NC A&T Patent Fund

The NC A&T Patent Fund is designed to provide financial support in assisting students in filing a provisional patent application to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. 
OBJECTIVES 
  • To provide students with the financial incentive to file provisional patent applications. 
  • To finance the filing fee for provisional patent applications. 
  • To encourage an atmosphere of innovation and invention in the NC A&T community. 
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 
  • Completed Application  
  • Students must have consulted with IP Clinic advisors (e.g., IP attorney or SME specialist) regarding the patentability of their idea(s).              
                 –  Get recommendation     letter to move forward with seeking a patent application.     
                 –  Students are strongly encouraged to work with IP Clinic advisor in drafting/reviewing provisional patent application. 
                 –  These consultations must be documented and verified (the process will be provided by CEEI).
  •  Students have release letter from NC A&T (see Laura Collins, Director of IP Development and Commercialization).  
  • At least one (1) inventor(s) must be enrolled at NC A&T (undergraduate or graduate, part time or full time). 
APPLICATION PROCESS
  • Apply for patent fund online using this link.  
                ο  Student submission 
                              –  Completed coversheet 
                                   • IP Ownership Questionnaire and checklist of supporting documents  
                ο  Letter of recommendation from IP clinic advisor 
                ο  Release letter from NC A&T 
                ο  File-ready provisional patent application  
                              –  Please use the template provided by IP Clinic 
  • Aapplication Review 
                ο  Committee: Replace with Link to Committee page 
                              –  Laura Collins, PhD
                              –  Salil Desai, PhD  
                              –  Salam A. Ibrahim, PhD  
                              –  Sandra K. Johnson, PhD  
                              –  Ajit Kelkar, PhD 
                              –  Hossein A. Sarrafzadeh, PhD  
                              –  Lifeng Zhang, PhD
                ο      Evaluation Parameters 
                              –  Does the student have (or are they employed by) their own company? 
                                   •  Does the student inventor have an obligation to assign to anyone else? 
                              –      Has the student identified the unique idea?
  •  Respond to student with decision regarding their application request.