Cuyamaca College
Environmental Technology Program
Federal Technology Transfer Act
The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-502) amended the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act (Public Law 96-480) and made technology transfer the responsibility of every Federal laboratory scientist and engineer and mandated that technology transfer be considered part of employee performance evaluations.
The law requires Federal laboratories to actively seek opportunities to transfer technology to industry, universities, and state and local governments.
In accordance with the law, technology transfer is the responsibility of science and engineering professionals engaged in research, development, test, and engineering activities. Wherever appropriate, technology transfer is made a part of those efforts.
The Federal Technology Transfer Act also mandated preference for U.S.-based businesses by requiring that preference be given to industrial partners that agreed to manufacture in the United States.
In addition, it chartered the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) as an organization to promote technology transfer. We'll discuss the FLC in detail later in this seminar.
The Federal Technology Transfer Act specified the following technology transfer activities:
Technical assistance
The first method provided by the law for technology transfer is through technical assistance. A request for technical assistance to solve a technically challenging problem is usually made to a Federal laboratory by a representative of a company, university, or state or local government.
Once the technical request is made, the scientist and engineer at the laboratory who is best qualified to respond to the inquiry is identified. The two parties are then put in contact. In the event the laboratory does not specialize in the technical area of inquiry, it will be referred to another government organization that may be able to assist them.
Patent licenses
The second transfer method provided for by law is through the licensing of a patent held by the laboratory. The licensing agreement is negotiated by a local patent office.
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)
The third method provided by the Federal Technology Transfer Act is through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
A Research and Development Agreement (RDA) may be entered into by a Federal laboratory with partners in industry, universities, non-profit, or state or local governments to collaborate on a research project of mutual interest.
Under a CRADA agreement, the Federal laboratory may contribute people, equipment, and facilities to the effort. The collaborating party may contribute the same as well as money if required.
However, CRADAs were authorized only for government-owned, government-operated (GOGO) laboratories, excluding contractor-operated laboratories. CRADAs are discussed in detail later in this seminar.
Educational partnerships
The fourth method provided by the law is through educational partnerships. An educational partnership may be entered into by the government with a non-profit university or a local education agency.
Under this arrangement, a government laboratory may loan equipment, donate surplus laboratory equipment, make laboratory personnel available to teach or assist in the development of programs or seminars, involve faculty and students in laboratory research projects, help to develop a program under which students may be given academic credit for work on laboratory research projects, and provide academic and career advice and assistance to students.
Cooperative agreements
The fifth technology transfer method provided by the law is through cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement may be entered into by a Federal laboratory with industry, universities, non-profit, and state or local government.
These agreements are used when there will be significant involvement between the government and the recipient during performance. They are contractual arrangements in which the government provides money and/or property to a recipient to support research in areas of interest to Federal laboratories. Cooperative agreements are usually awarded based on competitive bids and may require cost matching of resources.
Grants
The sixth method provided by the law is through grants. A grant my be entered into by a Federal laboratory with educational institutions, non-profit institutions, and state or local governments. There is no significant involvement between the government and the recipient during performance.
Like cooperative agreements, grants are contractual arrangements in which the government provides money and/or property to a recipient to support or stimulate research in areas of interest to Federal laboratories. Research grants to educational institutions are fulfilled based on competitive bids.
Only Federal laboratories can enter into these arrangements; they publish notices concerning grant opportunities on a regular basis.
Formation of consortia and regional alliances
The formation of consortia and regional alliances are also provided for by the law. No formal descriptions exists--they are handled on a case-by-case basis.
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 Last update 05/12/98 by Cuyamaca Web Team |