What Is an Invention Disclosure Form? A Guide for NMSU Researchers

July 16, 2026

If you've developed something in your research that could have a life outside the lab — a process, a material, a method, a tool — there is a first step. It's called an invention disclosure form, and it takes less time than most researchers expect.

What it does is equally straightforward: it tells NMSU's IP Office what you've created so they can evaluate whether it has commercial potential, and if so, help protect and commercialize it. But because most researchers don't encounter this process until they're already in the middle of it, it's worth understanding before you need it.

Here is what an invention disclosure form is, what it includes, when to submit it, and what happens after you do.

An invention disclosure form, often called an IDF, is a confidential document that formally records the creation of an invention or innovation developed through your research at NMSU. It is the first step in NMSU's IP management process and the starting point for any conversation about patent protection or commercialization.

Submitting an IDF does not mean you are committing to a patent. It means you are giving the IP Office the information they need to evaluate your invention and decide whether NMSU will move forward with protection. From there, the process either continues or stops, but it cannot begin without the disclosure.

The IDF is designed to capture everything the IP Office needs to assess your invention and begin the protection process if appropriate. It asks for:

•      A description of the technology: What the invention is, how it works, and what problem it solves.

•      Testing results and proof of concept: What has been demonstrated so far and at what stage of development the invention currently sits.

•      Potential commercial applications: What markets or industries the invention could serve, and what the competitive landscape looks like.

•      Sponsorship information: Details on any grants, contracts, or external funding that supported the research, since these can affect IP ownership.

•      Inventor signatures: Original signatures from all named inventors, along with department head or supervisor approval.

•      Third-party involvement: Any collaborators at other institutions or companies, and any material transfer or joint development agreements in place.

The form also asks you to identify any known prior art, existing patents or publications related to your invention, and to assess where your technology sits on the Technology Readiness Level scale, from basic principles observed through to a working prototype.

How To Submit At NMSU

You can submit an IDF online through Arrowhead Center's IP Office, or as a hard copy delivered to the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, located in Academic Research A on the NMSU campus.

If you have questions before submitting, reach out to Patricia Marquez Knighten, Program Director, at pmk@nmsu.edu or through arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/intellectual-property. You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out. A conversation with the team early in the process is often the most useful step you can take.

What Happens After You Submit

Once you submit the IDF, Arrowhead Center's team will meet with you to learn more about your invention and gather any additional information needed. From there, the process moves through three primary phases.

One Thing Worth Knowing Before You Start

Talking to Arrowhead Center before you submit your IDF is encouraged. Although the IDF is the first formal step required by NMSU, having an early conversation with the team can help you explore commercialization possibilities before the process officially begins. The sooner Arrowhead Center knows about your research, the more ways they can help you move it forward.

 If you are unsure whether your research qualifies, reach out anyway. The IP Office has been working with NMSU researchers across disciplines — from engineering and chemistry to agriculture and environmental science — since 2005. They have seen a wide range of inventions and can help you figure out whether yours is worth pursuing.