Stacy Chin walks through the IP section of SBIR grant applications. State your current patent filings clearly, name your IP counsel, embed IP strategy in your Phase II commercialization plan, and outline plans for additional patents and freedom-to-operate analyses to show reviewers you have a solid foundation and path to market.
You also want to mention the status of your IP applications, whether they're provisional, granted, or you submit a PCT, or Patent Cooperation Treaty. I'd also like to mention who are you working with as your IP counsel, because that shows the reviewers that you have already identified a party that will help you through this commercialization hurdle. Now, if you're applying for a Phase II application, you'll want to include a very rigorous IP strategy also in your commercialization plan. Here, PIs should also mention how they plan to expand their IP portfolio by either filing additional patent applications, and whether they plan to conduct a freedom of analysis to verify that their innovation can be sold as a service or a product without infringing on another party's IP rights.
