Idea Development and Innovation

By registering and protecting your idea, we can ensure that your work is recognized. Protecting intellectual property rights (IPR), such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, or design rights, preserves your idea and makes it safer to realize.

OsloMet provides support throughout the process – from assessing intellectual property rights to commercialization. We can also assist with ownership clarification and guidance on relevant funding schemes and support systems.

Do you have questions about intellectual property rights or how to utilize your research results? Contact:

• Innovation contacts at your faculty or center.
• The Norwegian Industrial Property Office (Patentstyret), which offers guidance for staff and students.

To ensure research results and ideas are utilized, OsloMet offers several support services:

• Assessment of intellectual property rights (IPR)
• Securing ownership
• Guidance on funding schemes and support systems
• Assistance with the commercialization process

We encourage you to use these services to realize the potential of your ideas.

It’s easy to get started:

1. Contact the innovation contact at your faculty/center. An initial dialogue will be held to:
   • Clarify in more detail what the idea is
   • What needs you have to develop the idea
   • Whether there is a need to fill out a Disclosure of Invention form
2. Fill out a Disclosure of Invention form (DOFI)
   • DOFI form in English (nettskjema.no)
3. Submit the form to the Innovation Team in the R&D Department
   • The team will contact you for a discussion about your idea and what is needed to realize it.

All submitted ideas are treated confidentially and in accordance with applicable guidelines.

DOFI (Disclosure of Invention) is a form where you describe your idea or research result. It is the first step in documenting and protecting intellectual property rights.

The DOFI form should include:

• Date of submission
• Names of the inventor(s)
• A brief description highlighting the innovative aspects of the idea

Even if the rights to the idea have not yet been clarified, the DOFI form can still be submitted. Ownership issues will be addressed early in the process.

Do you have an idea that could form the basis of a startup? Gründergarasjen, OsloMet’s incubator, provides students and staff with support to develop ideas and create innovative and successful startups. Collaboration with Gründergarasjen can give you access to valuable resources and networks to move your idea forward.

The ownership of ideas and inventions is regulated by:

• The Employee Invention Act
• Project contracts and consortium agreements
• OsloMet’s policy for intellectual property rights

These documents do not always determine who should be recognized as an inventor. This will be clarified during the process, particularly before a patent application is filed.

If you have questions or need assistance with the DOFI form or any part of the process, you can contact:

• Innovation contacts at your faculty or center.
• The Innovation Team in the R&D Department.

Together, we can protect and develop your ideas – and contribute to creating solutions that make a difference for society!