MP: Artificial Pancreas Trondheim: Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) and Securing of Intellectual Property Right

The Artificial Pancreas Trondheim (APT) research group at present have two projects funded through the Digital Life Norway calls of BIOTEK2021. APT aims to develop an artificial pancreas (AP), i.e. a fully automated delivery of insulin in patients with diabetes type 1, based on the double intraperitoneal approach (insulin is delivered into the peritoneum/abdominal cavity, and glucose level is sensed in the same location). Our approach is different from almost all other research groups and medtech industry working on AP. We hold that our approach, contrary to most other, holds the promise of achieving normal or near normal glucose levels. So far we have collaborated with TTO (Technology Transfer Office) at NTNU and the Coordinator for Innovation and Industry Collaboration at Digital Life Norway, Alexandra Patriksson, to explore commercial potential and possible IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) in our project. We realised that we needed a more systematic and critical evaluation of our IPR and to identify the most valuable IPR. This was be done by an Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) process followed by filing of a patents application of the most valuable potential IPR identified during the IAM process.

The outcome of the IAM process provided a systematic overview of the technology assets of APT and the patenting landscape in the Artificial Pancreas area. The IAM process identified a patentable asset and a patent application has been filed. The written IAM report will be used as a decision tool in relation to further work on patent filing and commercialization.