 Cooperative Research and Development Agreements |
 There are currently 12 spin-off companies whose product or service lines depend upon DOE-sponsored research that was conducted by Ames Laboratory. |
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Work for Others Program |
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Personnel Exchange Program |
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Contract Research |
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Licensing and Patents |
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Tech Transfer Ombuds Program |
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Technical Services, Assistance and User Facilities |
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Engineering Services Group |
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For technology transfer information, contact:
Debra Covey, 515-294-1048, covey@ameslab.gov
or Todd Zdorkowski, 515-294-5640, zdorkowski@ameslab.gov
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements
(CRADA's) enable the Ames Laboratory and one or more partners (usually from industry or academia) to collaborate, share costs and
pool the results of a particular R&D program. The Laboratory may provide personnel,
facilities, equipment or other resources to these R&D collaborations.
Collaborating partners may provide funds, personnel, equipment or other resources. Key
features of CRADA's and CRADA negotiations include protection of sensitive
project data and the negotiation of project-related
intellectual property rights. Projects are billed on a cost-recovery basis, and
the Laboratory is not allowed to serve as a source of funds for project
partners.
The Laboratory can conduct work for industry, small businesses or other federal agencies. WFO project plans are usually specified by external partners, while the development is performed by technically qualified Laboratory staff using Lab facilities. The work must not affect the Laboratory's achievement of its Department of Energy (DOE) program requirements, and must not directly compete with capabilities available in the private sector. The work is billed on a cost recovery basis. WFO agreements include terms that provide for the protection of project data, as well as for the allocation of rights to data and intellectual property developed under an agreement.
These programs provide opportunities for visiting professionals from industry or universities to participate in established research studies at Ames Laboratory, usually for periods of six months to one year in duration. Participants may introduce their own relevant projects within related Laboratory R&D areas or, in some cases, the Lab may exchange personnel who travel to an outside location to work on complementary projects. A limited number of opportunities are available, contingent upon approval from DOE. The Laboratory can provide office space, support and access to Lab facilities. The visiting scientist's organization provides salary and benefits. Proprietary information that the visiting professional brings to the Lab remains confidential. Intellectual property rights developed as part of the research exchange may be retained by the visiting professional's employer, by the Ames Lab or by both parties, depending on the inventor's affiliations and the exchange agreement.
Ames Laboratory can enter into contractual agreements with private companies. These employ the CRADA or WFO "mechanisms" described above. These allow the Laboratory to provide services and research abilities related to the Laboratory's mission and unique capabilities to develop new technologies. These "contract" arrangements are often parts of larger federal programs, such as the USDOC's Advanced Technology Program (ATP), the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the federal Small Business Technology Transfer Research program (STTR), or other federal R&D solicitation programs.
Ames Laboratory intellectual property is available for licensing through the Iowa State University Research Foundation (ISURF). ISURF can discuss licenses on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis -- whichever helps move the technology to the market in the most businesslike and efficient manner. For additional information on technologies available for licensing, visit their web site of the ISU Research Foundation.
U. S. Patents -- Between 1995 and 2002, 57 U.S. Patents were issued on technologies
resulting from Ames Laboratory research. During the same period, ISURF
negotiated 53 options and licenses covering the Ames Laboratory patents and
technologies.
Figures detailing Ames Lab intellectual property throughout the last five years:
Last revision: 10/04/02 kbg
