you disclose your idea to UniServices, an investment manager will set up a meeting to get to know you and your idea better.

Based on your idea, your goals and our background research, we will recommend next steps, whether it’s advice on advancing your research, protecting your intellectual property, investment in your idea, publishing it as an academic output or taking another bespoke path.

Disclose an idea now