Final Year Project
In the final year of all honorary degree programmes at TU Dublin students are required to undertake a major standalone research project, which will contribute to their final grade and degree award. In this regard, the School of Physics & Clinical & Optometric Sciences has a well-established reputation for coordinating a wide range of multidisciplinary projects across various interdepartmental research centers and in collaboration with external industrial, research, and healthcare partners. From inception to completion, the student will be required to claim complete ownership of their project. This will include ownership for (1) developing a research plan, (2) completing a chemical and a physical risk assessment, (3) executing the experimental work involved, (4) implementing a scientifically-based approach to data analysis, (5) estimation of uncertainties, (6) creating a project summary Powerpoint presentation, and (7) writing a technical and scientifically focused dissertation. In the course of planning, executing, and writing the project the student will integrate and build upon a wide variety of core competencies that have been formally developed during their undergraduate training including presentation skills, scientific writing capabilities, data analytics, experimental skills, critical thinking, statistics, time management, and collaboration.
Invention, Innovation, and Commercialisation
The module introduces the concept of intellectual property (IP) and the different forms of IP – patents, copyright, trademarks, design rights, and know-how. It focuses on IP generated through scientific research and reveals the process of its commercialisation starting from the invention in the research lab, describes the innovation process required to develop a commercially valuable technology, and explains the different routes for technology exploitation. The module teaches the basic principles of IP management. The patenting process is described in detail. Students will be encouraged to develop skills in searching patent databases, writing invention disclosures, evaluating technologies and suggesting possible routes for their commercialisation. As a result of this course, the student will become familiar with the process of commercialisation of research, will become aware of the significance of this process for industry and society and the rights and responsibilities of the individual involved in commercially valuable research.
Final Year Project
As defined within each project.
Invention, Innovation and Commercialisation
Introduction to Intellectual Property – what it is; forms of intellectual property (patent, copyright, trade mark, secret know how, design right) and why it needs to be protected, ownership of the IP and how it can be protected.
IP generated through research (background) –invention, innovation, invention versus innovation, examples.
Commercialisation of IP generated through research - what are the different routes to commercialisation?
Patent background– basic principles, characteristics, requirements for patentability, patents rights; patents – infringement and defences;
Management of IP o Before filing the patent: - lab records, identification of the invention, invention disclosure, DIT disclosure form, meeting a patent agent, patent claims. o After filing the patent: - timeline, patent search report, different patent phases of Information disclosure – NDAs, MTAs
Students/researchers & Commercially valuable research – role, rights, responsibilities.
National context – financial support for commercially valuable research, objectives and targets, funding agencies, research programmes.
DIT context - support for commercially sensitive research, objectives and targets, Hot House, Research Centres – achievements.
European context
Case studies: DIT invention disclosure form, patent search, licensing a technology, spin out company Workshop on invention versus innovation: the students will be asked to seek inventive solution of a given technological challenge, to evaluate it and to identify the main innovation steps that are required for its commercialisation.
Workshop on patent search: the students will be asked to carry out two types of activities – to identify whether given technology/product is novel, to find an existing solution to a technological challenge.
| Final Year Project
Invention, Innovation & Commercialisation In order to achieve the aims of the module the following learning and teaching methods will be used: lectures, invited seminars, case studies, discussions, role-play, problem-solving exercises, and online delivery using patent search databases and VLE. |
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