For our researchers

Innovation
For our researchers

Introduction

Commercialise your research or work

The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is the part of the school that facilitates and manages commercialisation for our academic community. If you are interested in developing your idea into a product or service that may one day be deployed in the clinic or in the community, please contact us at oie@duke-nus.edu.sg so that we can facilitate collaboration with investors and/or companies, explore proper commercialization pathways, while safeguard the interests of the School and our inventors.

What are your responsibilities as a Duke-NUS faculty, staff, or student?

Duke-NUS encourages its faculty, staff and students to have real world impact through collaboration and commercialisation with private sector partners. However, like any employee or scholar, Duke-NUS faculty, staff and students have a primary responsibility to the school. If you are interested in commercialising your research or collaborating with an industry partner, you must work through Duke-NUS channels. Please visit our sharepoint (login required) for various forms and procedures.

How do I commercialise research at Duke-NUS?

You may develop an invention which Duke-NUS can help to protect, market, and license to a partner, you may collaborate with a company to contribute your expertise or research findings, or you may launch a startup. The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship can help with each of these pathways.

Protecting and commercialising your invention

If you think you have invented something, or if you just have questions about commercialising your research, you should speak with someone at the Centre for Technology and Development.

The Centre for Technology and Development

The Centre for Technology and Development (CTeD) manages the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) at Duke-NUS. For more information about technology transfer, please email us at: cted@duke-nus.edu.sg.

CTeD’s Technology Transfer Process

CTeD’s Biomaterials and Data Transfer process

1. Invention Disclosure

When you have devised a new technology, idea or invention, the first step is to describe the technology so that CTeD can evaluate it. This is done by filing an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF), available for download here (login required). The completed IDF should be sent to CTeD as outlined in the form itself. CTeD will then evaluate the patentability of your new technology by carrying out basic prior art searches to determine if your invention is novel and useful when compared to similar existing technologies.

2. Assessment of IP

Once you have filed an IDF elaborating the new technology, CTeD may proceed to conduct a more comprehensive commercialization and market analysis to assess the existing gaps in the technology landscape. Based on these analyses, your future research plans and the commercial potential, CTeD will decide whether to proceed to file and prosecute patent applications to seek grant of patent rights.

3. Management of IP protection

CTeD manages all Duke-NUS IP including, but not limited to, filing and prosecuting patents. In discussion with you, CTeD ensures a comprehensive and effective approach to safeguarding the intellectual property. This process involves navigating the complexities of the patent system, addressing potential challenges, and working towards the successful grant of patent rights. CTeD's commitment extends beyond the initial filing, encompassing the ongoing management of IP assets to maximize their value and potential impact.

4. Development & gap funding

CTeD will work closely with you to guide the further development of technology to maximize both patentability and commercial attractiveness. CTeD will work with you to set progress milestones and to characterize achievement of proof of concept. CTeD may provide gap funding either directly, or from external sources, to aid you in the development of your invention.

5. Commercialisation

CTeD will assist you in developing a commercialisation strategy for your new technology by conducting market analyses, identifying potential industry partners, and providing ongoing strategic support. In discussion with you, CTeD will structure and negotiate licensing agreements with identified industry partners. In some cases, you may wish to create a new start-up company to develop marketable products, and CTeD will work with you to explore this option, identify potential investors, and license the technology to the start-up company.

About

Biomaterials are used for biomedical applications such as research, therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, etc. Examples of biomaterials include cell lines, antibodies, proteins, RNAs, reagents, cell lines, plasmids, vectors, and small molecule compounds. Biomaterials are either synthetic or derived from biological organisms such as plants or animals.

In research institutes such as Duke-NUS, research data are collected, generated or created to account for research findings and outcomes, and to promote science communication and collaboration. Research data are provided in many formats including database.

Biomaterials are and data are often transferred between research institutes or between institutes and industry companies to promote research collaboration or joint development of therapeutics or diagnostics. Duke-NUS uses a variety of different mechanisms to facilitate these transfers. For more information, please email us at: cted @duke-nus.edu.sg

Material Transfer Agreement

Biomaterials are often proprietary. Intellectual property (IP) rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives need to be defined when biomaterials are transferred.

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract that governs terms and conditions, including IP terms, for the transfer of biomaterials between two organizations. MTA is normally free of charge, except the recipient often covers for biomaterial storage and transfer costs.

For guidelines on how to process a material transfer agreement (MTA), please click the link (login required).

Material License Agreement

If a company wants to acquire proprietary biomaterials (whether or not patented) from a research institute such as Duke-NUS, a Material License Agreement will govern the terms and conditions, including financial and IP terms, for licensing the proprietary biomaterials to the company.

Data Access Agreement

Research data are often proprietary. When data are accessed by another organization, IP rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the data and any development are defined in a Data Access Agreement, which governs terms and conditions for the access of data by another organizations.

If a company or another collaborator wants to access to proprietary datasets (whether or not patented) from a research institute such as Duke-NUS, a Data License Agreement will govern the terms and conditions, including financial and IP terms, for licensing the proprietary data to the company.

For guidelines on how to process a data access agreement (either inbound or outbound), please click the link (login required).

Collaborating with industry partners

If you are interested in finding a company or partner, or negotiating a productive research collaboration with a company, you should speak with someone in our Industry Alliances or Contract Management teams. Even if you do not have an invention, companies often work with Duke-NUS faculty as world-class experts and collaborators. For more information about partnering with industry, please email us at contracts@duke-nus.edu.sg.

About Business Development, Industry Alliances, and Contract Management

At Duke-NUS, we believe in the power of collaboration. We recognize that achieving our mission of advancing healthcare for the benefit of society requires working hand-in-hand with partners from around the world.

The Business Development and Industry Alliances (BDIA) team serves to find partnership opportunities, to facilitate introductions, and to support negotiation and management of partnerships between Duke-NUS faculty and industry partners. The team also helps to explore ways to add value to existing partnerships, and to prepare our faculty for interacting with industry partners.

The Contracts and Industry Engagement (CIE) Department manages processes including agreement development, conflict of interest, and reporting requirements for collaborations with industry, academic, and other partners. The team supports faculty and business managers across the school to empower efficiency and reliability through meticulous oversight and a commitment to precision, innovation, and seamless communication.

The process for engaging with industry

Some of the ways that Contracts can support you include:

Generating agreements: When a researcher is ready to engage with an industry partner, a variety of agreements may be required to facilitate the engagement, including non-disclosure agreements or research collaboration agreements. Your business managers have undergone training to aid PIs in initiating conversations with industry partners using the right type of non-disclosure agreement, and can also help select appropriate templates for Research Collaboration Agreements with industry, academic, and public sector partners.
Conflict of interest: Duke-NUS researchers, staff and students are subject to the National University of Singapore Conflict of Interest Policy. CIE assists researchers to evaluate, report, and manage potential conflict of interest matters when contemplating or managing an industry partnership. We help to navigate this complex process so that you can concentrate on the project.
Industry Outreach and Alliance Management: meet with Duke-NUS' Faculty Industry Liaison to discuss how to identify new partners or grow your engagement with existing partners.

New ventures and startups: LIVE Ventures

1. New venture and startup incubator

LIVE Ventures at Duke-NUS is dedicated to transforming groundbreaking research into viable commercial ventures. Our incubator provides up to SGD 500,000 per project to support high-impact research and innovation. We aim to accelerate the bench-to-bedside translation of discoveries, fostering an entrepreneurial culture within the Duke-NUS community and beyond. LIVE Ventures also invests in Duke-NUS spinouts, helping to bring cutting-edge solutions to market.

2. Criteria for entering into new venture and startup incubator

To be eligible for the LIVE Ventures incubator, applicants must:

Hold a primary position at Duke-NUS or be a SingHealth faculty member with a tenure position at Duke-NUS.
Propose a project capable of achieving proof of concept (POC) within 24 months.
Demonstrate entrepreneurial commitment as a Principal Investigator (PI).

3. How to apply to enter into new venture and startup incubator

Interested applicants should follow these steps to apply:

Prepare your proposal: Ensure your project aligns with the eligibility criteria and has a clear path to achieving POC within 24 months.
Submit your application: Complete the online application form on our website or contact LIVE team via email, including all required documentation and a detailed project plan.
Review process: Applications will be reviewed internally by the LIVE team and our selection committee, comprising experts from Duke-NUS and our industry partners.
Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview to discuss their project and entrepreneurial vision.
Selection and funding: Successful applicants will receive funding and enter LIVE ventures incubation program, gaining access to our resources and network.

4. Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR)

LIVE Ventures pairs awarded projects with seasoned Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR). These experienced entrepreneurs provide dedicated mentorship, operational support, strategic guidance, and fundraising crucial for transitioning academic research into commercially viable ventures. Our EIRs bring a wealth of knowledge and industry connections, ensuring that our incubated projects have the best chance of success.

5. New venture creation

LIVE Ventures is committed to fostering new venture creation. We support the development of innovative technologies and solutions through our incubation program, which provides funding, mentorship, and access to our extensive network of industry partners. By nurturing entrepreneurial talent and facilitating collaborations, we help transform scientific discoveries into thriving startups.

6. Management of Conflicts of Interest (COI)

LIVE Ventures maintains a strict policy for managing conflicts of interest (COI) to ensure transparency and integrity in all our operations. All participants, including researchers, PIs, and mentors, are required to disclose any potential conflicts. Our COI management framework includes regular reviews, disclosures, and adherence to Duke-NUS’ guidelines to mitigate any conflicts, ensuring that all decisions are made in the best interest of the projects and stakeholders involved.

Please visit CIE Sharepoint (login required) for workflow process and related documents.