Finding and convincing industrial partners

You have the invention, we have the contacts. Our network in industry and commerce enables us to identify the most suitable industrial partner for the commercialization of your invention. We are assisted not least by our good connections to the trade associations and our extensive network of partners.

The commercial success of the transfer depends decisively on finding the right exploitation partners, approaching them and convincing them of the advantages of your invention and the associated benefit for the company. Company representatives assess new ideas according to different criteria than scientists. The launch of new technologies or products initially represents an investment with financial risk for the companies. Their first question is therefore: Which added value and market advantage would the invention yield for my company? Would the investments for product development and launch be significantly lower than the profits to be expected? We at the Bayerische Patentallianz try to answer parts of these questions in an exposé of your invention, where the advantages and features of your invention are clearly emphasized. This makes it easier for the company representatives to grasp the invention and take a decision.

Use our network

After several years of marketing inventions the Bayerische Patentallianz has created an extensive network of companies from different industries and technologies which are prepared to cooperate, and has gained experience in the process. Here is an excerpt from our reference list of successfully completed licensing and transfer agreements:

• Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH
  
• Daimler AG
• Epiphany Biosciences, Inc.
• Jungheinrich AG
• Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbH
• Pieris AG
• Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
• WILEX AG
• 2mag AG

This process produced the expertise to efficiently look for the optimum partner for your invention: Congresses, trade fairs, meetings and brokerage events are meeting places for innovative businesses on the look-out for tomorrow’s trends. We bundle the competences of 28 Bavarian universities and universities of applied sciences and thus acquire companies for the transfer of knowledge faster and in a more targeted way. When we have found an exploitation partner, we find the contacts for licensing issues and inventions. Every patent needs a “champion in the company” who is convinced by the innovation. We contact these company representatives in person and send them the exposé of your invention. After their interest has been awakened, the company representatives usually have numerous queries. We bundle and clarify the questions. If the company displays a serious interest, the Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH sends an offer (also called a “term sheet”) for licensing or purchase.

Safeguard all interests

The term sheet contains the key points of a licensing agreement: Which royalties are paid for which rights? In most cases, the negotiations now start. We represent your interests and those of your university. If the risks for development and cost coverage are low and the product development time short, both sides usually come to an agreement quite quickly (e. g. for the marketing of antibodies or other reagents). In these cases the Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH can conclude the negotiations independently in a few telephone conversations or by email. With complex inventions, opportunities and risks for the realization must be discussed in more detail. In these cases we require your support for the discussion of the innovation’s prospects in order to be able to successfully conclude the negotiations for the benefit of all concerned.

Contracts with forsight

The Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH has proven ability in drawing up and concluding prudent contracts. We focus on the optimum exploitation of the invention and strive for the long-term satisfaction of all parties concerned. By prudently realizing the key points of the exploitation process in the exploitation contract we secure a sustainable realization of your invention.

 

Checklist:
The negotiating process with your partner in industry

Exposé

You provide all the technical data on the invention so that the best possible exposé can be drawn up and the Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH can react to any queries the industrial partner may have without recourse to you wherever possible.

Technical queries

You are available to clarify more complex technical queries for negotiations with potential exploitation partners.

Research future

You keep your patent consultant informed about any further research work you do on the invention so that they can incorporate it to maximum effect into the exploitation process.