One of the research objectives of Michigan Tech is to "promote the utilization of new discoveries for the public benefit". A key means to achieve this objective is through the licensing and commercialization of technologies created by Michigan Tech faculty, staff and students.
The Office of Innovation and Industry Engagement (IIE) supports the commercialization process from disclosure of the technology through to licensing the technology to end-users or producers. While it is not always necessary, this process often includes filing for formal legal protection such as patents or copyrights. IIE manages the process on behalf of the Inventors and the University and incurs the front-end costs of filing for patents, marketing the technology, and executing and enforcing license agreements.