Idea Disclosure

If you are a student or staff member at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland and you believe your research or idea has commercial value, the first step is to disclose your idea to us (through a confidential process) so we can help identify an appropriate Intellectual Property strategy and investment approach.

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