About SAIL™
​Securing socioeconomic benefit from research hinges on bridging the gap between the lab and real-world application. The Simple Agreement for Innovation Licensing (SAIL™) is a framework designed to streamline the process of technology transfer. Our mission is to foster innovation, empower economic growth, and ensure that publicly-funded research delivers its full potential impact for society.​​
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SAIL is based on rigorous research and is the result of community engagement and input from founders, investors, universities, industry groups, non-profits, and public funding agencies from across Canada.
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6 Axioms of SAIL
​​SAIL is based on six guiding axioms, each carefully crafted through a combination of literature review and consultation with all stakeholders to make technology transfer more efficient, fair, and impactful. We believe that adherence to these principles maximize the chance that a licensing deal will result in socioeconomic impact.
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A licence should not unduly limit innovation or the use of publicly funded research outputs to realize economic or social benefit (axiom of benefit);
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Ownership of the IP should transfer from the academic institution to the licensee when there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the licensee is an economically viable entity (axiom of ownership);
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Every dollar available to a startup should be used to build value in the startup (axiom of value creation);
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Valuation of an IP portfolio should be deferred until the market has been established (axiom of valuation);
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Supporting high-risk commercialization activity should be rewarded with equity proportional to the costs incurred in doing so, providing unlimited potential value in consideration of the risk (axiom of incentivization); and
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License templates should be understandable and usable by someone without legal training (axiom of simplicity and clarity).
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Use of an axiomatic approach to construction of licensing deal terms ensures a clear rationale for licensing decisions and serves to guide the various parties to a licensing deal toward a fair, equitable, and impactful outcome. More guidance on licensing terms can be found in our detailed Guide.