Program Guidance 

What is a CRADA?
A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is a written agreement between a government agency and a non-federal entity which can be a commercial company, nonprofit, university or individual to work together on a project.  Legislatively created, a CRADA allows agencies and non-federal partners to optimize their resources, share technical expertise in a protected environment, share intellectual property emerging from the effort, and speed the commercialization of federally developed technology.  The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) coordinates CRADA efforts through its Industry Outreach Division (IDO).

What is provided in a CRADA?

Typical CRADA Process

• Federal and non-Federal researchers agree to work together
• Federal and non-Federal researchers work with NGA CRADA manager (IDO) to:
  1. Provide CRADA Basic Agreement to non-Federal organization
  2. Draft a CRADA Research Plan and circulate it through both organizations for concurrence
• Authorized Federal and non-Federal signatory sign final CRADA
• Distribute signed agreements
• Researchers begin work

Who can enter a CRADA with NGA?
Virtually any commercial or academic organization may enter into a CRADA with NGA. According to public law, "units of State or local government; industrial organizations (including, but not limited to, corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, and industrial development organizations); public and private foundations; nonprofit organizations (including universities); or persons (including licensees of inventions owned by the federal agency)" may enter into CRADAs with NGA.

What are the benefits?
The specific benefits depend upon the circumstances of the collaborating partners. Some of the benefits that can accrue are:

For Both:

• Opportunity to apply additional resources against a technical problem
• Increased technology base
• Established operational transition paths
• Protected sensitive information

For the Partner:

• Direct insight into NGA data, data standards, tools and processes
• Opportunity to work with technical experts using advanced tools and technologies in a production environment
• Opportunity to expand capabilities
• Protection of trade secrets

For NGA:

• Hands-on access to leading edge commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tools and technologies
• Opportunity to incorporate requirements into COTS products and service

Is proprietary information protected?
In cases where the industry partner may need to disclose proprietary information to NGA in order to have an effective cooperative research program, NGA must, under the CRADA, protect disclosed proprietary information.

How does NGA treat research results?
NGA can protect information developed under the CRADA from disclosure for a period of up to five years.

What patent rights arise under a CRADA?
Normally, the research partner takes title to its inventions, NGA takes title to NGA inventions, and the parties take joint title to joint inventions.

NGA CRADA Reference Materials:

• NGA CRADA Fact Sheet
• NGA CRADA Brochure
• NGA CRADA Handbook
• NGA CRADA Inquiry Form

Contact the CRADA Program Manager at crada@nga.mil.