Technology Transfer

Technology transfer is the process by which taxpayer‑funded research at federal labs, universities, and other government‑supported institutions is moved into the private sector so companies can develop, scale, and commercialize inventions for public use.

How technology transfer works

Federal scientists and private firms partner through formal agreements—such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), licenses, and startup spin‑outs—to share knowledge, facilities, and intellectual property so promising lab technologies become marketable products and services.

Legal framework and practical rights

A series of federal laws created the structures that make transfer possible and predictable; understanding those rules is essential for researchers and businesses, particularly around ownership and government rights in inventions (see When the Government Can Take Your Federally Funded Invention: A Guide to Bayh‑Dole Act Rights).

Why it matters

Technology transfer helps translate public R&D into jobs, new products, and stronger industries; for example, public‑private collaborations around advanced manufacturing have been used to revive strategic sectors like shipbuilding (How a South Korean Shipbuilder Plans to Revive American Shipbuilding).