Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer

UAlbany researchers’ innovations (intellectual property or IP) are as diverse as their research — ranging from tangible inventions, software and databases to business methods, diagnostic criteria and teaching tools. 

Log into the SUNY RF Inventor Portal  |  Request a SUNY RF Inventor Portal account

How We Help UAlbany Researchers 

We can help faculty, staff and students:

• Identify novel innovations and assess the potential user community and markets for those inventions
• Protect intellectual property through patent, trademark and/or copyright, as appropriate
• Evaluate pathways and develop strategies for development and commercialization
• Find partners and negotiate agreements that provide value to all partners while preserving options and intellectual property rights for UAlbany participants 

Here are a few reasons why you’d want to contact our office: 

• If you want to enrich your research by interacting with companies, we will share our experience, brainstorm options and help you plan next steps.
• If a company wants to fund your research, we will work with the Sponsored Programs Administration to negotiate a sponsorship agreement that provides mutual value and fosters a long-term relationship.
• If a company or entrepreneur wants to use your idea or invention in a commercial enterprise, we will explore options, draft a licensing agreement and negotiate favorable terms that allow you to financially benefit through royalty payments that can support further research.
• If you want to start a company, we’ll connect you with the expertise and resources you need to become a successful entrepreneur.
• If you want to receive, or share, specialized research material from, or with, another organization, we will draft, negotiate and execute a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). You may choose either format linked below, based on your role and circumstances:
  • MTA Request for Provider Scientist (webform version): This form is for a UAlbany faculty member or student providing biological research materials to another institution, company and/or individual, solely for non-commercial research purposes. It contains prefilled name of Director of the Office of Technology Transfer as a Provider Organization Authorized Official.
  • MTA Request for Recipient Scientist (webform version): This form is for a UAlbany faculty member or student receiving biological research materials from another institution, company and/or individual, solely for non-commercial research purposes. It contains prefilled name of Director of Office of Technology Transfer as a Recipient Organization Authorized Official.
  • Notes:
    • "Authorized Official" is the name of institutional official who can make legal commitments on behalf of the institution or company.
    • When completing the webform version of the agreement, please fill out the Original Material / Research purpose (1-2 sentences) – (e.g., Name of unique cell line).
    • If the other Party to the agreement will not accept our template as written, please complete the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) for Provider Scientist Word Template or Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) for Recipient Scientist Word Template and send it to [email protected].
• If you plan to exchange proprietary or confidential information with someone not affiliated with UAlbany, a Mutual Confidential Disclosure Agreement (MCDA) is required. You have two options based on your situation:
  • MCDA Request Form (recommended for most cases): Use this online form to initiate the MCDA process. After you submit your contact information, you’ll receive an email with a link to the University’s standard MCDA template to review and sign electronically. Note: This option uses the University’s standard agreement and does not allow changes to the terms. Please confirm in advance with your external partner what should be entered in the “Description of proprietary data/information/materials” section before submission.
  • MCDA Word Template: If the other Party to the agreement will not accept our template as written, please use the Word file and send it to [email protected].

How We Help Sponsors & Industry Partners

We can help sponsors and industry stakeholders:

• Find an appropriate template for an IP Agreement, including an Option, License, Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) or Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
• Identify faculty collaborators on campus who match your interests
• Determine how to best partner with UAlbany for research, development and commercialization

Contact our office.