TECHNOLOGY SCREENING ASSESSMENT

The second step in the disclosure process is the Technology Screening Assessment. This is required before GSU makes the decision to file a patent, as the cost of obtaining a US Patent could well approach $25,000, worldwide patent protection will likely cost over $100,000 and the process will take a great deal of both our times to obtain patent protection. We need to be assured that we will at the very minimum recoup the University’s investment and hopefully make much a greater return on the investment. This assessment focuses therefore both on the likelihood that a patent will be awarded, and on the commercial opportunity that the invention represents. Although GSU’s Office of Technology Transfer will assist you with this assessment, you, as the inventor, know the technology best, and are likely to have valuable and useful information about markets, competing technologies, and other factors.

Thank you for your assistance.

CONFIDENTIAL

CASE: GSU-___

TITLE: ______

______

______

INVENTORS: ______

  1. Please give a short description of the technology that can be used to market it:
  1. What does the patent protect (e.g., a specific product; a new method of using an existing product, a way of developing a product, etc.)?
  1. What do you believe is the size of the market for this invention?
  1. Describe competing technologies and compare them to your invention:
  1. What steps (and how much funding) are necessary for commercialization:
  1. What do you feel is the best method to commercialize the invention (license, startup company, other:
  1. Have you attempted to identify commercial interest in the technology?
  1. What companies do you think WOULD be interested in the technology if it were brought to their attention?
  1. What is your biggest concern or problem with the technology?

Please carry out the following review of the technology.

A. BACKGROUND No Yes Rating

1 (low) to 5 (high)

1. Has the technology been published? ______

2. If so when? ______

3. Are there prior claims to the technology? (e.g., a previous

employer or university, an academic competitor).______

4. Are there dominating patents? ______

5. Are these dominating patents available for license? ______

B. TECHNOLOGY TESTS No Yes Rating

1 (low) to 5 (high)

1. Is the technology still state-of-the-art? ______

2. Is it easy to demonstrate the technology? ______

3. Is there a functioning prototype? ______

4. Are the benefits identifiable and significant? ______

5. Does the product have a long product cycle? ______

6. How long will it take for market entry? ______

C. MARKET TESTS

1. Doe it fill identifiable & marketable need? ______

2. Is the market sizable & growing? ______

3. Is there a believable, large upside potential? ______

4. Are there directly competitive products? ______

5. Does it fill a defined market niche? ______

6. Is the market accessible (no blocking patents or

overwhelmingly dominant player -- the “Microsoft” effect) ______

7. Does the technology represent a technical revolution in its

market? ______

8. Is it easy for buyers to adopt? ______

D. COMMERCIAL TESTS

1. Is it the result of industry funded research? ______

2. Has a prospective licensee been identified? ______

3. Does it represent a product improvement/cost reduction of

more than 20% ______

4. Will the licensee have to make a major investment to bring it

to market? ______

5. Is the technology the basis for a spin-off company? ______

6. Does it confer a sustainable competitive advantage? ______

7. Does it conform to relevant industry standards? ______