A Federal Technology Transfer Intermediary

1. A Federal Technology Transfer Intermediary Dr. Will Swearingen Executive Director

2. Agenda • Brief Overview of TechLink • The Value of Technology Transfer Intermediaries such as TechLink – The Missing Link

3. TechLink • A technology transfer intermediary for both DoD and NASA at Montana State University. Established in 1996 • -- Directly funded by DoD and NASA • Recognized as one of 9 “exemplary models” nationwide of federal technology transfer (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 2003)

4. Key Activities • Help companies to license DoD- and NASA-developed technology • Help companies to establish CRADAs with DoD and NASA centers for joint technology development • Help companies to secure federal R&D funding (primarily via SBIR)

5. Program Mission • To increase DoD and NASA’s overall success in technology transfer nationally • To foster technology-led economic development in the State and region

6. TechLink Resources • 11 technology transfer professionals with 7 support personnel • 5 key consultants (legal, marketing, SBIR) • Industry expertise: • --Advanced Materials -- Aerospace • -- Biomedicine and Biotech -- Electronics -- Environmental Tech -- Photonics • -- Sensors -- Software and IT

7. TechLink Accomplishments • Over 400 partnerships brokered between DoD or NASA centers and companies in 30 different states • These partnerships involve 57 different DoD labs and organizations and all 10 NASA centers

8. Distribution of TechLink Partnerships 1996-Present 27 188 14 6 4 TechLink 6 4 6 60 6 5 1 16 1 3 7 3 2 4 1 19 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 Totals by state of DoD, NASA, and other Federal agency partnerships that TechLink has facilitated with companies Grand total: 410* *Some partnerships involve multiple companies 2 Not shown: 4 partnerships in Alaska, 4 in Germany, 1 in British Columbia, 2 in UK, 2 in France, and 1 in New Zealand Updated Aug. 17, 2005

9. Partnerships with DoD Labs and NASA Centers Totals represent the number of completed TechLink-facilitated partnerships with each DoD lab and NASA center 1996-Present CRREL - 5 NMRC - 4 Hanscom - 1 NUWC - 10 TARDEC- 3 Natick - 12 NAVAIR - 27 AFRL - 3 ARL - 8 TechLink Army MRC - 3 Goddard - 6 NGA - 3 Glenn - 8 Edgewood - 2 NRL - 17 NIDBR - 4 WRAIR - 5 Ft Detrick - 2 AMRMC - 2 DMEA - 1 BMDO - 3 AFRL - 23 TATRC - 1 USMC - 2 Army Aeroflight- dynamics - 2 Hill - 1 WPAFB - 7 OSD - 2 NASIC - 3 Dugway - 3 NRO - 1 ARO - 6 Ames - 9 MDA - 7 Langley - 10 Dryden - 1 Edwards - 1 Space & Missile Defense - 1 ONR - 4 Kirtland - 6 NFESC - 2 Redstone - 3 Army TEC - 1 CCAT - 1 NMRC - 3 Marshall - 7 DARPA - 7 JPL - 9 SPAWAR - 2 AFOSR - 3 WES - 5 White Sands - 1 SERDP - 2 ERDC - 6 Cal State U OTTC - 1 Kennedy - 1 NSWC - 13 NAWC - 3 Stennis - 20 CECOM - 2 JSC - 11 NVL - 3 DoD Lab Location NASA Center Location Nat’l Guard - 1 USMC HQ - 1 NSA - 1 Army HQ - 1 TechLink has facilitated partnerships with all 10 NASA centers and 57 DoD Labs/facilities SOCOM - 1 Navy Norfolk - 1 Updated Aug. 17, 2005

10. DoD-Related Accomplishments • TechLink helped to broker approximately 30% of DoD licensing agreements nationwide in FY 03 and FY 04; same results expected for FY 05 • Direct Return on investment (ROI) to DoD from TechLink technology transfer activities: 4:1

11. Licensing from DoD

12. TechLink’s Role • Screen all DoD patents and lab-referred patent applications (~600 per year) • Technology strength and readiness level • Strength of patent • Commercial viability • Willingness of inventors to work with industry • Select technologies for targeted licensing efforts (~75 per year)

13. TechLink’s Role, cont. • Actively market selected DoD technologies • Help companies evaluate these technologies • Help companies prepare high-quality licensing applications and commercialization plans • Facilitate negotiations between companies and DoD labs to achieve successful licensing agreements

14. Examples of Recent Licenses • Advanced coatings for metals • Energy bars • Hand-held medical information system • Rapid tuberculosis test

15. Unique Value of T2 Intermediaries • Function as objective, third-party brokers: • Don’t have direct financial stake in deals • Motive is to achieve “win-win” agreements between federal labs and companies • Facilitate communications between labs and companies • Help solve problems that arise in negotiation, keeping deals on track

16. Value to Sponsoring Agencies • Engage in proactive, focused, and sustained marketing of labs’ technologies and capabilities • Pursue leads that labs don’t have the time to pursue • Are closer to the marketplace and can employ a technology pull approach • Facilitate communications with companies • Help companies submit high-quality applications • Provide an attractive ROI to agencies

17. Value to Companies • Help companies find technology solutions or new product opportunities • Make government “red tape” invisible • Help companies conduct market research to establish value of licensable technologies • Help companies understand lab expectations • Help companies develop viable license applications and commercialization plans

18. Summary: T2 Intermediaries • Provide valuable technology “matchmaking” services to both labs and companies • Help bring deals to completion by facilitating communications, troubleshooting, and serving as mediator • Achieve “win-win” agreements for both labs and companies