IP Reporting Procedures

WA Health employees must follow departmental procedures for reporting IP in order to ensure that IP in the health system is identified, captured, suitably protected and responsibly managed.

A Registration and Commercialisation Checklist (Word 172KB) has been developed for this purpose. Once completed, the checklist should be returned to the Research Development Unit for evaluation by the Department’s Intellectual Property Coordinator.

Projects may be eligible for limited early-stage funding for future development (e.g. business case establishment, market appraisal, patent protection) depending on availability of funding and the merits of the initiative. New initiatives will be assessed against the following criteria to determine suitability for funding: novelty, demand, competition, commercial potential, expected health benefits, feasibility and associated risks.

Projects may be referred to the Department’s Intellectual Property Management Group (IPMG) for assessment and recommendations on suitability for development and appropriate actions for protection. The IPMG was established as a reference group to provide guidance to the Department of Health on the protection and commercialisation of IP in the health system.