LETTERS: AS a centre for research, the university houses a wealth of valuable information and innovations (such as patents, industrial designs and trade secrets).
These should not be contained within the four walls of the institution.
Industry players frequently collaborate with universities because they can save money and time for research and development while also expediting the transformation of concepts into tangible products.
While the university owns research outputs, researchers can still actively participate in commercialisation activities through the use of any business vehicles (e.g. start-ups) or programmes (e.g. micro industry hub initiatives).
Commercialisation planning is one thing, protecting research output is quite another. For the latter, it is critical to understand how to protect research output through intellectual property regimes.
For example, a patent protects new inventions, an industrial design protects a product's aesthetic appearance, and a trade secret protects information with significant economic value.
Therefore, what precautions should be taken to minimise the risk of intellectual property theft and safeguard the researchers' positions when exploring commercialisation opportunities?
Firstly, maintain secrecy. While transparency is essential, not all aspects of the product should be shared unless appropriate legal safeguards, such as a non-disclosure agreement, are in place.
A researcher may share an abstract or a summary of his work, but not every technical detail that would enable an outsider to replicate it. Better yet, secure intellectual property protection before engaging in sharing sessions with interested parties.
Secondly, select the right partners. Inquire about the company's profile and conduct a quick background check. This is critical in ascertaining the legitimacy and credibility of the partners.
Finally, researchers should work with the university's Technology Transfer Office (TTO) like the Business Innovation and Technology Commercialisation Centre, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
MUHAMAD HELMI MUHAMAD KHAIR
Business Innovation and Technology, Commercialisation Centre (BITCOM), UiTM
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times