Policies and Forms
This section provides key policies and documents that guide invention, intellectual property, and commercialization at Northwestern. Faculty, students, and collaborators can find resources on invention disclosures, patents, copyrights, royalties, and digital innovations—all designed to support the responsible protection and translation of Northwestern discoveries.
Patent and Invention Policy
Covered by this policy: Any invention or discovery made within an individual's normal field of employment/activity at the University, or using University resources.
Copyright Policy
Covered by this policy: Members of the University's academic community who create works at the University resulting from their research, teaching, artistic creativity or writing.
Student Invention Policy
Covered by this policy: All students (including graduate, undergraduate, full-time and part-time).
- More on the student invention policy
- More on the process to petition the release of University's intellectual property rights
Royalty Distribution Policy
Covered by this policy: If there is more than one Northwestern inventor, this policy covers those inventors, as well as their departments, schools and centers
University Technology Licensing and Equity Interest Policy
Covered by this policy: Ccircumstances and processes for receiving and managing Equity investments in Commercial Ventures, and determining how and when to sell and distribute any resulting proceeds to best protect and promote Northwestern University’s educational and research missions.
- More on the technology licensing and equity interest policy
- Download the technology licensing and equity interest policy
Conflict of Interest Policies
The following policies and guidance are available on Northwestern's Conflict of Interest Office website:
Disclosure forms
If your NetID is inactive or you are unable to login, please contact us at invodisclosure@northwestern.edu.
Petitions to release intellectual property
- Student Petition to Release IP Form A: Used by most students
- Student Petition to Release IP Form B: Used by undergraduate, Kellogg and Pritzker students using the Garage
- Student Internship Release Form
Agreement templates & forms
- Confidentiality Agreement template
- Mutual Confidentiality Agreement template
- Medical Devices Startup License Agreement
- Physical Sciences Startup License Agreement
- Software Digital Startup License Agreement
- Therapeutics Startup License Agreement
- Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) forms are available on the Office for Sponsored Research (OSR) website