IP policy review or drafting tailored to your culture and mission, invention disclosure forms and workflow, documented T2 procedures for every stage, Bayh-Dole compliance infrastructure, peer benchmarking, and a stakeholder engagement plan for faculty and leadership.
Since 2000100+ ClientsNASA Prime Contractor of the Year 2022
Turn research into licensing revenue
A fully operational technology transfer office in weeks, at a fraction of a full-time hire. Built on the methodology that doubled NASA's licensing output while halving patent filings.
See if Launch & Run fits your institution
Why now
You have the research. You need the outcomes.
Emerging research universities are investing in science and faculty, but lack the infrastructure to convert that investment into licenses, startups, and industry partnerships.
The old way
- ×Hire a full-time TTO director at $250K+ per year, with 6-12 months ramp time and high hiring risk
- ×Patent first, evaluate never - spending six or seven figures on filings that never license
- ×Handle every invention ad hoc, driven by personality and politics instead of a system
- ×Lose inventions faculty file outside the institution because no disclosure process exists
- ×Miss federal grants that require credible commercialization infrastructure
The Launch & Run way
- ✓A fully operational TTO in weeks, on a monthly retainer at a fraction of a full-time hire
- ✓Every invention passes through a three-step evaluation gate before any patent dollars are spent
- ✓A documented 8-step methodology applied consistently across your entire portfolio
- ✓Proactive invention harvesting surfaces disclosures faculty would otherwise never report
- ✓Bayh-Dole compliance infrastructure, IP policy drafting, and stakeholder engagement built in
What you get
A complete TTO, not a consultant with advice
Launch & Run gives you the infrastructure, the methodology, and the bench depth to produce commercial outcomes from day one.
T2 infrastructure built from scratch
IP policy review or drafting tailored to your culture and mission, invention disclosure forms and workflow, documented T2 procedures for every stage, Bayh-Dole compliance infrastructure, peer benchmarking, and a stakeholder engagement plan for faculty and leadership.
Invention Management System (IMS)
An 8-step, stage-gated methodology developed over 25 years across NASA, MSU, UIUC, and 100+ engagements. Four phases: Evaluate, Protect, Execute, Manage. Every invention gets a documented Release, Monitor, or Pursue decision backed by market evidence.
Three-step evaluation gate
Triage identifies fatal flaws fast. Screen deepens analysis with the inventor and secondary research. Assess engages industry experts directly. Only inventions earning Pursue through all three steps carry market-backed justification for patenting.
Proactive invention harvesting
Faculty interviews, research program reviews, publication scanning, and systematic engagement with department chairs. Surface disclosures that would otherwise go unreported or filed outside the institution.
Patent cost discipline
Clients average 50% reductions in patent filing costs alongside 100% growth in licensing output. NASA halved filings while doubling licensing. Patenting decisions driven by evidence of licensee demand, not inventor enthusiasm.
Bench depth, not a single hire
You get a team with experience across R1, R2, liberal arts, faith-based, and international institutions. No single point of failure. No 18-month ramp. No risk of a wrong hire costing $300K+ before you recognize the mistake.
Proven at institutions and agencies including
NASAMichigan State UniversityUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDuke University
Process
Two phases, one continuous operation
A simple route from setup to steady output.
Launch - build your T2 function
Acuity Edge reviews or drafts your IP policy, builds the invention disclosure process, benchmarks peer institutions, audits existing research capability, establishes Bayh-Dole compliance infrastructure, and creates a stakeholder engagement plan to align faculty and administration.
Run - operate your TTO on retainer
Monthly retainer covers invention harvesting, IMS evaluation, patent decisions, marketing technologies to industry, license negotiation, and quarterly reporting to university leadership. Scope expands as your portfolio grows.
Transition - move in-house when ready
A clear off-ramp to internal operation when your research volume justifies a full-time TTO. Your institution owns the processes, policies, and methodology Acuity Edge built.
25 yrsContinuous operation since 2000
100+Clients across universities, labs, corporations, and investors
2,000+Technology evaluations conducted
100%Licensing growth at NASA over six years
Evidence
What partners say
“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.”
“Acuity Edge exceeds the expectations of partners and clients. I would recommend AE to anyone requiring commercialization services, training, and strategic consulting assistance.”
The difference
Launch & Run vs. hiring a full-time TTO director
Launch & RunFull-time hire
Operational in weeks, not 6-12 months✓×
Predictable monthly retainer, no $250K+ annual commitment✓×
Team with 100+ institutions of experience✓×
No hiring risk or search costs✓×
Documented 8-step methodology applied from day one✓×
50% average reduction in patent filing costs✓×
No single point of failure if staff leaves✓×
Clear transition path to in-house operation✓×
Good to know
Questions about Launch & Run
What is Launch & Run?+
Launch & Run is Acuity Edge's fractional technology transfer program for emerging research universities. First, we build your T2 function: IP policy, disclosure process, compliance infrastructure, stakeholder engagement. Then we operate it on a monthly retainer: harvesting inventions, evaluating commercial potential, managing patent decisions, 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 comprehensive universities, faith-based institutions, and international universities building T2 from scratch.
How much does it cost compared to a full-time TTO director?+
A full-time TTO director costs $250K+ annually when you include salary, benefits, infrastructure, travel, databases, and legal support. Launch & Run is priced as a monthly retainer at a fraction of that cost, with no hiring risk, no ramp period, and no search fees. Clients also average 50% reductions in patent filing costs through the IMS evaluation gate.
What is the Invention Management System?+
The IMS is Acuity Edge's 8-step commercialization methodology, organized into four phases: Evaluation (Triage, Screen, Assess), Protection (Patent), Execution (Prepare, Market, License), and Management (Manage). It is stage-gated, market-centric, and has been refined over 25 years across NASA, Michigan State, UIUC, and 100+ client engagements. It is documented in the book 'Commercializing NASA Technologies.'
Can we transition to an in-house TTO later?+
Yes. Launch & Run includes a clear off-ramp to internal operation when your research volume justifies a full-time hire. Your institution owns the processes, policies, and methodology Acuity Edge builds during the engagement.
What proof do you have that this works?+
Acuity Edge served as NASA's primary technology transfer support contractor from FY19 through FY24. NASA's patent licensing doubled while patent filings were cut in half over six consecutive years. At Michigan State, the firm produced 220+ licenses and $16M+ in licensing revenue while clearing a 700-invention backlog. At UIUC, the team licensed 200 technologies, launched 34 startups, and grew disclosures 70% in three years.
Move forward
Ready to commercialize your research portfolio?
Book a call to see if Launch & Run fits your institution. We will talk through your research activity, current T2 infrastructure, and commercialization goals.
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