The Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer (OIPTT) and the Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. (ISURF), a non-profit Iowa corporation, work together to enhance and facilitate the transfer of the inventions, copyrights, trademarks, tangible research materials, and other intellectual property developed at Iowa State University for the public good. The majority of these innovations, or "technologies," are an outgrowth of the research activity of the university's researchers. OIPTT and ISURF work closely with the university researchers in this activity, which is commonly referred to as Technology Transfer.

ISURF was established in 1938 to manage intellectual property arising from research conducted at the University. According to University policies, Intellectual Property is assigned to ISURF by inventors or creators who are employees or students of the University. ISURF is composed of a membership from which a Board of Directors is elected with the full power to manage, direct and conduct the affairs and business of the corporation. A list of the current members, Board of Directors, and officers may be viewed by clicking on ISURF Membership.