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Doing Business with the NSO
Whether you choose to work in one of our facilities or borrow a
technical expert to work at one of yours, we are interested in talking
to you about possible technological collaborations.
Some of the possible mechanisms for collaboration with private industry
and other government agencies include:
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements
Also known as a CRADA, a cooperative research and development agreement
is a tool that allows us to form research and development partnerships
with other organizations. A CRADA often has fewer legal conditions than
are found in other kinds of federal contracts, grants, and agreements.
We can also serve as a copartner in a CRADA between a national
laboratory and your organization. DOE and the commercial partner usually
provide matching funds to underwrite the collaborative research project,
and the two share in the technical results and the profits received from
the joint effort.
Cooperative Agreements
These agreements focus on the continuing development of an existing
technology rather than on inventing new technologies. Cooperative
agreements often produce significant improvements in existing
instruments and processes. The funding mechanism and shared benefits are
very similar to a CRADA's.
Patent License Agreements
With permission from the Department of Energy, we can obtain the patent
rights to our technologies. These patent rights can then be licensed for
use by a commercial company.
The government retains the right to use the technology for government
purposes. The government and the private company negotiate royalty
rights, legal rights, and other conditions. Funds earned by the
government from the agreement go back to the laboratory to generate more
technology transfer partnerships. The commercial company acquires
technical knowledge as well as financial benefits from intellectual
property developed during government-funded research.
Technical Consulting and Personnel Exchange
Our scientists, engineers, and technical experts possess specialized
knowledge. Outside agencies and commercial companies can use their
expertise and skill to solve a specific problem through a technical
consulting and personnel exchange. Generally, no proprietary information
is exchanged.
Reimbursable Work-For-Others
A private company may initiate a partnership with us to develop a
technology or solve a problem. The entire cost of the work is borne by
the industry partner. The service or technology involved in the
work-for-others agreement is unique and not commercially available.
Intellectual property rights are negotiated before any work begins.
User Facility Agreement and Technology Deployment Centers
We can rent a portion of some existing facilities to a commercial user
to train the user in the mechanics of a process. The commercial partner
can then transfer this technology back to its own factory or facility.
Mailing address:
U.S. Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Nevada Site Office
P.O. Box 98518
Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518
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