Technology transfer is crucial for the innovation that drives a healthy economy, the development of new technologies for humanitarian and public benefit, and to generate revenues to support the university’s core teaching mission.

Technology transfer is the process of developing practical applications for the results of scientific research. The purpose of technology transfer is to:

  • make the results of its research available for public use and beneift by enabling inventions to be developed into useful products in the commercial marketplace
  • disseminate new and useful knowledge resulting from University research through the use of the patent system
  • raise revenue to support research and education
  • offer meaningful incentives to spur research, invention, and the entrepreneurial-spirit at HSU.

Many companies, universities and governmental organizations now have an "Office of Technology Transfer" dedicated to identifying research which has potential commercial interest and strategies for how to exploit it. HSU’s Office for Economic & Community Development (OECD) is here to help inventors protect their intellectual property, and shepherd it into the marketplace where it can benefit society.

Everyone Wins


Who benefits from technology transfer:
  • HSU
  • HSU inventors
  • Industry
  • Humboldt County
  • The U.S. Government
  • The Public

At OECD, the close relationships we have built with both HSU faculty and outside industry afford us a special opportunity to help facilitate the transfer of technology in ways that could benefit society for generations. We strive to create new connections between inventors and industry. We are planting seeds today for the products of tomorrow.

This technology transfer website by the Office for Economic & Community Development is to facilitate the transfer of university-owned intellectual property to interested private firms while seeking to expand public-private relationships in order to promote research and development that will advance the interests of the University. We provide services, news and information to inventors, researchers, investors, and campus policy-makers.

Technology transfer and economic development