Technology Transfer Program

Overview
The DHS's Technology Transfer Program promotes the transfer and/or exchange of technology with industry, state and local governments, academia, and other federal agencies. To accomplish its mission, the Technology Transfer Program promotes research and partnerships, evaluates, protects, markets, licenses, monitors, and manages Department inventions and other intellectual property as mandated by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986.

Technology Transfer Mechanisms include the following:

Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) – An agreement between the Department and the agency of a state or local government or a nonprofit entity to allow the Partnership Intermediary to: identifies new technologies in the private sector that can be utilized by the Department facilitates joint projects between the Department and private companies, as well as between agencies and academic institutions, to accelerate delivery of technological capabilities to the nation helps existing companies identify Department technologies that can be licensed and commercialized
 * Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) &mdash; Probably the most commonly used technology transfer mechanism, CRADAs are instruments that may be used in all aspects of a product and/or system life cycle where research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) activities occur. The federal parties may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to the non-federal parties). The non-federal parties may provide funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources toward the conduct of specified research and development efforts that are consistent with the missions of the component or laboratory.
 * Licensing Agreement &mdash; A contract between the owner or lawful user of intellectual property and another party (licensee) that permits the licensee to use the IP in accordance with the terms of the contract.
 * Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) &mdash; An MOU provides the framework for cooperation and coordination with other agencies. The agreement helps to ensure smooth operations with shared resources or workflow. It creates a clear understanding of each party’s commitment/purpose.