Inventing at the UW-Madison
UW-Madison researchers generate hundreds of new inventions every year, many which greatly benefit society. Through the patenting and licensing efforts of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the designated technology transfer organization, these inventions result in income for inventors, while also providing money for future research.
The UW is unique among universities in that it does not claim ownership rights in the intellectual property generated by its faculty, staff, or students, except when required by funding agreements. UW inventors do, however, have an obligation to disclose all inventions created while carrying out university duties, using any university funding, or using university premises, supplies, or equipment. It is the role of the UW-Madison Graduate School to perform an equity review for each UW-Madison invention disclosure to determine what obligations may attach to each invention and who may have rights to the invention.
These pages give you information on: the invention disclosure and equity review process; how to protect intellectual property rights; UW-Madison and UW-System IP policies; and other issues relevant to inventions, patenting and licensing, and research funding.
WARF – Patenting and Licensing
Office of Industrial Partnerships
Research Compliance
Conflict of Interest
Office of Corporate Relations
School/College IP Contacts
Research and Sponsored Programs