USDA-ARS Technology Transfer Program
USDA-ARS Technology Transfer
USDA-ARS technology transfer provides a means for moving promising technologies discovered through federal and university research into the public arena where they are developed into marketable products. USDA-ARS accomplishes this by forming partnerships with universities and private sector businesses.
ARS Partnering
ARS continually looks for opportunities to partner with businesses, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and universities. These partnerships are designed to augment research programs, expedite research results to the private sector, exchange information and knowledge, stimulate new business and economic development, enhance U.S. trade, preserve the environment, and improve the quality of life for all Americans. The overarching purpose of this activity is to develop and transfer technologies to the private sector.
ARS can partner with the above parties in three ways, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA), Research partnerships, and licensing.
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA)
The Federal Technolgy Act of 1986 authizes federal laboratories to enter into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) with business entities.
In the CRADA model, ARS and private business entities go through a series of steps to bring a technology to market. A corporate research need is identified. Then the ARS scientist(s) involved with the research and the business entities seeking to develop and market the technology negotiate the CRADA under the auspices of the USDA-ARS Office of Technology Transfer.
Once a CRADA is signed, technology development begins. If successful and a patentable technology is developed, the Office of Technology Transfer will prepare, file and obtain a patent for the technology.
The business entities involved in the CRADA have first right of refusal to negotiate an exclusive license for the technology. ARS and the business entities negotiate the licensing of the technology. The licensing agreement can include provisions to maintain confidentiality for up to five years. Once a license is obtained, the business can manufacture and market the technology.
CRADA agreements can also work in tandem with Small Business Administration Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) grants. There is a measure of flexibility in the CRADA/SBIR timetable; a business entity can:
- Secure an SBIR grant and then enter into a CRADA,
- Secure a CRADA to support an existing SBIR grant, or
- Secure a CRADA and then apply for an SBIR grant.
Research Partnerships
Although ARS maintains four regional research centers for most of its research and development capability, ARS also enters into research partnerships with universities and other research entities. These partnerships may operate under the provisions of the Baye-Dole Act of 1980 which allows small businesses, universities and not-for-profits to obtain title to inventions developed with federal funds.
Licensing
Licensing is a way for ARS to offer intellectual property to the private sector. It uses the patent system to facilitate technology transfer, provide private sector investment incentives, support small business enterprises and entrepreneurs, and support U.S. business investments in international markets.
Like CRADA, the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, authorizes federal laboratories to negotiate patented invention licenses with business entities.
The ARS protects intellectual property only when necessary to facilitate technology transfer. It prefers the public release of plant varieties and does not patent animals or research tools.
There are two types of intellectual property licensed by ARS, background inventions and CRADA-subject inventions. Background inventions are intellectual property developed by federal researchers. If a business entity requests an exclusive license for background inventions, the ARS publishes a licensing notice of intention in the Federal Register and addresses all objections.
With CRADA-subject inventions, the invention may be jointly or solely owned by the U.S. government. The business entity has first right of refusal to negotiate an exclusive license. A confidentiality agreement up to five years may be negotiated as part of the license.
USDA-ARS Office of Technology Transfer
The ARS Office of Technology Transfer has four responsibilities. It:
- Manages USDA intellectual property issues
- Licenses USDA-developed inventions
- Develops and signs Cooperative Research & Development Agreements (CRADA)
- Coordinates all ARS technology transfer activities
The Office of Technology Transfer carries out these responsibilities by patenting inventions, licensing inventions, marketing and coordinating technical transfer.
Patent agents located in Beltsville, Maryland, Peoria, Illinois, and Albany, California handle patent activities for ARS. Licensing activities are handled by licensing specialists at the Beltsville, Maryland headquarters. Marketing activities include publishing information on available technologies, partnership opportunities, and licensing information. Technical transfer activities such as CRADA negotiation and management are coordinated through specialists in every geographical region of the country.
CIFT Signs Landmark Agreement with USDA-ARS
The Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) signed a historic agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), establishing CIFT as one of only ten members of the USDA-ARS Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership (ATIP) program. An official signing ceremony of the Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) was held in Toledo on Aug. 16, 2010.
Following the ceremony, a CIFT-guided bus tour was held to transport guests to several sites across northwest Ohio. Nearly 20 guests had the opportunity to view first hand, several exciting projects including:
• Vertical hydroponic growing system at the Toledo Seagate Food Bank
• Grow Soxx demonstration, including lunch, at the Toledo Restaurant Training Center
• Hoop house demonstration to promote year long production at Bittersweet Farms
• Other projects including the future of the Keil Farm, Fernwood project and some soil testing sites in Toledo.
The PIA was signed by Richard J. Brenner, ARS assistant administrator for technology transfer, and CIFT president and CEO David Beck.
"This agreement will foster opportunities for businesses, communities and universities in the Midwest to collaborate with ARS scientists who are conducting world-class research at more than 100 locations nationwide," Brenner said. "By partnering with organizations like CIFT, we are developing efficient networks that will extend the reach and impact of ARS innovations that will ultimately benefit consumers."
"This agreement is an exciting milestone for CIFT," Beck said. "We are part of a select few who are joining forces with ARS to provide the many organizations with which we work easy access to the nation's premier agricultural scientists. This means that many patented technologies will be commercialized by our clients, creating job growth and enhancing our region's economy."
The PIA provides CIFT's customers, members and businesses with easy access to the work and capabilities of more than 2,100 agricultural scientists throughout the nation – which in turn can greatly enhance economic development and global competitiveness.
This access provides significant, tangible benefits in two areas:
• CIFT's status as an ATIP Associate creates connections between CIFT and hundreds of patented technologies in food processing, biobased materials and products, advanced growing techniques, agricultural chemicals and supplements, and many others. There are currently hundreds of technologies that have been developed and patented by ARS scientists which are available for licensing.
• Another equally significant benefit will be realized by the large number of technology-based companies and research organizations with whom CIFT interacts, enabling these groups to become aware of technologies which are being developed at ARS labs that may be of interest to them. This involves CIFT client organizations in cooperative research efforts with ARS, leading to both a strengthening of the USDA programs, and the development of more technology-focused economic opportunities.
In addition to these immediate benefits, this arrangement connects CIFT to some of the leading technology-based economic development groups in the country. CIFT, as an ATIP Associate in the ARS’ Midwest Area, will work in concert with the Wisconsin Security Research Consortium, Madison, WI, who is the ATIP Partner anchored to the Midwest Area. All members of ATIP are in the process of developing and signing a formal memorandum of understanding that will establish a clear working relationship among all ATIP partners, and that will provide a model for future national collaborations. All of these items represent exciting opportunities for CIFT to continue to provide meaningful, important benefits to its customers, and expand the breadth of services provided to industry partners.
"By working with CIFT, a systematic approach to commercialization of technology can be developed that will enhance the overall benefits to the Midwest,” stated Jack Heinemann, director, Wisconsin Security Research Consortium. “I look forward to this partnership establishing a strong regional connection to resources which will enable the agricultural industry to excel across boarders."
Each partner will work primarily with ARS laboratories located in their respective regions of the country, but will have access to scientists and technologies throughout the network, as well as to commercialization partners throughout the nation. CIFT will work initially with scientists located within the eight-state region of the ARS Midwest Area.
The members in the national ATIP network are:
• Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority (PA)
• Mississippi Technology Alliance
• National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (PA)
• Kansas Bioscience Authority
• California Association for Local Economic Development
• Wisconsin Security Research Consortium
• Maryland Technology Development Corporation
• Georgia Research Alliance
• CIFT
As part of its agreement, CIFT will sponsor technology showcases throughout Ohio, and will identify research and commercialization partners within its network of companies and organizations. CIFT will identify project opportunities in the areas of functional foods and ingredients, biobased products, biofuels, and sustainable agriculture. The sustainable agriculture area will include the emerging area of urban agriculture (local and regional food production), where CIFT will work with ARS to develop programs of mutual interest to provide support in this relatively new area.
ARS is a leader in the federal government in transferring and marketing new technologies developed from its research, and has formed numerous partnerships using cooperative agreements. More information about opportunities for licensing ARS technologies is available on the ARS-OTT website.
If you are interested in learning more about future technologies and ways in which your business/organization can partner, CIFT will be happy to connect you with scientists from the ARS. Please visit our Contact page and let us know.