Tokyo Tech releases 131 royalty-free patents to support COVID-19 efforts and rebooting of society

Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) has launched the Social Rebooting Technology Initiative to contribute to overcoming the serious impact on society caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As the first activity, we have started the "Hope This Helps (HTH) Project," in which 131 patents owned by the university are released as royalty-free for a certain period of time.

Having been created prior to the pandemic, the patents were not developed specifically as countermeasures against COVID-19, but they may offer solutions to the problems the crisis has posed. Examples include plasma-based sterilization technology for packaging containers, e-learning technology that efficiently provides users with search results for a large amount of presentation materials, and robotics to assist caregivers and care recipients. By adding the creative perspectives of companies and individuals and utilizing them in open innovation, the project aims to contribute to the reboot of society by accelerating the commercialization of COVID-19 measures and developing new methods of utilization.

The spread of COVID-19 is threatening people's lives, and it is having a very serious impact on industry and the economy at large. In addition, with the impact of COVID-19 expected to be prolonged, these patents are expected to have relevance during the process of recovery, immediately after recovery, or to further social development. By releasing these royalty-free patents from a wide range of fields, Tokyo Tech will contribute to the rebooting of society and provide a foundation for post-COVID-19 innovation.

Under the Social Rebooting Technology Initiative, further projects will also be launched to help overcome the impact of COVID-19 on society.

Information regarding release of patents related to COVID-19

• Application period:
  May 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021
• How to apply:
  See the link below.
• Royalty-free period:
  Until December 31, 2022
• Eligible applicants:
  Individuals and companies
• Cost:
  Royalty-free

• Hope This Helps [HTH] Project - Tokyo Tech releases royalty-free patents to support COVID-19 efforts - | Office of Research and Innovation
• Social Rebooting Technology Initiative Launched | Office of Research and Innovation