Great ideas deserve to make an impact — and they can with the proper guidance and support. At the Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF), we move groundbreaking concepts from the research lab to the real world, guiding innovators through the innovation management and commercialization process to benefit South Carolinians and beyond.
This overview summarizes the most critical parts of the innovation journey — from disclosing an invention to protecting it, securing funding, and building meaningful industry partnerships.
How CURF Creates Pathways for Innovation
From the first steps of the Technology Transfer Process to formalizing lasting partnerships that help bring your invention to market, our team supports you at every stage — always with a collaborative focus that keeps your goals at the center of the process. Here are four key ways we can help move your innovation forward:
1. Disclose Your Invention: Turn Ideas Into Impact
When you create an innovation — whether it's a next-gen material, a medical device, or an AI-driven software platform — the first step toward bringing it to the world is to disclose it through CURF's online Inventor Portal platform. More than a mere formality, initial disclosure is the starting point for translating concepts and research outputs into products and services that can make a difference.
At CURF, invention disclosures form the foundation for collaboration. Once you submit a disclosure, a dedicated Technology Commercialization Officer (TCO) works to understand the full scope of your innovation, assess its potential applications, and identify any commercial value. You don't need a fully developed business plan — just the willingness to explore what's possible and share your insight into the problem your invention solves.
Why disclosure matters: Disclosing your invention protects your rights and ensures that CURF can secure potential intellectual property (IP) protection before publishing or sharing results publicly. Beyond this, it allows CURF to begin exploring funding and partnership opportunities on your behalf.
2. Protect & Share Your Innovation: Intellectual Property & Licensing
Safeguarding your invention is critical if you want it to reach real-world users. Intellectual property protection — through patents, copyrights, or trademarks — ensures that you and your collaborators maintain control and receive recognition for your research activities. More importantly, it allows you to share your innovation strategically with companies or partners equipped to advance it toward commercialization.
At CURF, we tailor IP protection strategies to fit your specific technology, market potential, and goals. It's important to remember that not every invention needs a patent. Some may benefit from copyright, trade secret protection, or open-source strategies. We guide you through your options, balancing protection strategies with potential impact opportunities.
Licensing opportunities:
Commercializing an innovation involves licensing the technology to an established company or startup that can develop and scale it. If that applies to your invention, CURF can help you identify suitable licensees, negotiate licensing agreements, and ensure that the terms honor your contributions while enabling the innovation's advancement to the marketplace.
Inventor benefits:
According to Clemson's IP policies, inventors receive a share of any revenue generated through licensing. Beyond financial return, licensing allows your research outputs to achieve their intended impact — improving healthcare, advancing sustainability, or driving industrial innovation.
3. Secure Funding & Support Development: From Idea to Impact
Even the best ideas need fuel to move forward. Turning an early-stage concept into a market-ready product or service often requires additional development, validation, and scaling. In most instances, these activities go beyond the scope of traditional academic research funding.
CURF helps inventors access a range of funding sources to support this crucial transition, including:
- Technology Maturation Fund: CURF’s internal fund supports early-stage development, such as prototyping, proof-of-concept work, and market validation studies.
- External Grants and Programs: We help identify and pursue state, federal, and private grants, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding.
- Investor and Industry Connections: CURF connects researchers with angel investors, venture capital groups, and corporate partners interested in supporting high-potential technologies.
Our goal is to help you prepare your innovation for the market in a strategic, sustainable way that is aligned with your goals.
4. Build Industry Partnerships: Collaborate for Real-World Results
Successful commercialization doesn't happen in a vacuum. It thrives on collaboration — especially with industry partners who understand the market and have the resources and capabilities to bring innovations to scale.
CURF facilitates connections between Clemson researchers and companies across various sectors, including healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and information technology. These partnerships include:
- Collaborative research agreements
- Sponsored research funding
- Licensing and joint development deals
- Startup formation and support
As a Clemson University-affiliated foundation, CURF brings flexibility and focus to these relationships. We can quickly explore opportunities, structure agreements, and support university-based and external partners in building mutually beneficial collaborations.
For industry partners: CURF is directly linked to cutting-edge innovations and academic research expertise across multiple scientific disciplines at Clemson. Our team helps identify promising technologies, coordinate with faculty, and streamline the process of bringing new ideas into your organization.
CURF: Your Partner in Innovation
At CURF, we believe great ideas can shape the future, and we're here to help you realize that potential. From your first spark of inspiration to the moment your innovation reaches the market, our role is to support, guide, and collaborate, offering expert insight and practical tools that help you accomplish your goal.
Whether you’re part of the Clemson community, an inventor searching for the right go-to-market strategy, or an external partner looking to collaborate, you can count on our team to help you confidently navigate the commercialization path.
