​​Roles and Functions

The office is responsible for:

• Encouraging IP disclosure
  Promote and facilitate the disclosure of new IP arising from research outputs, tangible research properties, and know-how by UTP employees and aut​horised personnel.

• Supporting IP protection and exploitation
  Provide guidance and support to protect inventions and advise on, as well as execute, agreed commercialisation and exploitation strategies.​
  

• Managing the IP framework
  Periodically review UTP’s IP framework, policies, and procedures, and monitor IP-related activities.

• Assessing novelty and protectability
  Conduct novelty searches with relevant authorities, either directly or through appointed agents, and determine whether the IP is novel and suitable for protection.

• Recommending IP protection strategies
  Decide whether IP should be protected and advise on the most appropriate form of IP protection.

• Convening the Innovation Committee
  Commission the Innovation Committee to evaluate potential IP when required and determine its membership.

• Facilitating IP commercialisation
  Develop and manage mechanisms for licensing, technology transfer, and other commercialisation pathways.

• Coordinating commercialisation activities
  Coordinate with partners, manage funding requirements, and determine income distribution arising from IP commercialisation.

• Building IP awareness and capability
  Educate employees and authorised personnel through seminars, workshops, and other IP-related programmes.

• Providing legal and enforcement support
  Assist in protecting UTP’s interests against third-party claims or unauthorised use of IP.

• Managing IP ownership transfer
  Support the process of transferring IP ownership between UTP and inventors upon written request.

• Handling IP disposal and abandonment
  Facilitate decisions and processes related to IP disposal or abandonment.

• Resolving IP-related disputes
  Provide mechanisms to resolve disputes between UTP, inventors, and third parties concerning IP matters.

• Administering other IP matters
  Address any additional IP-related administrative matters as they arise.