Technology Transfer Mechanisms

The following information is provided for your review by the Wright Technology Network. WTN can facilitate the establishment of the following mechanisms for technology transfer and commercialization with Wright Laboratory. Services include but are not limited to: referrals, identification of technology or expertise, introduction to laboratory scientists and engineers, technical discussions and the establishment of testing, licensing and cooperative research agreements with Wright Laboratory, Armstrong Laboratory and other Air Force Laboratories.

For more information on how WTN can assist you, contact:

Mr. Jim Singer, Technology Specialist
Wright Technology Network
3155 Research Blvd; Suite 201
Dayton, OH 45420-0217

Phone: (937) 253-0217 or 1-800-240-8324
Fax: (937) 253-7238
email: [email protected]

Technology Transfer Mechanisms

Mechanisms

Desciption

Features/Characteristics
1. Collegial Interchange, Conference, Publication The informal and free exchange of information among colleagues Includes:
  • presentation at professional and technical conferences
  • publication in professional magazines (Caution should be taken to avoid premature disclosure of information that may be the subject of a patent application or proprietary data)
2. Consulting to the Laboratory A party outside the laboratory provides advice and/or information
  • Formal written contract, generally short-term and specific
  • Consultant certifies that no intellectual property conflicts exist
3. Consulting by Laboratory Employees Consultation provided to a private sector party by laboratory employees to further technology transfer
  • Laboratory must approve of the laboratory personnel consulting arrangement
  • Avoid conflict of interest
  • Intellectual property aspects require care
4. Exchange Program A transfer of people either to the laboratory from another party or from the laboratory to another party to exchange expertise and information
  • Usually for up to one year
5. Contract The Government and a contractor enter into a contract (an acquisition instrument) for the contractor to provide supplies or services to the Government
  • Can be used to fund R & D that may eventually be transferred to the private sector
  • All contractors regardless of size may obtain title to inventions
  • Competition laws and requirements apply
6. Cost-shared Contract The Government and a contractor enter into a contract in which they share costs associated with the work as specified in the contract
  • Includes in-cash and in-kind arrangements
  • Must be mutual benefit to industry and Government
  • Commercially valuable data may be protected for a limited period of time
  • Advance waivers frequently not granted unless the contractor shares at least 20 percent of the total cost
7. Grant and Cooperative Agreement (Assistance Instruments) The Government enters into grants and cooperative agreements with a recipient. The Government transfers money or property to the recipient to support or stimulate research
  • Less involvement between the Government and recipients than acquisition contracts
  • Used when procurement contracts are not appropriate
8. Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) A CRADA is an agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties under which the Government, through its laboratories, provides personnel, facilities, or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to non-federal parties). The non-federal parties provide funds, people, services, facilities, equipment, or other resources to conduct specific research or development efforts that are consistent with the agency's mission.
  • Requirement that no funds can be provided to collaborating party
  • Not subject to 31 U. S. C. 6303-6305 terms for procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements
  • Rights to inventions and other intellectual property are negotiated as part of the agreement
  • Trade secret information is protected from release under the FOIA, 5 U. S. C. 552 et. seq.
9. Licensing from the Government to the Private Sector Licensing is the transfer of less-than-ownership rights in intellectual property to a third party, to permit the third party to use intellectual property
  • Can be exclusive or non-exclusive, for a specific field of use, for a specific geographical area, or U. S. or foreign usage
  • Required that a major portion of the royalties return to the laboratory
  • Preference for U. S. industry and small businesses
  • Potential licensee must present plans to commercialize the invention
  • Government retains a non-exclusive, royalty-free worldwide Government purpose license to the invention
10. Licensing from the Private Sector to the Government Licensing is the transfer of less-than-ownership rights in intellectual property to a third party, to permit the licensee to use intellectual property
  • Government may use private inventions for Government purposes subject to payment of reasonable compensation
  • Must follow existing procurement rules and instructions
11. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) The SBIR program is federally funded to promote small business participation in Government programs
  • Two-year confidentiality limit on data
  • Contractor may obtain title to inventions
12. Use of Facilities User facilities are unique, complex, experimental scientific facilities including equipment and expertise at a governmental agency designated by the Government for use by the technical community, universities, industry, other laboratories, and other Government entities
  • Includes Designated User Facilities and Other User Resources
  • Research may be conducted on a proprietary or non-proprietary basis
  • For proprietary R&D, full cost recovery is required. Patent rights generally go to inventor and proprietary data of the user can be protected
  • For non-proprietary R&D, title to inventions goes to the user but data generated are freely available
  • If funded under another Government contractor or international agreement, users are subject to those intellectual property clauses

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