NHS Staff
The Innovation Process
There are a number of steps we will take towards making your idea a commercial reality. Remember that it is important that you don't disclose your idea to anyone before speaking to us. If you do, it may affect the Trust's ability to protect and therefore commercialise it.
Step 1: Information Gathering
Once you have contacted us, either directly or through your Trust's R&D Office, one of our Innovation Managers will meet with you to talk about the innovation. This will include finding out how it works, what problem it solves, its likely impact and what stage it’s currently at. We’ll also ask you who has been told about the idea and clarify who owns it. We can only assist if the intellectual property is part or wholly owned by the NHS.
Step 2: Assessment
The next stage is to seek independent opinion from other NHS staff who work in your field. This will help us to gauge support for the idea and decide whether it has widespread application. At the same time we’ll carry out an intellectual property search to ensure that the idea hasn’t already been protected by someone else. We’ll also assess the market potential and commercial viability.
Step 3: Decision
Based on the outcome of the assessment, we’ll decide whether to proceed with the innovation.
Step 4: Development
If necessary, we’ll have professional designs drawn or prototypes made to enable us to enhance and protect the intellectual property. This will also make the innovation more appealing to potential commercial partners.
Step 5: Identifying Commercial Partners
We’ll identify and screen appropriate partners. We’ll meet with them under a Non-Disclosure Agreement to present the idea to them and assess their suitability.
Step 6: Agreement
Finally, we’ll seek to broker an appropriate deal for the benefit of you and your Trust. This may be in the form of a licence, joint venture, collaboration agreement or spin-out company, depending on the innovation.
Throughout this process we will liaise with you and our contact at your Trust to ensure that you are involved and informed every step of the way.