University at
Albany
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Division for Research
Questions & Answers
What is Technology Transfer?
Universities, including the University at Albany, have an obligation to disseminate the knowledge that is created by faculty at the university. Much of this new knowledge is produced as a result of the basic research endeavors of a comprehensive university. The majority of this research is funded by the federal government. In 1980 the Bayh-Dole Act required that universities receiving federal funding for research create technology transfer programs.
Technology transfer is the movement of the results of this research in the form of inventions, discoveries, processes, techniques, devices and substances, both physical and biological, from the university to private companies so that products can be developed and commercialized based upon this new knowledge. These research efforts are one part of the threefold mission of research, teaching and public service that provides direction for the University at Albany.
The University at Albany is a major source of new technology. Over $90 million in research funding at the University generates new technology disclosures each year. The Campus Technology Transfer Office at the University at Albany was created in January of 1997. (Prior to 1997 technology transfer was coordinated centrally for SUNY in Albany, New York). All technology transfer matters are managed by this office on behalf of the University through a non-profit corporation, The Research Foundation of State University of New York.
How does Albany Connect with Industry?
The University at Albany makes a major effort to reach out to private industry in the Capital District, within the State of New York and throughout the United States. Collaborative research efforts, strategic alliances, evaluative testing, training and consultation, as well as technology transfer provide the mechanisms used to implement this partnership with industry.
Who Owns Technology Developed at the University?
The Patent Policy of the State University of New York is part of the New York State Education Law. It states that the University or the Research Foundation retains ownership of all inventions and software that are made using University or Research Foundation owned or controlled facilities. This applies to faculty, staff, students and scientific visitors who utilize the facilities of the University.
How does Technology get Transferred?
There are many mechanisms that can be used to transfer technology. Some are generic, such as publication of scientific results or the training of students and their eventual employment in industry. Specific mechanisms employed for the transfer of technology include:
License Agreements
The University negotiates license agreements which can be:
R & D Agreements
R & D agreements are created which can:
Materials Agreement
Materials agreements are offered which:
Confidentiality Agreements
Confidentiality agreements are routinely executed that:
What are the Policies of the University?
The University is flexible and pragmatic in its approach to the different types of agreements that it executes with industry. While the University cannot give up title to inventions that occur solely using its facilities, there are instances of jointly owned inventions where both University and Company facilities have been used. The University must also be free to publish the results of its research, but a delay can be allowed to protect any patentable technology. In addition, the University routinely accepts proprietary information from private industry as part of a research program and agrees not to disseminate such information that is clearly marked as proprietary.
What Types of Technology are Available?
The University at Albany is a comprehensive public university with the full range of academic programs in the physical and biological sciences, as well as, an Atmospheric Sciences Research Center and a Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology. The research in these areas produces:
How is the Technology Transfer Office Contacted?
The technology transfer office provides descriptions of technology available for licensing from the University at Albany. In addition, it welcomes requests from companies describing the technologies they are seeking so that the technology transfer office may respond in a useful and productive manner.
| Theresa A. Walker,
PhD, MBA Assistant Vice President for Research and Director, Technology Development twalker@uamail.albany.edu
|