Working with Penn State

Penn State University is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania land-grant institution serving the state's and nation's education and research needs. It is a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation. Through various mechanisms, from individual research agreements to highly leveraged industrial consortium, MRI and its faculty work with hundreds of companies of all sizes, including many that directly benefit the Pennsylvania economy. Additionally, Penn State consistently ranks among the top universities in private-sector support of research.

Letter to Prospective Sponsors of Research - December 19, 2011

University makes significant changes to intellectual property policies - December 16, 2011

Penn State has made significant changes to its intellectual property policies. Effective Friday (Dec. 16), intellectual property that results from industry-sponsored research no longer is mandated to be owned by the University.

To Find a Penn State Expert

Visit the Office of Technology Management website.

A staff of professionals with industry experience is available to help identify research expertise, arrange meetings with faculty, organize workshops, address IP and contracting concerns, and identify funding opportunities.

To Initiate a Sponsored Project

Visit the Office of Sponsored Programs website.

Projects usually begin with face-to-face discussion followed by a preliminary technical proposal submitted by the researcher to the potential sponsor. The subsequent formal proposal incorporates the research plan and official contract language that includes the nature and scope of the work (as an attachment to the agreement), identifies the responsible researcher, and provides the contractual foundation for the relationship. The Office of Sponsored Programs negotiates agreements with appropriate industrial counterparts.

To License Penn State Research

Visit the Office of Technology Management website.

The Office of Technology Management has descriptions of over 650 technologies that have been patented through The Penn State Research Foundation.

Search Penn State technologies available for licensing.

Innovation Park

Visit the Innovation Park website.

Innovation Park is a 118-acre business park located on the Penn State campus, leasing business space and providing entrepreneurial support. Residents of the Park have access to Penn State resources and the support services to transfer knowledge from the University to the marketplace.