This content appeared as a "Did You Know?" feature in the ORI Winter 2026 Newsletter to the Drexel research community.
When Applied Innovation, the University’s technology transfer office, receives a disclosure about a possible invention, we evaluate the innovation for patentability as well as commercialization and licensing potential before deciding on intellectual property protection. In some cases, patent protection may not be relevant, such as copyrights for software, but those technologies can still be licensed.
Drexel researchers may be surprised to know what’s involved in moving an invention through the US patent process. Some key facts & figures:
- Drexel has more than 700 issued or pending patents, US and foreign, most older and unlicensed.
- It may take up to 5-6 years of patent prosecution to get a US patent issued; however, not all patents will get issued.
- Patent filing & legal fees can cost up to $10-40k per US patent.
- Most costs occur after initial filing and costs can span over 15 years .
- Inventions resulting from Federal funding must be reported, and the US government retains rights to those patents.
- Following best practices, we focus on US protection as the world’s primary market and will pursue international filings only with a Licensee.
- We rely on Licensee revenue and patent reimbursements to help fund the protection of new inventions.
- Older patents, low technology readiness, and inventors who have left Drexel are some factors that can make technologies difficult to license.
- A patent alone is not a product. It takes more time, money, and translation for inventions that address unmet market needs to move to commercialization and create impact.
- Decisions to start, continue, or abandon patents for Drexel are made by Applied Innovation.
As our team works with researchers to evaluate new disclosures, licensing managers can describe the patent process and answer questions you may have.
We manage IP assets by reviewing the age, stage, and commercial prospects of Drexel patents on an ongoing basis. Our focus is on reducing and re-balancing a large patent portfolio and investing limited resources in technologies from current Drexel researchers that have the potential for translation, licensing, commercialization, and impact.
Questions? Please email the Applied Innovation team at applied_innovation@drexel.edu.
See an Introduction from Sue Rhoades, Assistant Vice Provost, Applied Innovation in the ORI Fall 2025 Newsletter with more insights on the team and current priorities.