Most funding sources, including the federal government, require that inventions be reported to the University. If a Principal Investigator thinks s/he may have made an invention or discovery that might have commercial potential, the inventor should report it to the Office of Technology Development (OTD), using the Disclosure or Report of Invention form available at the link below. The Disclosure or Report of Invention provides the information that OTD needs to evaluate the invention or discovery and determine whether patenting is appropriate.

http://www.otd.harvard.edu/inventions/inventors/roi/

Additional information for inventors within the Harvard community is on the following site. Included is an overview of technology transfer at Harvard, relevant University policies, how to report an invention and information on material transfers.

http://otd.harvard.edu/resources/