Federal Technology Transfer Act

Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) A formal agreement between a Federal laboratory and anon-Federal party (individual, university, or private firm) in which the non-Federal party provides resources in exchange for exclusive rights to license patents that result from the collaboration. Congress gave Federal laboratories the authority to enter into CRADAs as part of the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-502). 

Chen, P S., Testimony on Implementation of the Federal Technology Transfer Act Before the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Tfechnol-ogy, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, Washington, DC, May 3, 1990. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, NIH/ADAMHA Technology Transfer The Federal Technology Transfer Act and Collaboration With Industry, NIH/ ADAMHA training manual, sponsored by the NIH/ADAMHA Patent Policy Board and Office of Invention Development, November 1989. 

These initiatives proved insufficient to bring about the desired amount of formal interaction between government and industrial scientists. The Federal Technology Transfer (FIT) Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-502) followed with financial and professional incentives to Federal scientists to actively pursue the commercialization of their inventions. The act also requires Federal agencies to share at least 15 percent of royalties from any licensed invention with the inventing scientists, and it directs agencies to establish cash awards with other personnel involved in productive Federal technology transfer activities. 

The Bayh-Dole and Stevenson-Wydler acts of 1980 created new incentives for universities and federal laboratories to work with industry on R D and technology transfer. Stevenson-Wydler also authorized NSF s experimental program in University-Industry Cooperative Research Centers and gave the Department of Commerce the authority (never exercised) to fund Cooperative Technology Centers to help industry with research. The National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 provided a safe haven for industrial research consortia to help them avoid challenge under the antitrust statutes. 

Industrial competitiveness relies on leadership in science. Increasingly, start-up companies exploit scientific discoveries made at universities with federal support. Technology transfer from universities to industry has been facilitated by the Bayh-Dole Act. New companies are continually being started to exploit innovations from biotechnology and nanoscience chemists are often crucial players in these discoveries and new ventures. President Bush s American Competitiveness Initiative proposal, which calls for a large increase in support for research in the physical sciences and for science and math education, could have a major impact on the health of chemistry research in the United States. 

University Technology Transfer Office Another source of employment for the intellectual property professional is the university technology transfer office. Since the passage of the Bayh Dole Act in 1980, which provides for universities to own inventions developed through federal government funding, many universities have builf sophisticated offices to identify and protecf infellectual properly developed by... 

It is unlikely that OSHA will resume regulatory activity concerning its withdrawn Safety and Health Management Standard under the current administration. However, if it should proceed in the future, it would be statutorily required to consider adoption of ANSI ZIO to address this issue based upon the requisites of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NITAA), 15 USC 272, and the Office of Management and Budget s (OMB) Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities. 

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