Industry & Tech Deployment
In support of U.S. industrial competitiveness, INL works to deploy and transfer the discoveries and inventions created at the Lab. INL has hundreds of technologies and many unique capabilities that can be made available to benefit our customers and the public. View a matrix that shows the many ways to do business with INL.
Notice for Technology Commercialization Fund Opportunity
DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) issued a call for FY2017 Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) research proposals. These funds are intended to advance laboratory technologies toward commercialization deployment. The funding doubles the resources available for developing technology by providing matching grants for research and industry partnered projects. Under TCF, DOE funding is provided to the laboratory to collaboratively work with a non-federal/industry partner to develop a technology of interest to the partner.
Funding is available for cooperative development projects between a lab and industry partner(s) and is designed to bolster the commercial application of a lab-developed technology. Funding amounts range from $250,000 to $750,000 for a performance period of 12 to 24 months. The industry partner must provide a matching in-kind contribution, which can include internal resources expended on the project, such as labor. However, a minimum $10,000 cash contribution is required by the industry partner.
Technology Deployment (TD) encourages interested industry partners to contact Technology Deployment’s TCF coordinator, Mark Kaczor, 526-1340, as soon as possible for more information or to express interest in participating.
Key dates:
December 22, 2016 – Submission Deadline for Letters of Intent (submitted by INL with partner)
February 22, 2017 – Submission Deadline for Proposals
Some of INL’s most recent tech deployment accomplishments are found in the Tech Deployment Annual Report.
If you would like to license an INL technology, share in R&D, start or expand a business with INL technologies, or require business support, INL has the following contractual mechanisms:
Licensing
Licenses offers the opportunity to commercialize INL-developed technology by transferring intellectual property to industry.
Cradas
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) allow INL and one or more non-federal partners to develop an INL technology or apply INL expertise to a non-federal party’s technology.
Strategic Partnership Projects
Formerly called Work For Others, Strategic Partnership Project agreements allow the use of INL’s technologies, personnel, expertise and facilities.
Technology-Based Economic Development grants
Battelle Energy Alliance corporate funds provide grants for projects aimed at spurring technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship and innovation in the region. Priority is given to projects that focus on connecting industry partners, universities, start-ups and economic development organizations that drive job growth.
INL works through existing groups to establish a strong climate for tech-based economic development. Available funds are leveraged by challenging other groups to match contributions for the start of tech-based projects. Examples of INL’s efforts include:
• Helping start-up companies develop business plans, providing strategic planning training, and offering highly-specialized technical assistance.
• Working with economic and technology development organizations to identify opportunities and resources.
• Providing services to tech-based incubators and science & technology parks.
• Supporting seed/venture capital activities.
Donation Request: INL’s Technology Based Economic Development donation process is conducted on an annual basis. Donation requests for fiscal year 2016 closed on October 2015. You can now request a Technology Based Economic Development donation for fiscal year 2017 (Oct 1, 2016 – Sept. 30, 2017). Submission deadline is Oct. 15, 2016.
- 2017 INL Techbased Economic Development Donation Request Form (PDF)
- 2017 INL Techbased Economic Development Donation Request Form (Download and Fill Out)
Technical Assistance Program
This is a technical support program for small business and state and local governments where INL scientists and engineers provide, without fees, assistance which is not normally available to a community or small business. It helps in areas where organizations may find their problems too complex or technical to solve on their own.
This program is authorized by federal law, and DOE has allocated limited funding for this support activity and provides policy guidance directing the screening and selection of projects.
• Requested services cannot substantially compete with services available from the private sector.
• The requested assistance must fall within INL areas of expertise.
• The requested assistance must not interfere with ongoing INL programs.
• No more than 40 hours of assistance are allowed per request.
To submit your request for consideration, complete the Request for Technical Assistance form.
To submit your project report, complete the Project Report – Technical Assistance Program form.
Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
These programs allow federal agencies to set aside a fraction of their R&D funds specifically for small businesses. These funds can be used to do R&D work with Idaho National Laboratory scientific and engineering staff. INL, however, does not provide SBIR/STTR funding. Contact: Stephanie Cook, Program Manager stephanie.cook@inl.gov for further information.
Technology Transfer OMBUDS
Technology Transfer Ombuds offers an informal process to help resolve issues and concerns regarding the laboratory’s technology partnership, patent, and licensing activities. As a designated neutral party, our Ombuds provides confidential, resolution-focused services. More information on the Technlogy Transfer Ombudsman Program can be found here: http://energy.gov/oha/services/applications-exceptions/alternative-dispute-resolution/technology-transfer-ombudsman
Through the ombuds process, we encourage collaborative techniques such as mediation to facilitate the speedy and low-cost resolution of complaints and disputes, when appropriate.
The INL Ombuds does not:
- Handle contract negotiation or other legal issues
- Act as a decision maker or draw conclusions
- Investigate or make formal recommendations on findings of fact.
The Ombuds also does not replace, override, or influence formal review or appeal mechanisms, or serve as an intermediary when legal action is involved or when legal counsel represents a party.
At INL, the role of the Technology Transfer Ombuds is held by the Internal Audit Director. This position is currently held by Fred Pieper. He can be reached at 208-526-4513 and Fredrick.Pieper@inl.gov
