The Saljar Group - working with innovators

Recent matters and news

New high-tech resources for public hospital - preparation of request for tender package
November 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a supplier of high-technology goods and services who was helping a large public hospital prepare a request for tender document package regarding the hospital’s acquisition of new high-technology equipment and facilities.

IP management issues - biotech start-up
November 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a biotech start-up regarding IP management and IP risk in relation to the development and commercialisation of a novel treatment for a medical condition.

IP development and royalty agreement - high-technology industrial equipment
November 2011
We advised on an arrangement regarding the development and payment of royalties in relation to high-technology industrial equipment.

MoU regarding medical health initiative across countries
November 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a research organisation in relation to the establishment of an MoU with an overseas research organisation aimed at improving eye-care skills, facilities and technology.

Start-up issues re capital raising, business-model and commercialisation - cleantech
November 2011
We provided assistance to a cleantech start-up regarding company structure, capital raising and investment, IP management, business-model development and commercialisation.

Exclusive distribution arrangements - European company - medical technology
November 2011
We advised on an exclusive distribution arrangement regarding distribution of medical technology products developed by a Europe-based company.

Spin-out, cross-investment capital raising, and licence - medical diagnosis technology
October 2011
We advised and assisted a research organisation in relation to the establishment of a spin-out, cross-investment (with preferential rights) capital-raising with a US-based entity, and the licensing of medical diagnosis technology.

Web-based social media start-up - establishment and commercialisation
September 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a social media start-up about corporate structure, capital raising, IP management, business-model development and commercialisation.

Product development/commercialisation - domestic and industrial construction
August 2011
We provided advice regarding the IP management and commercialisation issues and risks faced in relation to the development and commercialisation of a high-technology product for use in domestic and industrial markets.

IP ownership issues - jointly-employed researchers
August 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a research organisation about IP-ownership issues regarding jointly-employed researchers.

IP licence, manufacturing rights and IP transfer arrangement - high-tech products
August 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a developer of high-technology products regarding an arrangement under which IP rights were licensed, ongoing manufacturing and development arrangements were addressed, and IP transferred.

International collaboration, licence and royalty issues
July 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a large research organisation regarding its collaboration with an international collaborator, including in relation to licensing and commercialisation of new technology and the payment of royalties.

Regulatory issues - high technology products
July 2011
We assisted a high-technology company in relation to issues regarding the regulatory environment that applied to its high-tech goods and services.

Doing business - debtors based overseas
July 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a high-technology company regarding management of overseas-based debtors to whom high-technology goods and services had been provided.

Company governance - directors' duties and indemnities
July 2011
We provided advice and assistance to a high-technology company regarding directors' duties and indemnification of company directors.

IP escrow and licensing - high technology goods
July 2011
We put together an IP licence and US-based escrow agreement to assist a supplier of high-technology products manage its export relationship with a key overseas customer.

Doing business - commercial legal advice to high technology goods and services provider
June 2011
We provided commercial legal advice to a high-technology goods and services provider in relation to its commercial agreements and interactions with key suppliers and customers.

Commercialisation strategy - patented technology - leisure, tourism and industry
June 2011
We provided advice about the protection, valuation and commercialisation (including licensing) of patented technology with leisure, tourism and general industrial applications.

Development and expert consultant agreements - international parties - research organisation
May 2011
We provided advice about development and expert consultant agreements entered into by a research organisation and parties based in Europe and the USA.

Executive options plan advice and implementation - life sciences spin-out
May 2011
We provided advice about, and assisted with the implementation of, executive options and incentive plans for senior executives recruited to a spin out company formed by a life sciences research organisation.

Strategic IP management and commercialisation advice - entertainment site and e-commerce site
April 2011
We provided advice about IP management issues, as well as strategic commercialisation and capital raising advice, to help enhance the commercial returns from two separate websites: an innovative entertainment website and an innovative e-commerce B2C and B2B website.

Strategic IP management and commercialisation advice - technology and mobile commerce
April 2011
We provided advice about IP management issues, as well as strategic commercialisation and capital raising advice, to help enhance the commercial returns from innovative clean-technology that had the potential to be combined with mobile commerce applications.

Commercial supply of high-technology goods and services - international customer
March 2011
We helped a client finalise an agreement for the supply of high technology good and services to a major international customer.

Prior art search; strategic IP and product development advice - personal care
March 2011
We conducted a prior art search and provided advice about IP strategy and issues, patenting considerations, product development strategy and the engagement of collaborators in relation to a personal care product development project.

Capital raising advice - technology start-up - tourism and leisure
March 2011
We provided advice about issues and considerations with respect to the raising of angel and venture capital by a high-technology start-up business operating in the tourism and leisure market.

Licensing and royalty negotiations - multinational licensee - engineering
March 2011
We advised on royalty determination and other key issues in relation to an exclusive product development and licence agreement being negotiated with a Europe-based multinational in connection with innovative engineering technology developed by our client.

Product development project - personal care
February 2011
We provided preliminary advice about IP development, protection, valuation and commercialisation regarding an innovative personal care product development project.

IP protection and commercialisation advice
February 2011
We provided a technology developer with preliminary advice about the protection and commercialisation of novel physical products for the consumer outdoor sports market.

Negotiation with service providers - technology project
January 2011
We assisted with the process of negotiating with various technology service providers in relation the establishment of a project to develop and commercialise an innovative product/service offering aimed at promoting health and well-being.

IP protection and commercialisation advice - innovative services model
January 2011
We provided preliminary advice in relation to the protection and commercialisation of an innovative service-provision model aimed at corporate customers.

Establishment of innovation based venture
January 2011
We assisted with preliminary business planning and market research activities as part of the establishment of a new innovation-based products/services venture.

Contracts with key customers - export of high-technology products and services
December 2010
We helped a client with negotiations with a US-based customer regarding the export of high-technology products and services.

IP due diligence and IP ownership issues
December 2010
We helped a client identify and address issues with respect to ownership of IP developed by research team members and collaborators.

Licensing of technology for local supply and export of product
December 2010
We provided advice regarding an exclusive licence (based on patent rights and know-how rights) to facilitate both local and overseas manufacture and supply of products made using technology developed by our client.

Contracts with key customers - export of high-technology products and services
November 2010
We helped a client negotiate major contracts with key international customers regarding the export of high-technology products and services.

Pre-patenting process efficiencies - physics/computer science/IT/electrical engineering
November 2010
We helped our client collate information from researchers across a number of institutions and undertake a pre-patenting analysis to help determine whether seeking patent protection is appropriate and, if so, to identify the issues and information necessary to allow the subsequent interactions with patent attorneys to proceed without undue wasted time and expense.   This related to various technologies in the physics/computer science/IT/electrical engineering space.

Grant funding application for commercialisation
November 2010
We helped a client file an application for a Commonwealth government grant to assist with the commercialisation of the client's technology.

National phase entry recommendation re patent rights
October 2010
We provided advice to a client to assist with the process of determining which jurisdictions to enter national phase with respect to the application for patent rights in relation to cancer technology.

Capital raising - technology start-up
October 2010
We helped a high-technology start-up address issues regarding the capital raising process and the preparation of investor information.

Establishment of innovative online services business
October 2010
We helped a client address key legal issues, and drafted relevant agreements/terms, regarding the establishment of an innovative online services business.

Commercial opportunity and IP due-diligence information for investors and licensees
October 2010
We developed a document for prospective licensees and investors, outlining the nature and scope of the commercial opportunity as well as information relevant to an investor/licensee IP due-diligence, in relation to technology that has potential global application to human healthcare.

Successful government grant application
October 2010
We successfully applied for a merit-based government grant. The grant related to the development of innovative technology as part of the establishment and development of a new venture.

IP valuation and financial model - technology-based treatment
October 2010
We finalised a model to help determine uptake and operating costs regarding an innovative technology-based service developed by our client.

IP protection and commercialisation advice - IT-based consumer services venture
October 2010
We provided preliminary advice in relation to the protection and commercialisation of an innovative IT based-consumer services venture.

Pre-patenting process efficiencies - chemistry and life sciences
October 2010
We helped our client collate information from researchers across a number of institutions and undertake a pre-patenting analysis to help determine whether seeking patent protection is appropriate and, if so, to identify the issues and information necessary to allow the subsequent interactions with patent attorneys to proceed without undue wasted time and expense.   This related to various technologies in the chemistry and life sciences space.

Strategic issues and opportunities
October 2010
We helped a technology-based business address strategic issues relevant to its business.

Advising on IP-ownership, patenting and licensing/commercialisation
September 2010
We provided advice in relation to IP ownership, patentability and licensing/commercialisation of technology developed by researchers who had a complicated IP-ownership situation because of the circumstances of interactions with various external parties.

Alliance for commercialisation of innovative treatment tools
September 2010
We advised on the creation of an alliance between large organisations regarding the commercial deployment of innovative human health treatment tools.

Recommendation re commercialisation strategy
August 2010
We prepared a recommendation for the Board of a research organisation regarding commercialisation options and strategy with respect to an innovative production technology.

Cost model and IP valuation - process of production of cancer diagnosis tools
August 2010
We developed a model to identify inefficiencies in the cost structure of a production process in order to help value an efficiency-improving production technology.

Global patent licensing - commercialisation of innovative cancer diagnosis technology
July 2010
We finished helping a research organisation with the process of granting a worldwide licence as part of its commercialisation of innovative cancer diagnosis technology.

High-technology supply agreement finalised
July 2010
We helped a research organisation finalise an agreement with a global supplier for the supply of high-technology research tools that will enhance the quality of research into a range of medical conditions.

Helping with commercialisation of ground-breaking imaging technology aimed at improving patient outcomes
June 2010
We attended an internal two-day conference held by a client at which cutting-edge research into the development and use of medical imaging tracers and ground-breaking medical imaging technology, as well as the management and commercialisation of IP in relation to such research, was discussed. This research could significantly help improve patient treatment for patients with cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, brain tumours, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions.

Engagement with key clients
June 2010
We finished helping a communications technology services provider engage in commercial negotiations with a major strategic client.

Exciting medical research re immuno-therapy
June 2010
We finished helping two prestigious medical research organisations put together a medical research collaboration that could facilitate development of immuno-therapy for coeliac disease, autoimmune and allergic diseases.

Commercialisation analysis re innovative tumour diagnosis
June 2010
We presented a preliminary commercialisation analysis to a client regarding technology that has applications in relation to tumour diagnosis.

Resource model and IP valuation - innovative medical treatment service
May 2010
We developed a resource-requirements model to help forecast the type and cost of resources that would be required for the sustainable commercial implementation of an innovative technology-based service developed by our client.

Performance management for high-technology research and service organisation
May 2010
We assisted a high-technology services and research organisation with the management of commercial performance issues affecting its business operations.

Commercialisation strategy for innovative mental health treatment programs
April 2010
We presented a preliminary commercialisation strategy to a client for the commercially sustainable deployment of innovative mental health treatment programs.

Establishment of innovative online business
April 2010
We finished helping an innovative new on-line business finalise its business model, as well as helping with commercial and legal aspects of its online presence and operations and with IP protection.

Collaboration and commercialisation - exciting medical research re asbestos diseases
March 2010
We finished helping three medical research organisations put together a medical research collaboration and commercialisation arrangement aimed at helping improve understanding of asbestos-related diseases.

Spin-out of high-tech services company
March 2010
We provided preliminary advice and assistance to a client about the establishment of a start-up company to provide high-technology services.

Collaboration and commercialisation - exciting medical research re diabetes
March 2010
We finished helping two major medical research universities finalise a collaboration and commercialisation arrangement with a global biotech and a global pharmaceutical company aimed at developing tools to increase understanding of diabetes.

Exciting medical research re gene research and HIV
February 2010
We finished helping research collaborators come to an arrangement regarding the sharing of high technology processes and materials to be used in research regarding gene-silencing, stem cells and HIV research.

Global patent licensing - commercialisation of cutting edge engineering technology
January 2010
We finished helping a high-technology start up finalise an international patent licence with an Asian based licensee as part of its commercialisation of cutting edge engineering technology.

Exciting medical research re blood cells
December 2009
We finished helping major medical research organisations with a collaboration and commercialisation arrangement regarding research into lymphocytes and plasma cells.

Global patent licensing - commercialisation of cutting edge engineering technology
October 2009
We finished helping a high-technology start up finalise an international patent licence as part of its commercialisation of ground-breaking engineering technology.

Do you have a passion for innovation and commercialisation? We are recruiting!
We are looking for outstanding contributors to join our team. We offer exciting work with leading innovators. We offer outstanding reward structures and flexibility. Please visit our "People & Talent" page for further details.

Are you an investor in/service provider to innovators?

We sponsor/support initiatives that promote innovation.

Learn more about us...

Latest news

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Innovators face serious risks.
Click here for more information.

For a detailed list of our services, click here

In addition to providing commercial and legal services to eligible clients on a standard fee-for-service basis, we are always looking for opportunities to support innovation by investing in promising innovation/technology-based ventures.

We can also help with the capital raising process.

Click here for more information.

Are you looking for cash/investors for your innovation/technology-based venture?

We help you with your capital raising in a number of ways.

Sourcing the money/investment

For appropriate opportunities, we invest directly. We do this by:
- direct cash investment by us; and/or
- providing commercial and legal services at zero/reduced cost, for equity or success fees.
We help you access investors and investor groups (our contacts).

Who, why, when, how much and how?

We advise on the issues, advantages and disadvantages associated with the various sources of capital. We help you determine how much capital to raise, and how, when, from whom and on what terms to raise it.

Getting ready to raise capital I - Increasing your attractiveness as an investment proposition

We help you improve investment-readiness and attractiveness, through due-diligence/help re:
- your IP: ie ensuring and demonstrating IP ownership; reducing risk of IP litigation/loss etc; and
- your broader venture: eg business plans and implementation, staff/resource development etc.
We help you to demonstrate to investors that your IP is being managed properly, by helping ensure:
- IP is not leaked or lost (eg to staff, consultants, suppliers, collaborators or customers); and
- deals done re your IP (eg licensing deals) maximise value to you (and thus to your investors).

Getting ready to raise capital II - Background work

In order to help you form a position re investment terms, we help you value your IP (as an asset of your broader business), and also help you value your broader business/venture.
We help you prepare investor documentation (eg Information Memoranda).
We help you negotiate with other service providers in the process (eg investment brokers/lawyers).
We help you avoid the common costly mistakes made when pitching to sophisticated investors.

Negotiating and securing the investment

We help negotiate and finalise investment and shareholder terms and documentation.

The Saljar Group works with innovators.

We help innovators manage, value, protect and commercialise innovation outcomes, and manage the commercial/legal risks that all innovators face. We prefer to do this on a no-cost/success-share basis if feasible.

We invest in and incubate innovation outcomes, and work with others who do the same.

We provide commercial and legal services to eligible clients (we only work with innovators and high-tech organisations, and prefer those whose innovation benefits the community).

Our clients range from start-ups through to large research organisations. Our services are top-tier firm quality but, due to the efficiency of our practices and business model, are significantly less expensive.

Fostering Innovation

Our vision is: "an innovative society". All that we do is aimed at helping to foster, develop, nurture and deploy innovation for the benefit of the community.

If you are from an organisation whose vision is aligned with ours and you would like to partner with us or seek our support/sponsorship for an initiative that you are planning, please visit our "Fostering Innovation" page.

Service Providers

Do you invest in or provide services to innovators? We employ an approach that allows a network of commercialisation service providers, working as a coordinated team throughout all stages of the commercialisation process, to increase significantly the prospects of successfully commercialising innovation outcomes.

Our network development strategy requires premium quality service providers across a broad range of disciplines including: legal, accounting, finance, engineering, project management, design, marketing, communications, regulatory, human resources, graphic design, IT, patent drafting etc.

Please contact us if your organisation invests in innovators or is a premium-quality organisation that works with innovators - with a view to helping them derive commercial returns - and you would like to work with us.

Legal and Commercial Professional Services

We provide a range of premium quality legal and commercial professional services, with a focus on the particular needs of innovative and high-technology organisations.

Legal: We help with contract negotiation (including project/collaboration and licensing/commercialisation agreements) and provide general commercial legal advice and representation, all with a focus on IP and other commercial legal issues faced by innovators and high-technology organisations.

Commercial: We help with: strategy development; business plans and marketing plans; capital raising; accessing government grants and R&D tax concessions; preparing tenders; business development and marketing; business performance measurement and business management.

Examples of how we can help you: Click on the link lower in the page to see a more detailed list of ways that we can help you.

Visit some of our innovator clients listed below (details about how we have worked with them are on our Clients page)

Valuation, Protection and Commercialisation of Innovation

We take care of the commercialisation process so you can focus on what you're best at - innovation and your core business. The scrolling list below shows some of the many issues we will help you manage.

We reduce - and can share - your risks: Although we help directly with many of the key steps, the key to our business model is that we manage, on your behalf, a network of service providers who work as a coordinated team throughout the commercialisation process.

Our premium quality services and our unique approach allow us - and possibly others in our network of professional partners - to make some or all (if your innovation is promising enough) of our fees conditional on your success. This 'centralised coordination and shared risk' model decreases your costs and increases your prospects of success.

Some context - the problem: The challenge for innovators is to access and coordinate the skills needed to manage the entire commercialisation process. Most innovators run out of cash and energy before their innovation derives any returns. Often, had the commercialisation process been better managed, they may have succeeded.

Examples of how we can help you: Click on the link lower in the page to see a more detailed list of ways that we can help you.

Understanding freedom to operate
Conducting a market assessment
Conducting IP valuation
Conducting venture valuation
Developing an IP protection strategy
Developing a commercialisation strategy
Developing a business plan
Developing a marketing and communications plan
Accessing government grants
Raising venture finance
Considering personal and corporate tax issues
Corporate structuring issues
Engaging R&D partners and collaborators
Engaging design partners
Dealing with regulatory issues and agencies
Engaging production providers
Accessing talent and resources
Engaging service providers
Managing further IP development
Engaging product promotion partners
Obtaining general business management advice
Engaging sales partners
Conducting licensing and other commercialisation negotiations
Obtaining general commercial legal advice
Negotiating contracts

Management of IP and Innovation Risks

We help you manage the risks you face as an innovator. The scrolling list below shows some of the issues we will help you manage (see the "innovation is a risky business" box above for more info).

Key services include:
Helping with project feasibility/approval based on commercial (eg NPV) and IP/legal analysis

Providing innovation/IP management reviews, training and advice to improve your approach to the capture and management of intellectual property rights, all with a view to helping you:
    - ensure you end up owning the IP you expect to own
    - reduce the risk of your activities causing you to be sued by others
    - improve your prospects of deriving a return on your investment in innovation

Examples of how we can help you: Click on the link lower in the page to see a more detailed list of ways that we can help you.

You risk being sued for patent infringement
You risk losing your intellectual property rights to or through third parties
You risk losing your intellectual property rights to or through your employees
You risk focusing your valuable R&D resources on undeserving projects
You risk jeopardising your ability to patent hard-earned new inventions
You risk losing patent rights in the USA
You risk wasting significant time and money on pointless R&D projects
You risk utilising your professional advisers inefficiently
You risk selling yourself and your valuable IP short

Ways we add value - a list of our key services
(click each button for further info)

Before you innovate

Project planning and preparation
·Financial (eg NPV) analysis to avoid wasting resources on commercially undeserving projects
·Legal (eg IP/regulatory) analysis to avoid wasting resources on projects with unjustifiable risk
·Negotiating and preparing collaboration, project and technology development agreements
·Negotiating and preparing agreements with external service providers and contributors
·Conducting IP due diligence and reviews
·Developing IP management manuals
·Helping with prior art searching and understanding freedom to operate
·Dealing with regulatory issues and agencies
·Accessing government grants and R&D tax concessions
·Commercial, legal and IP management training for your key operational and commercial staff
·Implementing appropriate IP capture and IP management procedures to help you:
    - ensure you end up owning the IP you expect to own
    - reduce the risk of your activities causing you to be sued by others
    - improve your prospects of deriving a return on your investment in innovation

Over-arching / General

Commercialisation
·Managing all steps and service providers in the commercialisation process

Legal and commercial professional services
·Commercial and legal services, with a focus on the needs of innovative/high-tech organisations

As you innovate

Innovation and further development
·Negotiating and preparing collaboration, project and technology development agreements
·Negotiating and preparing agreements with external service providers and contributors
·Accessing government grants and R&D tax concessions
·Financial (eg NPV) analysis to avoid wasting resources on commercially undeserving projects
·Conducting IP due diligence and reviews
·Developing IP management manuals
·Commercial, legal and IP management training for your key operational and commercial staff
·Implementing appropriate IP capture and IP management procedures to help you:
    - ensure you end up owning the IP you expect to own
    - reduce the risk of your activities causing you to be sued by others
    - improve your prospects of deriving a return on your investment in innovation

Over-arching / General

Commercialisation
·Managing all steps and service providers in the commercialisation process

Legal and commercial professional services
·Commercial and legal services, with a focus on the needs of innovative/high-tech organisations

After you innovate

Valuation and Protection
·Valuing intellectual property rights, high-technology assets and ventures
·Developing patenting and IP protection strategies
·Helping you navigate the complex world of patent attorneys and patenting

Financing
·Accessing government grants and R&D tax concessions
·Helping with the capital-raising process
·Advising on corporate structure
·Negotiating and preparing financing agreements (eg loan and shareholder agreements)

Commercialisation / Licensing
·Managing all steps and service providers in the commercialisation process
·Developing patenting and IP protection strategies
·Valuing intellectual property rights, high-technology assets and ventures
·Developing a commercialisation strategy
·Developing a business plan, marketing plan, communications plan and operations plan
·Dealing with regulatory issues and agencies
·Establishing and advising innovative and/or high-technology start-up companies
·Negotiating global project/collaboration agreements for further development of technology
·Negotiating international IP assignment, licence and other commercialisation deals

Helping you do business
·Click the "helping you do business" button above for more info

Enforcement of IP rights
·Litigation to protect intellectual property rights

Helping you do business

Doing business
·Commercial and legal services, with a focus on the needs of innovative/high-tech organisations
·Negotiating and preparing agreements with key customers and suppliers
·Commercial, legal and IP management training for your key operational and commercial staff
·Conducting IP due diligence and reviews
·Dealing with regulatory issues and agencies
·Helping with access to talent and resources
·Strategy development
·Developing business plans, marketing plans and operational plans
·Business development and marketing activities
·Preparing tenders
·Helping with business performance measurement and management
·Helping with business management

Financing
·Accessing government grants and R&D tax concessions
·Helping with the capital-raising process
·Advising on corporate structure
·Negotiating and preparing financing agreements (eg loan and shareholder agreements)

Enforcement of IP rights
·Litigation to protect intellectual property rights, including:
     - your reputation
     - trade marks, patents and copyright
     - confidential information

Visit some of our innovator clients listed below (details about how we have worked with them are on our Clients page)

Click below to visit some innovators we've helped (details about how we've worked with innovators are on our clients/experience page)

Visit some of our innovator clients listed below (details about how we have worked with them are on our Clients page)