Once you have discovered a novel invention, you are required to let the University know through the Intellectual Property Disclosure Committee. This is a requirement of the UWI IP and Commercialisation Policy and is covered in your work contract.  It is important that this initial contact be made as soon as possible and that no steps are taken to place the invention in the public domain by lecture, publication or patent filing until the invention has been reported to and discussed by the Committee.  This is to ensure that your rights to the invention can be legally protected, if necessary.

• In the first instance, advise your Head of Department and Dean, and if they are not already aware, the Chair of your Faculty Entrepreneurship Committee.

• The invention should be disclosed to the Campus IP Disclosure Committee which will guide you about IP protection and commercialisation. To disclose the invention to the University, complete an Invention Disclosure Form and confidentially submit it to the Chair of the IP Disclosure Committee via ricch@cavehill.uwi.edu.  After researching the novelty of your invention, the Chair will call a meeting of the Committee to:
  • Determine whether the invention and any related proprietary rights are owned solely by the University, the staff member or student, or an outside sponsor, or is jointly owned by the University and a staff member, student, and outside sponsor or some other.
  • Identify all the co-inventors.
  • Enquire into the marketability of the invention and make a recommendation as to whether it should be commercialised.
  • Express an opinion as to whether the invention appears to meet the criteria for legal protection and which form.
  • Make a recommendation as to whether the University should should be involved in the commercialisation.