Getting Started

The Innovation District is fostering a community of innovation, entrepreneurship and learning. It includes a diversity of spaces, programs and services, all working together to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. Innovation Gateway helps faculty move their discoveries and inventions from the lab to the marketplace. If you need a place to start, but are not sure what you need, then check out these links below for some help.

Disclose a New Invention

If you think you have a patentable invention, new materials, or even an interesting idea, submit this directly to the Innovation Gateway through our convenient online disclosure tool, Sophia. 

Head over to our Invention Disclosure page for more information. 

Material Transfer Requests / Confidential Disclosure Requests 

If you need to share tangible materials or unpublished research findings, submit your request directly to Innovation Gateway through our convenient online submission tool, Sophia.

https://research.uga.edu/gateway/patents-licensing/material-transfer-requests-confidential-disclosure-requests/ 

Commercialization Process for Startups

The UGA Startup Program provides UGA faculty and students support to launch and grow UGA startup companies. These startups are typically built around intellectual property arising from UGA research and student projects. The Startup Program is designed as a flexible and tailored approach to each entrepreneurial project, providing actionable steps that have proven to result in successful companies and experiences. 

“Get Thee to Market: How Innovation Gateway Can Help You Commercialize Your Research”

Friday, April 14, 2023 at 11 a.m.

Presenters:

  • Boyce Clark, assistant director for licensing, Innovation Gateway
  • Monica Williams, pipeline program manager, Innovation Gateway
  • Christy Anderson, associate director for startups, Innovation Gateway

Join members of the Innovation Gateway team to learn how UGA can help protect your discoveries and bring your research to market through product licensing or startup formation (or both!). Gateway has grown its team and enhanced its educational offerings for 2023, and this session is your chance to hear from those new team members about how commercialization can fit into your research program.

See presentation slides

EDUCATION & NETWORKING

Boost your knowledge of entrepreneurship and innovation while engaging with successful entrepreneurs from across the nation.

I WOULD LIKE TO…

Innovation Gateway teaches the basics of commercialization to faculty and provides targeted skill-building and personalized coaching in entrepreneurship and innovation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Dan Geller
Interim Director for Startup Programs, Innovation Gateway
dgeller@uga.edu

NSF- I-Corps, seminars, bootcamps, lunch and learns, and social activities provide rich learning opportunities and plug you into the entrepreneurial community at UGA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Dan Geller
Interim Director for Startup Programs, Innovation Gateway
dgeller@uga.edu

The Office of Business Engagement helps faculty members partner with businesses on industry-sponsored research and development.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Kyle Tschepikow
Executive Director for Business Engagement and Innovation, Office of Business Engagement
kyletsch@uga.edu

PATENTING AND LICENSING

Receive valuable assistance in understanding the commercial possibilities of your discovery and finding industry partners to utilize the technology.

I WOULD LIKE TO…

Innovation Gateway can help evaluate inventions and ideas for patentability and commercial potential.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Derek Eberhart
Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway
dereke@uga.edu

Innovation Gateway helps UGA inventors protect intellectual property.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Derek Eberhart
Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway
dereke@uga.edu

Innovation Gateway engages industry partners to utilize UGA discoveries and bring them into the marketplace.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Derek Eberhart
Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway
dereke@uga.edu

Programs

A variety of UGA programs provide you with objective feedback, training and support as they consider launching new ventures.

I WOULD LIKE TO…

NSF I-Corp is an eight-week accelerator program that provides participants with hands-on startup training, prototyping space, and customer discovery support.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Dan Geller
Interim Director for Startup Programs, Innovation Gateway
dgeller@uga.edu

Experienced startup veterans partner with new entrepreneurs to offer advice, guidance and objective feedback on business startups. The Startup Mentor Program includes early-stage, sector-specific and senior mentors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Dan Geller
Interim Director for Startup Programs, Innovation Gateway
dgeller@uga.edu

The Innovation Fellows Program teaches faculty about the pathways to translate their research into commercial products.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Dan Geller
Interim Director for Startup Programs, Innovation Gateway
dgeller@uga.edu

After completing I-Corps, UGA startups can enroll in Startup 101, a three-part business toolkit that will provide the basic skills to succeed in the early stages of a startup company.