Proof-to-Patent Pilot Program

Overview

The WVU Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity to help WVU inventors strengthen the patentability and commercial potential of their technologies.

The OIC Proof-to-Patent (P2P) Pilot Program provides up to $1,000 for WVU inventors to verify and validate key claims about their technology using internal resources such as the WVU Lane Innovation Hub, Shared Research Facilities, Health Sciences Center Core Facilities, and WISER Analytical Lab. The goal of the P2P Program is to provide WVU inventors with a means to actualize their inventions and collect high-quality data which can lead to stronger patents that emerge from WVU research. Patents are strengthened when clear experimental evidence or proof is provided that demonstrate an invention’s utility, novelty, and technical performance. This program enables inventors to leverage WVU’s advanced instrumentation, manufacturing equipment, and technical expertise to prototype their inventions and produce the data needed to bolster patent claims and enhance commercial readiness.

Eligibility

To qualify for the $1,000 credit, applicants must:

• Be WVU faculty or staff;
• Have submitted a complete Invention Disclosure Form (IDF) to the OIC; and
• Have the IDF approved for patent filing or be patent pending based on a prior IDF submission.

How it Works

WVU faculty/staff may apply by emailing OIC at commercialize@mail.wvu.edu with the following information: 

1. Reference the relevant IDF and 
2. Describe, in less than 500 words, how the funding would be explicitly used to bolster patentability of the technology. 

If the application receives approval from the OIC, WVU OIC will coordinate with the participant to apply the credit toward the applicable WVU lab or facility. The relevant lab/facility representative may need to confirm that the scope of services sought by the WVU faculty/staff is consistent with the budget approved by OIC. WVU faculty/staff may re-apply for additional credit once an initial credit is depleted. Funding is subject to availability and must be used by June 1, 2026, if approved.

Learn More / Apply

For more details or to apply, contact the WVU Office of Innovation and Commercialization at  commercialize@mail.wvu.edu.