You can always share information that is either in the public domain or non-confidential in nature. In the event a company wants to discuss research results that have not been published, detailed discussions should only take place after a Confidentiality Agreement or Non-disclosure Agreement is in place. Additional information about Confidentiality Agreements and the steps to to obtain one an agreement from NDSU can be found on the Research Agreement page.

In the event that a company is interested in obtaining more detailed information about a technology that has been disclosed to NDSU and there is patent application pending, the NDSU Research Foundation will execute an agreement with the company. Please contact the NDSU Research Foundation if your receive any commercial interest in a patented or patent pending technology.

Once the patent has published (approximately 18 months after the filing of a non-provisional patent application) everything contained in the published patent application can be discussed. Although care must be taken to not disclose new or additional information that is not included in the patent or was generated after the filing of the application.