T
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
he 2018 Department of Energy report,
“A Remarkable Return on Investment in
Fundamental Research,” presents break-
throughs in clean energy, high performance
computing and critical materials stemming
from DOE’s basic science research. Each breakthrough
started with a single, novel discovery. While only select new
ideas become commercial products, technology transfer
offices such as LBNL’s Intellectual Property Office work
to protect every discovery that could benefit society and
the U. S. economy.
Dr. Elsie Quaite-Randall
Chief Technology Transfer Officer
IPO’s new and enhanced systems such as the
Innovation Portal, facilitate IP protection lab-wide.
Multi-lab endeavors such as the
Lab-Bridge IP Bundling Project and the
Technology Transfer Working Group,
expand IPO’s reach and knowledge base.
Scientific publications and technology licenses are just two
examples of technology transfer. IP is shared and industry
partnerships are built more typically through non-disclosure
agreements (NDAs), material transfer agreements (MTAs),
research consortia, and open source software. Our office
manages all these tech transfer avenues along with IP
Management Plans and Interinstitutional Agreements
that make multi-party research projects possible.
IPO’s work to handle the day-to-day operations of protecting
and transferring LBNL’s intellectual property as well as its
collaborative projects are highlighted in this 2018 Annual
Report. I welcome questions and comments to [email protected].
DOE’s National Laboratories play a critical role in addressing the
nation’s key challenges in energy, security and competitiveness.
Because of its five national user facilities and its history of
research across disciplines and excellence in team science,
Berkeley Lab is continuously developing new technologies that
have the potential to make significant impacts on the world.
For Berkeley Lab to deliver its innovative scientific solutions to
the nation, strong partnerships with industry are essential. We work
with these industry partners to bring Lab inventions, many coming
from basic research programs, to the market. The Intellectual Property
Office’s technology transfer expertise and relationship-building
support these essential industry engagements, making it possible
for the nation to get the full benefits from our research.
Dr. Michael Witherell
Director
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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