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In managing intellectual property on behalf of the University of Arizona, OTT collaborates with other UA units, each with its own mission and scope.
The Office of the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development (OVPR) oversees a broad range of research and research-related activities, including OTT. Its missions include enhancing, expanding, and encouraging the research mission of the University; melding more traditional academic activities with current research in related disciplines to enhance the all-around educational goals of the University, and assisting in the development of new resources and the application of new technologies to benefit the University and the state.
Under the UA Intellectual Property Policy, the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development is also the IP Official called for by the more general ABOR Intellectual Property Policy. In that role, the VPR is responsible for implementing the Policy on Conflict of Interest and Commitment, and for managing matters arising under that policy.
ORCA negotiates and executes contractual agreements under which the University's research services are made available to local and national companies. ORCA executes standardized contract terms for the disposition of intellectual property that arises under the contract, and with the involvement of OTT, negotiates additional IP terms crafted to address special needs of a corporate sponsor. Federal grants do not usually require negotiation of intellectual property terms, but OTT might become involved when for example, a proposed federal grantee is a consortium involving both the UA and for-profit companies, or when the UA is a proposed subcontractor under a federal grant, such as an SBIR.
ORCA also negotiates and executes inbound Confidential Disclosure Agreements and inbound Material Transfer Agreements, i.e. those under which information or material is received by the UA from another party.
OTT regularly partners with the Eller College, and with its McGuire Entrepreneurship Program. The McGuire Program strives to link the business and academic communities, to conduct exchanges in entrepreneurship between faculty and students of the University of Arizona, the business community, other universities, and other countries, and to conduct business/academic seminars and exchange programs.
AZCI is a high-tech incubator promoting the development of high technology companies in Southern Arizona through a disciplined program of business development. AZCI is located at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park, south of the UA campus. The Center focuses on companies in six technology areas: aerospace, advanced composites and materials, information technology, environmental technology, life sciences and optics/photonics.
Sponsored Projects Services prepares and manages grant proposals submitted to federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. OTT works with SPS to help ensure that the University accurately reports intellectual property to sponsors, and that the University complies with applicable guidelines for reporting inventions made under federal grants and contracts.
