Patents

Both industrie and trade are interested in a fast utilisation of results obtained by research and development in order to survive the expanding battle grounds of the market with innovations.   

Innovations, wich are the result of research and development at universities, are often the prerequisites for implementation of market-relevant products and procedures.  It is one goal of the BMBF to appoint their yearly funds in such a way, that in the end the results yield an economy-related use. 

Universities have the opportunity to finance economy-related research with industrial partners by using funds available from federal and state offices. 

Between innovative and ingenious ideas on the one hand and goal-oriented innovations in the market  on the other, often lies a long and not predetermined path on which many good ideas get lost every year. 

This is an incredible potential for universities: to transfer those ideas belonging to fundamental research with the help of partners, especially third party funded projects, in proximity of the market, thus catching the eye of businesses. 

It is advantageous for all partners to create defined law situations when dealing with the development and utilization of research results. 

That is why it is beneficial for universities to clearly formulate their claims to research results, and to secure them, if possible, with copyrights and adequate third party contracts.