Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-Department of Defense (DOD) government agency, private company or academic institution work with ECBC’s scientists and engineers?
Why is ECBC interested in working with industry and academia?
How can my company find out about opportunities to partner with ECBC?
Are there formal processes for establishing working relationships with ECBC?
Can ECBC hold patents? If so, are there formalized arrangements for patented items resulting from partnership with industry or academia?
Does ECBC look to private industry for help bringing new products to market?
Does ECBC require private companies to make proprietary information public?
Does ECBC work with start-up companies?
Does my company need to co-locate with ECBC at their Edgewood site?
Can a private company pay an Army operation like ECBC for services rendered?
What happens to my relationship with ECBC if the military is engaged in a war effort?
Can a non-Department of Defense (DOD) government agency,
private company or academic institution work with ECBC's scientists and
engineers?
Yes; we work with government agencies outside of DOD,
private companies and academia very frequently for a wide range of purposes.
Part of ECBC's mission is to work with private industry
and academia to foster research efforts and transfer military technology
for civilian use. We recognize cooperation among the government, industry
and academia benefits national security and the economic, environmental
and social well being of U.S. citizens. (DOD Policy Directive, May 1999).
Companies interested in partnering with ECBC can visit
our Working with ECBC Web page or contact our Office of Research and Technology
Applications to learn about opportunities to partner with us. E-mail:
technical.outreach@apgea.army.mil;
Telephone: (410) 436-4438
Yes; ECBC has several specific agreements in place for working with
academia and private industry, including the Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement, the Test Services Agreement, the Patent License
Agreement and the Education Partnership Agreement.
Non-DOD government agencies can partner with ECBC through the Support
Agreement, Memorandum of Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (Interagency
Agreement).
Yes; ECBC can hold patents. There are specific processes for handling patents arising from collaborative relationships.
Yes; our Patent Licensing Agreements offer several alternatives for partnering with industry to bring new products to the commercial marketplace.
No; ECBC does not require public disclosure of proprietary information. In fact, ECBC may require partnering companies to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Yes; ECBC frequently works with start-up companies. A number of ECBC's most successful technology transfer relationships have been with start-up operations.
No; ECBC does not require co-location. However, ECBC's extensive laboratory and workshop infrastructure is all located at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Yes; there are specific channels and arrangements through which private companies may secure use of ECBC's expertise and facilities.
As an agency of the U.S. Army, ECBC is first and foremost dedicated to protecting the warfighter through chemical and biological
defense technology. While we respect the importance of working relationships with private industry, wartime demands would take precedence over cooperative
work with industry or academia. However, all practical measures will be taken to ensure ECBC carries out its responsibilities to private and academic
partners.
