U.S. Department of Agriculture Annual Reporting on Agency Technology Transfer FY 2004

摘要

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has been delegated authority by the Secretary of Agriculture to administer the patent and license programs for USDA. The ARS Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) is assigned the responsibility for protecting intellectual property, developing strategic partnerships with outside institutions, and performing other appropriate functions that enhance the effective transfer of ARS technologies to users. To accomplish this, OTT is organized around four broad function areas. The Administrative/Headquarters Section conducts the day-to-day operations, coordinates the development of Technology Transfer (TT) policy, and signs licenses and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). The patent advisors (PAs) and the Patent Section assist scientists in protecting intellectual property (IP), coordinate Invention Reports (IRs), prepare and prosecute patent applications, and oversee any patent applications prepared by contract law firms. The Licensing Section conducts targeted marketing for selected ARS technologies and negotiates licenses for ARS Intellectual Property. The Marketing Section coordinates the targeted marketing and distributes information on ARS technologies that are available for licensing or cooperative partnerships, provides answers to stakeholder questions on TT in ARS, and ensures that information about the commercial successes of ARS research is made available to the public. These objectives are accomplished via written information, reports to stakeholders, trade shows, the ARS Information Staff (IS), the National Agricultural Library, and electronic media. Technology Transfer Coordinators (TTCs) are located in the field and have overall responsibility to assist in any way possible to facilitate the development and effective transfer of USDA technologies. They serve as liaison with scientists, line and program managers in ARS, university partners, users, and the private sector, they also negotiate CRADAs, other TT agreements and some licenses.