UNIVERSITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT
Last Revision: 10/07/2026

University Intellectual Property Agreement

Process Owner: Office of Technology Transfer

Table of Contents:

Purpose

Signing a University Intellectual Property Agreement is a condition of employment for the classification categories identified below. See University Policy IP01 Ownership and Management of Intellectual Property, and Policy IP06 Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurial Activity (Faculty Research) for further information.

General Information

The University Intellectual Property Agreement (IPA) is required to be completed and signed by individuals first appointed or transferred to the following classification categories:

  • Executive, administrator, academic administrator, and academic throughout the University;
  • Faculty, staff exempt, staff nonexempt, and technical service in academic or academic service units throughout the University;
  • For any existing employee in the above classification categories who has not signed an IPA Form
  • Graduate assistants/fellows/trainees at the time of their first appointment; and
  • Undergraduate/graduate students, postdoctoral trainees/research associates, wage payroll employees, visiting scholars/scientists/students, emeritus/retired faculty and others who may be in a position to make, conceive or reduce to practice inventions or otherwise develop technology.

Exhibit and Instructions:

There are no exhibits associated with this form.

Form Requirements:

No form may be used that substitutes for an approved official University form without prior review and approval by the steward of the form/central office, as facilitated by the Budget and Finance Policy and Procedure Office (designated representative of the Associate Vice President for Budget and Finance). Policy FN17 Required Use of Approved University Forms Appearing in the General University Reference Utility requires that all form templates must be vetted and approved prior to being published on the GURU website and all such documents having gone through said established approval process must be password protected.

Number of Copies and Ultimate Distribution:

Table of distribution and retention of the University Intellectual Property Agreement form
Document: Ultimate Distribution: Retention Periods: Disposition Method:
Original Office of Technology Transfer Maintained indefinitely - - - - -
Employee Copy Employee - - - - - - - - - -
Transitory Copy* Copy created during the digital ID process Upon verification of successful upload to WorkLion, End of fiscal year +1 year Electronic Document and Data - Delete from computer and empty computer recycle bin

Where to Send Completed Forms:

Upload a signed PDF of the completed IPA per instructions provided by Penn State Human Resources or the Office of Technology Transfer. Signed hard copies may be mailed to the Office of Technology Transfer, 311 Barron Innovation Hub, 123 S. Burrowes Street, State College, PA 16801.

Contact Information:

For questions or additional details, contact the Office of Technology Transfer or by calling 814-865-6277.

Cross References: