IP & Commercialization Faculty Guide
Licensing & Royalty Sharing
The University of Kentucky practices one form of technology transfer and commercialization by licensing its intellectual property for use by business & industry (the university never "sells" the intellectual property). Licensing can happen at the same time as patenting; the university does not need an issued patent to license its IP.
As the inventor, you are the best source for potential licensees; you know the people who are talking to you about your research at professional meetings and conferences. Work with the IPDO to identify companies or other users that might be interested in licensing your invention.
UK usually takes one of the following approaches to structuring an IP license agreement; royalties, license initiation fee, milestone payments, or equity in the company.
After patent costs are recovered, UK returns 40 percent of all royalties to the inventors, 20 percent to the inventor's department, and 20 percent to the inventor's college. The remaining 20 percent is reinvested in the university's research activities through a variety of programs administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research.