Research Capabilities
The Ohio State University is one of the largest and most diverse academic centers in the world. “Under one roof”- OSU offers one of the broadest ranges of research capabilities in the world to be found uniquely on a single campus. OSU is driven by its core missions of education, research and service to save lives and improve quality of life by rapidly translating the latest discoveries from the research lab to widespread public use.
College Research Capabilities & Signature Programs
College of Pharmacy
Ohio State University Medical Center
College of Veterinary Medicine
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Biomedical Engineering
College of Engineering
Supporting Services
Technology Licensing & Commercialization (TLC)
Research Foundation (RF)
Office of Research (OR)
Office of Responsible Research Practices (ORRP)
University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR)
Avenues for Collaboration with OSU
Sponsored Research – A contract for OSU to conduct research subject to specific obligations to the sponsoring party; sponsored research agreements are the most common form of industry collaborations. Ownership of intellectual property (IP) resulting from the sponsored research is based on inventorship and/or authorship, depending on the type of IP involved. Such agreements give the sponsor the opportunity for a later commercial license to the OSU project IP, based upon mutually agreeable terms. For the College of Engineering, sponsored research agreements are handled by the Engineering Research Services (614-292-2826). For the rest of the university, these agreements are handled by the OSU Research Foundation’s Office for Business and Industry Contracts (614-292-1690). TLC works closely with both these groups regarding IP issues relating to pre-award contract negotiations and ongoing program management.
Consulting - OSU faculty represents a wellspring of specialized knowledge useful in many contexts. OSU faculty may enter into paid external consulting contracts with third parties provided they adhere to the Office of Academic Affairs policies on such practices. Typically, such engagements are for the short term transfer of “know-how”, and cannot result in the transfer/assignment of IP rights. OSU is not a party to the consulting agreement, and no OSU facilities may be used in the work.
Special Services Agreement – Such an arrangement typically involves a contract for specific services preformed at or through the University over a short period of time (e.g. specialized analytical laboratory services, access to the OSU wind tunnel, etc.). Ownership of any IP generated as a result of the work typically resides with the outside party.
Research Centers and Consortia – There are numerous centers within the University, which are focused on specific areas of research of potential interest to the commercial members of those centers. Access to IP associated with the participation in such consortia is outlined in the corresponding membership agreements.
University Start-ups - In 2001, legislation was passed allowing OSU faculty and selected staff, under certain circumstances, to hold ownership interests in firms commercializing technology from their university research, while retaining their position at the University. In such circumstances, IP is licensed from OSU, to the start-up company.