 |
       |
 |
    |
| |
|
| 
|
As a business person, you have many issues to address when evaluating the acquisition of the rights to a particular technology: What role will the technology play in your technology portfolio? Will it shorten product development time? Will it provide a
competitive advantage? What is the size of the market for products based on this technology? How much additional development will be required to productize the technology?
Furthermore, when entering into a business relationship with another firm, you are
concerned about how the relationship will support your strategic goals and benefit your shareholders. Similarly, by taking an entrepreneurial, business-like approach to technology commercialization, the UCAR Foundation can ensure that it maximizes the benefits described above. Therefore, for most technologies, we request that potential licensees submit a licensing proposal addressing the following issues:
- Company background information.
|
- Capability to manufacture, market, distribute, and support
the technology.
|
- How the technology will be used.
|
- Market and revenue projections for products based on the
technology.
|
- Your plan for developing and marketing products based on
the technology.
|
Because the issues addressed in the licensing proposal are no different from those you
must confront in making a prudent business decision to seek a license, the proposal
should require little additional work on your part. In many cases and to the
extent that the
items in the Licensing Proposal section are included, an internal business case will
generally suffice.
UCARF's Decision Process
Please keep in mind that UCARF is under no obligation to award a license to the "highest bidder." Our selection of a licensee(s) will be made by balancing the above stated goals of maximizing the social benefits of UCAR technology and
returning funds to UCAR to support additional research, our assessment of the potential licensee's ability to carry out its commercialization plan, and other strategic considerations.
Once the selection of a licensee or licensees is made, the Foundation will then enter into negotiations with the successful candidate(s) to reach an agreement that is fair and equitable to both UCARF and the
licensee(s).
|
| Proposal Submissions |
|
Proposals to license UCARF technology should be submitted to:
University Corporation For Atmospheric Research Foundation
Technology Commercialization
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, Colorado 80303
Phone: (303) 497-8870
Fax: (303) 497-8501
e-mail: ipinfo@ucar.edu
For questions or additional information, contact us by filling out our contact form.
|
| Licensing Proposal |
The licensing proposal need not be an overly formal document. We do, however, want to
be assured that you have given the necessary consideration to the factors that will
govern
the success of the commercialization effort. With rare exception, the information
described below should be included in each technology licensing proposal. You can, and
should, however organize your proposal according to any format that seems appropriate.
1.0 - Company Background
This section should provide enough background about your firm so that we can evaluate
the fit between your firm and UCARF's needs for a licensee who can successfully
commercialize the technology. At a minimum, you should address your firm's ability to
manufacture, market, distribute, and support a product based on the technology that is the
subject of the license.
2.0 - Productization and Market Plan
In this section you should describe your plans for commercializing the technology.
Specifically, you should include an overview of your plans to manufacture the product
including the general manufacturing process to be employed, whether manufacturing will
be in-house or subcontracted, and whether manufacturing will be domestic or overseas.
The proposal should also address the level and amount of support that you would like
from UCARF to successfully commercialize the technology.
You should also include details about how you will market, distribute, and support the
product. Do you plan to produce and sell the technology or product as a stand-alone item
or embed it as a component in a larger system? Included should be an identification of
competitive technologies and products.
This section should include a discussion of the distribution channels you intend to employ
and the types of communications vehicles you will use to provide information about the
technology/product to your potential market. Because one of the UCAR scientist's
principal concerns is making the results of his or her work accessible to other academic
scientists, please include a discussion of how (especially
if you are seeking an exclusive
license) you will serve the academic/nonprofit market.
Finally, this section should include information about your plans to provide support/service
to users of the product (i.e. your customers) and any plans you presently envision to
further develop the product and/or extend the technology.
3.0 - Financial Analysis
The scope of use (including market segment,
geographic segment, etc.).
Discuss the timing and amount of the anticipated investment of capital and other
resources required to commercialize the technology.
This section should also include a discussion of your anticipated pricing for the product
(segment, if appropriate, according to commercial, government, academic or other
breakdown).
You should include, if not included elsewhere, an estimate of the size of the market for
this product or technology.
An important part of the proposal will be a realistic 5-year pro forma projection for units
sold, revenue, and direct costs of manufacturing, marketing, and distribution.
Caution: Do not attempt to paint an overly optimistic picture of the market or your ability
to successfully commercialize the technology in question. We will use these projections to
structure an appropriate license fee and royalty schedule for the term of the agreement.
Back to
Top ... |
|
©2007
UCAR. |