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Discovery to Impact

Researchers & UT Community

Express Licensing

We streamline IP licensing so faculty founders can focus on building a company, not negotiating a license.

Move faster from discovery to startup

The Express License is a fast, faculty-friendly way to secure exclusive rights to your University technology as you explore startup formation and commercialization.

Designed to minimize delays and negotiation, the Express License uses standardized, subject-specific terms with a low cost of entry, extended timelines to reimburse patent expenses, and clear development milestones.

By simplifying licensing, the Express License allows you to focus on advancing your research into a viable product and business.

Eligible technologies include Physical Sciences, Medical Devices, and Therapeutic Drugs. To begin, complete the intake form, then a Discovery to Impact Licensing Specialist will complete the IP details, summarize patent costs to date, and return the agreement for signature via DocuSign.

Open to UT Austin research faculty, grad students, and post-docs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Express Licensing FAQs

  • The Express License has been created exclusively to support the faculty-led startup licensee looking to secure rights to practice UT-owned IP as quickly as possible to engage with interested investors and generate funding for their early-stage company.
  • The Express License provides favorable financial terms as compared to numerous universities who offer similar licenses designed for rapid execution.
  • The Express License is NON-NEGOTIABLE.
  • If the terms provided in the Express License fail to meet your needs, a standard fully negotiable license is always available, simply reach out to the licensing team.
  • Simply choose the type of Express License applicable to the technology you wish to license. Fill out the on-line questionnaire form and submit.
  • The appropriate Licensing Specialist from Discovery to Impact will run the necessary conflicts and background checks and once cleared will reach out to you with a draft agreement for your review to ensure the information is captured accurately. Upon receipt of your approval, Discovery to Impact will email an execution document to the signatory noted in your submittal for execution via DocuSign. Once executed by both the Licensee company and Discovery to Impact, you’ll have a license to the IP necessary to enable your company to execute your business plan.
  • UT Austin research faculty, post-docs, or graduate students working for a faculty member who desires to form a startup company around UT-owned IP they’ve helped develop in their research.
  • Express Licenses are NOT available to corporate licensees or members of the public.

The Software version of the Express License is currently under development. Please reach out to the licensing team to let us know of your interest as we will ensure you are first to be notified once the software version is released.

The Express License is designed for rapid execution. As they are applicable to UT faculty and grad students, conflict of interest and commitment checks must be accomplished prior to execution. Other than this, the agreement can be executed as quickly as one day.

Click here to view the appropriate contract template.

The Express License is NON-NEGOTIABLE. There can be no changes to the terms. If you wish to negotiate any specific term, reach out to your Discovery to Impact Licensing Specialist or the licensing team and they’ll be happy to work with you to fully negotiate a standard license agreement.

Reach out to the licensing team with any questions.