Intellectual Property (IP) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) describe the tangible results of any intellectual or creative activity that results in the formation of novel ideas, innovation or research that can be legally protected and which, consequently, has a commercial value. IPR includes, but is not limited to, patents, trademarks, registered designs (including applications for rights to apply for any of these), unregistered design rights, unregistered trademarks, copyright, database rights, confidential information (including know-how and any similar rights in the UK and all other countries in the world).
The NHS has a responsibility to effectively manage its intellectual property (IP) assets. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust’s (GSTT) Intellectual Property policy describes the ownership and management arrangements for IP emanating from Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, including revenue sharing of IP commercialisation with staff inventors. This policy applies to all Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals employees.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals IP Lead and the Centre for Innovation, Transformation and Improvement (CITI) at GSTT will assist in the identification and commercialisation of intellectual property. This work is also supported as required by Imperial Innovations.
If you have an idea that you think has commercial potential please contact either:
- Patrik Pettersson RBHH business research manager (020 7351 8736) in the research office
- Tas Gohir, senior IP and commercial research manager within the commercial innovation team at CITI
- Manish Patel, head of NHS Technology Transfer (020 3727 2042) at Imperial Innovations for Imperial affiliated staff
It is important to remember that the key to commercialising intellectual property is ensuring that the information remains confidential and so ideas should only be discussed on a restricted basis through the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s or Confidentiality Agreements). These agreements will be negotiated on your behalf by the Research Office. Prior disclosure of this information may render the invention unpatentable.