Company formation
Regulations for start-ups and spin-outs
Virtually all companies formed to commercialise or exploit University research will require the permission of the University, at a minimum. This requirement is made clear in the Ordinances and in the University regulations. Advice should always be sought before company formation.
If it is agreed that the best way to commercialise the technology is by company formation, the Technology Transfer Team will form the company following the university regulations as agreed at the time.
The University Ordinances (22.9) cover the expected equity position of the company that is formed and the regulations cover the required permissions prior to company formation.
Income to staff
Distribution of residual income to staff
The residual income from licensing agreements received by the University is split with the academic staff as agreed and following Ordinance 22.8.
At the time the license agreement is signed the University and the academic team will agree the split. At present it is set at either 90%/10%, 70%/30% or 55%/45% in favour to the academic team.
The University’s proportion is split as follows:
- 50% to Crescent Fund
- 25% to Faculty/School
- 25% to University
IP protection process
See our process and summary for protecting your Intellectual Property.
This process involves recording your inventions.
Complete the Invention Record Form for disclosing your invention to the University.
This will enable the Technology Transfer team to assess the potential for protecting your Intellectual property.
Contact the Technology Transfer team to review and submit your form.
More on the Technology Transfer process.
Technology Transfer team
The Technology Transfer team in RIS can help you with commercialising your research outcomes through:
Protecting your Intellectual Property
Reviewing academic invention disclosures and identifying novel outputs. These could be protected through patenting, software, design or database rights, trademark and copyright.
Managing your patent
Working with academic staff and external partners to develop, review, file and manage the ongoing renewal of the University patent portfolio.
Commercialising your Intellectual Property
Undertaking market analysis, marketing of opportunities, identifying partners, developing licence deals and new company formation.
Developing funding
Accessing proof of concept funding, through commercialisation deals with academic staff. This is to develop new research and development projects for embedding licensed technologies within external partners.
Our spin-outs
See the list of University of Bath spin-out companies from commercialising our research.
Event recordings
See our event recordings for previous events which include topics on Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation. Watch our events.