Who decides whether to file the patent application?

IEIP meets with inventors to discuss disclosed inventions, performs prior art searches, and conducts an initial market assessment prior to deciding if filing of a patent application is appropriate. The initial assessment includes an assessment of patentability and commercial merit of the invention. In the event that prior is art is found related to the technology, inventors are asked to provide input related to the technical similarity of the disclosed invention to the prior art If there is sufficient reason to file a patent application, NDSU will assign the technology to the NDSU Research Foundation for patent filing and prosecution. Once a technology is assigned to the NDSU Research Foundation, decisions related to patent prosecution and disposition of the technology reside with the NDSU Research Foundation.