Advice on inventions, patents and commercialisation

Inventions and Patents

Academic work and applied research often lead to new ideas and inventions with great potential for innovation. Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences supports its researchers in identifying, evaluating and legally protecting such inventions. A property right safeguards intellectual property and can increase the chances of collaboration and securing third-party funding.

Useful links

The Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer (ZFIT) advises researchers on all aspects of inventions, patents and commercialisation – from the initial idea through to potential applications in business and society. To this end, the university works closely with the patent commercialisation company PROvendis GmbH.

Obligations of inventors and higher education institutions

Under the Employee Inventions Act (ArbNErfG), university staff are required to report work-related inventions to their employer.

If the university claims an invention, it takes responsibility for applying for a property right (e.g. a patent or utility model) and grants the inventor a 30% share of the exploitation proceeds.

Requirements for a patent

An invention can be patented if it:

is new,
involves an inventive step,
and is industrially applicable.

Important: The invention must not be publicly disclosed or published before a patent application is filed.

Report an invention

Information on the process for filing an invention disclosure can be found in the leaflet ‘From Invention to Patent’. The invention disclosure form is available to HSRW staff on the QM portal. Please submit this form to patente(at)hochschule-rhein-waal.de.

Answers to frequently asked questions in the FAQ.