Empowering Innovation: Progress on Wellspring Implementation

The Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OTIE) is excited to provide an update on the implementation of Wellspring, WPI's cutting-edge intellectual property (IP) management system. This comprehensive platform will revolutionize how the WPI community accesses and manages IP-related information, creating a more transparent, streamlined, and efficient process for all stakeholders.
 

Transformational Benefits for the WPI Community

When fully implemented, Wellspring will provide unparalleled access to critical IP-related information, including invention disclosures, patent applications, agreements, and more. The system will enable faculty, staff, and researchers to effortlessly access, manage, and track their IP activity, improving visibility and collaboration across campus.

Key benefits include:

• Centralized Access and Requests:
  Wellspring will serve as a single platform for submitting and managing requests to OTIE, such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), material transfer agreements (MTAs), and other critical documents. The streamlined workflows will reduce processing times and provide real-time updates on the status of requests.
• Enhanced Financial Data Management:
  • The system will incorporate detailed historical financial data, such as patent costs and licensing agreement transactions, enabling more effective tracking and reporting.
  • A groundbreaking feature will allow WPI to electronically upload detailed invoice information from law firms, providing granular cost tracking at the matter level.
• Harmonized Organizational Data:
  Drawing with InfoED and Workday will harmonize organizational hierarchies, ensuring consistency across platforms. This alignment will simplify reporting, searching, and administrative processes, making data management more intuitive and efficient.

On Track for Success

The implementation of Wellspring remains on schedule, with a Go-Live target set for the beginning of C-Term. Key achievements include:

• Configuring templates and workflows to streamline document processing.
• Reviewing and refining data through an ongoing Data Audit.
• Activating a single sign-on (SSO) site with initial data transfer.
   

Looking Ahead

As we move closer to the Go-Live date, training sessions will be provided starting in December to prepare the WPI community for this transformative system. Training materials will be prepared and made available for online and self-training.  Wellspring will enhance how WPI manages intellectual property, paving the way for greater innovation and collaboration while strengthening our ability to track and manage costs.

We look forward to sharing more updates soon as this exciting project progresses. For questions or further information, please contact Lynda Kelly, Associate Director for Operations.