More invention disclosures have been made this year than ever before. The previous record, from 2009, was broken in October. A total of 76 invention disclosures have already been made this year, when last year’s total was 57. The disclosure is normally the first stage in commercialising an innovation.

Two innovation-based spin-out companies have already been established this year, Etsimo and Disel21. Three other companies are currently being established, and they may be up and running by the end of this year. For example, the University of Oxford has produced an average of six research-based spin-out companies annually for the past 15 years.

Earlier this year, the University adopted a new policy for the commercialisation of research results and updated the Invention Guidelines. The new companies have been established according to these documents. The policy and guidelines provide clarity for the commercialising process for both the researcher and the University.

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