University Research
Protect Research IP Before Publication
Universities generate billions in IP every year, but traditional patents are too slow and expensive for fast-moving research. Blockchain timestamps give your TTO instant, court-ready proof of invention — without disclosure.
£6.1B
UK university IP revenue annually
72%
Of research IP is never formally protected
18 months
Average patent filing timeline
60 seconds
To timestamp with immut
The Challenge
Why Universities Struggle to Protect Research IP
The publish-or-perish culture and complex IP ownership create unique challenges for academic institutions.
Publication Pressure Kills IP Value
Researchers must publish quickly for career progression. But publication without prior IP protection can destroy patent eligibility and licensing potential.
Patent Costs Are Prohibitive
At £5,000-£15,000 per filing, TTOs can only patent a fraction of commercially valuable research. Most innovations go unprotected and vulnerable.
Complex Ownership Disputes
Multi-institution collaborations, visiting researchers, and industry partnerships create IP ownership grey areas that require clear evidence of contribution.
The Solution
How immut Protects University Research
Blockchain timestamps give TTOs and researchers instant IP protection that works alongside — or instead of — traditional patents.
Pre-Publication Protection
Timestamp research findings before submission. If a competitor publishes similar results, you have court-ready proof your work came first.
Lab Notebook Verification
Create an immutable record of experimental data as it's generated. Each timestamp proves exactly when results were achieved.
Collaboration Audit Trails
Track contributions across multi-institution projects with timestamped evidence of who contributed what and when.
Cost-Effective Portfolio Protection
Protect hundreds of innovations for less than the cost of a single patent. Build a comprehensive IP portfolio that strengthens licensing negotiations.
Real-World Scenario
How a University TTO Uses immut
A materials science research group develops a novel polymer composite with commercial potential. Before the lead researcher submits to Nature Materials, the TTO timestamps the full dataset, lab notebooks, and draft manuscript through immut.
Three months later, a competing lab in Germany publishes similar findings. Because the university has blockchain-verified evidence predating the German publication, they successfully defend their priority claim and secure a £2.3M licensing deal with a manufacturing partner.
Total cost of IP protection: £30 (three timestamps). Cost of the patent they would have needed otherwise: £12,000+. Time saved: 14 months.
FAQ
Common Questions About University IP Protection
How can universities protect research IP before publication?
Universities can use blockchain timestamping to create tamper-proof evidence of research findings before publication. This establishes a priority date without requiring disclosure, ensuring the institution can prove when discoveries were made.
Is blockchain timestamping accepted for proving research priority?
Yes. Blockchain timestamps are accepted as evidence in UK, EU, and US courts. They provide independently verifiable proof that a document existed at a specific point in time, making them ideal for establishing research priority dates.
How does immut help technology transfer offices?
immut gives TTOs a systematic way to timestamp all research outputs — from lab notebooks to draft papers to datasets. This creates an audit trail of innovation that strengthens patent applications, licensing negotiations, and spinout IP agreements.
What types of university research can be protected with immut?
Any digital file can be timestamped — research papers, lab notebooks, datasets, software code, experimental results, grant proposals, clinical trial data, engineering designs, and more. immut never sees your files; only an encrypted hash is stored on the blockchain.
How much does it cost to protect university research IP?
immut starts from just £10 per timestamp, making it 99.5% cheaper than patent filing. Universities can protect hundreds of research outputs for less than the cost of a single patent application.
Ready to Protect Your University's Research?
Join leading institutions using blockchain timestamps to secure research IP before publication, strengthen patent applications, and build comprehensive innovation portfolios.
Protect 100+ research outputs for less than one patent filing