IP policy

STFC considers the creation of intellectual property to be an important part of its role as a research council, and seeks to ensure that IP created in the course of its activities should be:

• Developed and exploited to provide a positive economic impact and for the benefit of society
• Available to STFC for present and future research activities
• Protected and exploited in a manner that recognises the contributions of the individual inventors, their organisations, and those of any other parties

STFC grant funded research

As a matter of course, STFC will support research through allocation of grant funding. STFC will not normally make a claim on intellectual property arising from the research it supports by grant funding.

Users of STFC's science facilities

STFC provides access to world leading equipment and facilities to the international research community. Generally, users will own the foreground IP arising from any results; where results have been generated by STFC for a user, STFC will own the foreground IP generated.

STFC also makes its facilities available to commercial organisations. Where STFC provides products or services at a fully commercial rate, the customer will usually own the foreground IP and exploitation rights. If STFC products or services are made available at less than the commercial rate, STFC retains the IP rights.

Commercial exploitation

STFC Innovations Ltd (SIL) has the exclusive rights to commercial exploitation of STFC owned IP. SIL works closely with STFC inventors to develop projects through various business models including commercial licenses, spin-out companies, and the sale of products or services.

The guidelines for the exploitation of STFC IP are outlined in the STFC IP policy.

If you have any queries regarding STFC IP and its IP policy please contact Elizabeth Bain

Find a copy of our latest IP Policy below:

STFC IP Policy (PDF - 91kB - link opens in a new window)