We review or draft your IP policy covering modern categories - AI-assisted inventions, software, datasets, student contributions. Benchmarked against peer institutions, tailored to your mission and faculty governance.
Since 2000100+ ClientsNASA Prime Contractor of the Year 2022
Your research is happening. Your commercialization isn't.
Launch & Run gives emerging research universities a fully operational technology transfer office in weeks, at a fraction of a $250K+ full-time director. No hiring risk, no 12-month ramp, no single point of failure.
30-minute discovery call. We'll assess fit and show you the IMS methodology.
Acuity Edge
Our eight-step methodology: Triage, Screen, Assess, Patent, Prepare, Market, License, Manage. Stage-gated so inventions earn patent investment through market evidence, not inventor enthusiasm. Published in 'Commercializing NASA Technologies.'
Faculty interviews, research program reviews, publication scanning, and systematic engagement with department chairs. We surface disclosures that would otherwise go unreported at institutions where faculty don't know what qualifies.
Inside the product
A complete T2 function, not a single overwhelmed staffer
Launch & Run combines infrastructure buildout with ongoing operations on a monthly retainer. You get bench depth, a proven methodology, and measurable outcomes.
IP policy and procedures built for your culture
We review or draft your IP policy covering modern categories - AI-assisted inventions, software, datasets, student contributions. Benchmarked against peer institutions, tailored to your mission and faculty governance.
Invention Management System (IMS)
Our eight-step methodology: Triage, Screen, Assess, Patent, Prepare, Market, License, Manage. Stage-gated so inventions earn patent investment through market evidence, not inventor enthusiasm. Published in 'Commercializing NASA Technologies.'
Proactive invention harvesting
Faculty interviews, research program reviews, publication scanning, and systematic engagement with department chairs. We surface disclosures that would otherwise go unreported at institutions where faculty don't know what qualifies.
Portfolio management framework
An Active/Passive x Patented/Unpatented 2x2 framework gives every invention a defined status. Weekly or biweekly portfolio reviews prevent stagnation - the most common failure mode at under-resourced TTOs.
Industry marketing and license negotiation
We identify top potential licensees and decision makers, develop compelling marketing messaging, and negotiate license agreements. 220+ technologies licensed at MSU. 200+ at UIUC. 34 startups launched.
Bayh-Dole compliance infrastructure
iEdison reporting, election of title decisions, patent filing obligations, and ongoing federal compliance. Built in from day one so you're not exposed to loss of title or agency penalties.
Proven at institutions and agencies that demand results
NASAMichigan State UniversityUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDuke UniversityAymiumPPC Enterprises
Step by step
Two phases. One retainer. A functioning TTO.
Start fast and see the difference within weeks.
Launch: Build the infrastructure
We draft or update your IP policy, design the invention disclosure form and workflow, build documented T2 procedures for every stage, audit your research capability for immediate opportunities, and create a stakeholder engagement plan for faculty, deans, and leadership.
Run: Operate the function
On a monthly retainer, we harvest invention disclosures, evaluate commercial potential through the IMS, manage patent decisions, market technologies to industry, negotiate licenses, and report quarterly to university leadership.
Transition: Hand off when ready
When your research volume justifies an in-house TTO, we provide a clear transition path. You keep the methodology, the procedures, and the portfolio framework. No single point of failure, no institutional memory lost.
25 yrsContinuous operation since 2000
2,000+Technology evaluations conducted
50%Average reduction in client patent spend
100%Growth in licensing output at NASA
Results
Results from institutions that needed commercialization infrastructure
“We licensed over 220 technologies capable of generating tens of millions of dollars in future revenue, enabled several startups, and eliminated a backlog of nearly 700 technologies.”
“AE's team quickly understood our technologies and helped investors appreciate the potential of our IP (now ~300 patents), which catalyzed over $200 million of capital investment.”
“Having someone like AE to engage with is a necessity to deliver the services we need for faculty to have a greater chance for success in commercializing a diverse range of techs.”
“We are impressed by the ability of Acuity Edge's experienced team to understand complex technologies and connect with the right contacts in industry to help get deals done.”
Compare
Launch & Run vs. hiring a full-time TTO director
Launch & RunFull-time hire
Operational in weeks, not 6-12 months+×
Experience from 100+ institutions, not one+×
Published, taught methodology (IMS)+×
No hiring risk or search costs+×
Fraction of $250K+ fully loaded annual cost+×
Team bench depth, not a single point of failure+×
Stage-gated patent discipline (40-50% spend reduction)+×
Clear transition path to in-house operation+×
Common questions
Questions we hear from university leadership
What is Launch & Run?+
Launch & Run is Acuity Edge's fractional technology transfer program for emerging research universities. We build your T2 infrastructure - IP policy, disclosure process, compliance, stakeholder engagement - then operate the function on a monthly retainer: harvesting inventions, evaluating them through our IMS methodology, marketing to industry, and negotiating licenses.
Who is Launch & Run built for?+
Emerging research universities with meaningful faculty research activity but without the disclosure volume or budget to justify a full-time internal TTO. Typical fits include R2 universities pursuing R1 status, R3 institutions pursuing R2, liberal arts colleges expanding into STEM, regional comprehensives, faith-based institutions, and international universities building T2 from scratch.
How is this different from hiring a TTO director?+
A full-time director costs $250K+ fully loaded, takes 6-12 months to ramp, brings one institution's worth of experience, and becomes a single point of failure. Launch & Run is operational in weeks, brings experience from 100+ institutions, applies a published methodology, and costs a fraction of the salary. You also get a clear transition path to in-house operation when volume justifies it.
What is the Invention Management System?+
The IMS is Acuity Edge's eight-step commercialization methodology, organized into four phases: Evaluation (Triage, Screen, Assess), Protection (Patent), Execution (Prepare, Market, License), and Management (Manage). It's stage-gated - inventions must pass market-based evaluation before patent dollars are spent. The methodology is documented in the book 'Commercializing NASA Technologies' and taught at Duke University.
How does the IMS reduce patent costs?+
The Triage-Screen-Assess evaluation gate filters inventions before any patent investment. Only inventions with market-backed justification proceed to patenting. Our clients average 40-50% reductions in patent filing costs alongside 100% growth in licensing output. At NASA, we halved patent filings while doubling licensing - sustained over six consecutive years.
What happens if we want to bring T2 in-house later?+
Launch & Run includes a clear transition path. You retain the IP policy, procedures, disclosure workflow, portfolio framework, and methodology. We train your team throughout the engagement so the function can transfer to in-house staff when your research volume justifies a standalone operation.
Next step
Stop losing inventions. Start licensing them.
Book a 30-minute call. We'll assess whether Launch & Run fits your institution and show you how the IMS would apply to your portfolio.
Book a call›