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LAU, Lebanese American University

The interface between LAU research, its founders, and the capital that scales them.

Established under LAU's Intellectual Property Policy and run from the Office of the Chief of Staff and General Counsel.

How the office fits.

Three doors lead to the office: research from the schools, R&D from the MKPMRC, and ideas from founders. The TTO is the gate; a licence or a spinout is where it goes. LAU Engine and the Industrial Hub are available at every stage.

  1. StartsLAU Schools, MKPMRC, or Founders
  2. GateTTO: protect and license
  3. GoesLicence to an existing company, or a spinout
  4. AlwaysLAU Engine (venture building) and the Industrial Hub (prototype to industry-grade build) at every stage

  • LAU Schools

    Seven schools across Beirut and Byblos, where research and student ideas begin. Each shares in licence revenue from its inventions.

  • MKPMRC

    The Moise Khairallah Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Center. Bioequivalence studies and pharmaceutical R&D with industry and regulators; a second source of protectable results.

  • LAU Engine

    From idea to startup to the world: hackathons, the Intilaq and We Build incubators, LAUNCH, ORBIT, SCALE New York and a USD 10M fund. For founders and for researchers who want a spinout. Powered by the Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center.

  • LAU Industrial Hub

    On-demand multidisciplinary teams under US-standard contracts at a Lebanon cost base: prototype to industry-grade hardware and software, plus trained talent and workspace in Byblos, Beirut and New York. For LAU and for companies in Lebanon and abroad.

What the office does

  1. 01Receives and evaluates invention disclosures from faculty, students and founders.
  2. 02Files patents, copyrights and trademarks through external IP counsel.
  3. 03Licenses technology to companies and sets the terms for spinouts.
  4. 04Negotiates industry partnerships and sponsored research terms.
  5. 05Shares revenue with inventors and schools under the Intellectual Property Policy.

Who you'll work with

Samer El Kadi

Lead Technology Transfer Officer

Leads the TTO under the Office of the Chief of Staff and General Counsel. Receives and evaluates disclosures, manages patent prosecution with external counsel, negotiates licences and manages industry agreements.

tto@lau.edu.lb

History

  1. 2021LAU adopts its Intellectual Property Policy, establishing the TTO.
  2. 2025Policy updated. Lead Technology Transfer Officer appointed under the Office of the Chief of Staff and General Counsel.
  3. 2026First provisional patent applications and a registered trademark. Public process, disclosure form and this site launched.

Documents

Sample agreements

Starting points, subject to negotiation. Copies are available on request from the TTO.

  • Non-disclosure agreement
  • Material transfer agreement
  • Option agreement
  • Non-exclusive licence
  • Exclusive licence
  • Sponsored research agreement
  • Spinout licence term sheet