Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is a written agreement between a non-federal partner and Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA), the Management and Operating Contractor at INL, to work together on a project. Created as a result of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, a CRADA allows the Federal Government and non-federal partners to optimize their resources, share technical expertise in a protected environment, share intellectual property emerging from the effort, and advance the commercialization of federally developed technology. A CRADA contains provisions, which are driven primarily by statutes and policy.  These provisions are also designed to be responsive to the needs of different CRADA participants while protecting the interests of the public. The Department of Energy (DOE) provides a standard document to begin negotiations, and the parties may negotiate some of the provisions to respond to the needs of the participant. All CRADAs are subject to the approval of the DOE.

Characteristics of a CRADA

• In the collaborative effort, the government may contribute a wide variety of resources, but no funds.
• The government may contribute personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, and any other resources that would fall under the umbrella of personnel, services and property.
• The CRADA is not a procurement contract or grant and should not be viewed as an alternative to normal procurement procedures.
• With regard to licensing, in CRADA agreements the government retains a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to inventions developed under the CRADA.

CRADA Benefits

Through a CRADA, industry can access INL capabilities. INL's CRADA partners  also are given the opportunity to obtain rights to commercialize the results of government research and development. Partners also are allowed to protect certain CRADA information up to five years.