The most common and flexible way for federal labs to work with the public sector, and vice versa, is through collaborative R&D agreements. The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is one of the most significant mechanisms for T2, and through them a federal lab can commit resources such as personnel, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources — but not funds — to any interested non-federal party. A CRADA serves as a contract of sorts, whereby both parties should have the same expectations and understanding about the outcome of the agreement. 

The collaborative R&D efforts set forth through a CRADA result in more favorable long-term outcomes than any other T2 mechanism. They also allow for an intimate working relationship between government and industry researchers so a better understanding of commercial needs can help focus federal laboratories’ science and technology initiatives. 

Gaining access to cutting-edge federal facilities and equipment obtained through facility usage agreements has enabled anyone from academic researchers to large corporate entities to perform world-class R&D that is not readily available in the private sector. The government allows the technical community, universities, industry, and other federal labs and centers to conduct specific research at federal facilities. The research allowed may be proprietary or nonproprietary in nature, and any intellectual property provisions from either the lab or the private partner must be detailed in the facility usage agreement.

Another option for transferring federal technologies is through licensing, or the transfer of less-than-ownership rights to another party so the other party can use the intellectual property or technology for their own use and/or further development. The licensing of government-owned patents is one tool used to promote the utilization and commercialization of inventions that are developed in federal labs through agency-supported R&D. The government may grant licenses to the private sector, or industry, to use federally funded inventions, and industry may grant licenses to the government. Patent license agreements may also be incorporated within CRADAs and handled according to CRADA guidelines.

In addition to CRADAs, facility usage, and licensing agreements, federal labs use numerous other contractual or informal methods to facilitate T2. Depending on the agency or laboratory policy, some of the other mechanisms you may come across as you search include:

• Alliances: These are informal tools that allow a federal lab to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with other organizations to pursue common technology interests.
• Collegial Interchange, Conferences, and Publications: Collegial interchange is the informal and free exchange of information among colleagues; it is the basic mechanism of T2.
• Consulting Services: Consulting services to the laboratory are procured by means of a contract; and laboratory personnel consulting may be provided to industry as well with laboratory approval.
• Technical Assistance: Technical assistance allows the laboratory or facility to provide knowledge, specialized equipment, and facilities to be used for promoting U.S. competitiveness.

Many other mechanisms are available, some on an agency-by-agency basis. These include tools such as clinical trial agreements, commercial evaluation license agreements, educational partnership agreements, material transfer agreements, Space Act Agreements, and many more.

You may find these additional resources helpful for accessing the laboratory that you want to connect with.

• ORTA Heat Map: Get in touch directly with a lab’s ORTA — or Office of Research and Technology Applications. Look through the FLC’s Member Lab heat map to find the right contact.
• ORTA Resources: Industry members, both new and old, may find this list of skill-building, networking, and event opportunities offered by the FLC valuable.
• External Partner Resources: Curated learning materials designed for entrepreneurs, investors, industry professionals, and academics collaborating with federal labs.
• FLC Learning Center Resources: Expand your general T2 knowledge with industry resources offered in the FLC Learning Center.