Types of Technology Transfer Agreements

The technology transfer process usually requires various written agreements designed to grants rights, protect USU’s interests, and to memorialize the roles of all participating parties. Technology Transfer Services has the responsibility and authority to draft and execute various intellectual property agreements. The following types of agreements are among the most common types used in technology transfer:

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) preserves the confidential information of the parties. At USU, NDAs are often executed prior to USU having substantive discussions and meetings with another party where non-public, patentable, or otherwise confidential information will be discussed.

Employee/Student Participation and Non-Disclosure Agreement

An employee/student participation and non-disclosure agreement protects the confidential information of parties working with USU laboratories and research teams. This agreement type is one of the ways that USU ensures that project participants comply with confidentiality commitments made by USU in an NDA.

Intellectual Property License

An intellectual property license is an arrangement between the owner of intellectual property (patents, copyrighted materials, trademarks, biological materials, etc.) and a party that wishes to use, commercialize or otherwise gain access to the intellectual property. Intellectual property licenses often include terms relating to royalties, maintenance fees, performance milestones, termination and expiration conditions, and the allocation of associated risk.

Inter-Institutional Agreement

An inter-institutional agreement (IIA) sets the conditions and cost sharing of filing, prosecuting, and commercializing a patent application when multiple institutions have contributing inventors. IIAs are most often employed when USU and another institution jointly develop and, as a result, jointly own intellectual property.

Joint Research Agreement

A joint research agreement (JRA) outlines the collaborative research and commercialization plans of two or more parties. JRAs are often executed when USU and another institution are awarded a research grant that is likely to result in commercialized intellectual property.

Material Transfer Agreement

A material transfer agreement (MTA) preserves the rights of a party transferring materials to another party. MTAs are generally used at USU when research materials are being transferred from USU to another research or commercial institution or vice versa.

For more information about these types of agreements or other agreements relating to intellectual property, contact TTS at TechTransfer@usu.edu.