Guide to Technology Transfer

Commercializing Technology Developed in Federal Laboratories

Technology Transfer Explained

Federal laboratories fuel a critical innovation engine for our country, developing revolutionary technologies in virtually all fields. Through technology transfer, businesses and entrepreneurs can expand the reach and impact of these inventions.

Vehicles for Technology Transfer

License Agreements

Enable U.S. companies to make, use and sell new products and services based on federally developed inventions, allowing national investment in R&D to have widespread positive impact.

Cooperative R&D Agreements

Enable businesses to collaborate with world-class federal labs to advance technologies for commercial and government applications.

Other Agreements

Enable the sharing of materials, knowledge and know-how.

Why Technology Transfer

Through technology transfer, TechLink helps businesses of all sizes partner with DOD and VA labs to significantly cut time and resources from their R&D efforts, bringing new products and services to market with speed and efficiency.

About TechLink

agency-wide partnership intermediary focused on technology transfer.

tech transfer agreements facilitated.

Began partnership with Department of Veterans Affairs.

of technology transfer experience.

20+ Years

generated sales from TechLink-facilitated agreements.

$3.6 BN

economic output from agreements.

$9.82 BN

tech transfer agreements facilitated.

Technology Marketplace

Easily find, save, and share technology commercialization opportunities among thousands of federal inventions listed on our website.

Communications

Technology Readiness Levels

TechLink helps businesses assess the evolution of a federally developed technology so important considerations can be made. Every company has unique needs and capabilities. Knowing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) provides insight into the technology’s maturity.

TRL 1:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

Actual system proven through successful mission operations.

Costs and Timing

Federal tech transfer is intended to boost the nation’s economy and spur innovation for businesses of all sizes. Fees to enter into an agreement with a federal lab are accessible and favorable for even the smallest companies.

Most tech transfer agreements are completed within a few months.

Select technologies have predetermined financial terms, helping businesses secure agreements quickly.

Explore the diverse portfolio of DOD and VA technologies in the TechLink Technology Marketplace to identify commercialization opportunities aligned to your business needs.

Work with TechLink’s experts to gain the insight you need to pursue a license agreement with confidence and clarity. We are your no-cost conduit to the laboratory and invention team for licensing information and technical due diligence.

License applications include a commercialization plan with specific details on the products or services you intend to deliver and a first offer of license terms. We help you navigate the license application process to secure agreements that meet your business needs.

Once your application has been approved, you have agreed to terms with the lab and your license agreement is fully executed, you are on your way to putting the technology to work for your business.

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License

Basic principles observed and reported.

TRL 2:

TRL 3:

TRL 4:

TRL 5:

TRL 6:

TRL 7:

TRL 8:

TRL 9:

Photonics

Materials

Software & IT

Medical & Biotechnology

Military Technology

Energy

Electronics

Sensors

Environmental

TechLink established a partnership with U.S. Department of Defense.

Est. 1999

2019

(Click below to reveal)

Other Agreements

Enable the sharing of materials, knowledge and know-how.

Cooperative R&D Agreements

Enable businesses to collaborate with world-class federal labs to advance technologies for commercial and government applications.

License Agreements

Enable U.S. companies to make, use and sell new products and services based on federally developed inventions, allowing national investment in R&D to have widespread positive impact.

trl 1:

trl 2:

trl 3:

trl 4:

trl 5:

trl 6:

trl 7:

trl 8:

trl 9:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

Basic principles observed and reported.

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

Actual system proven through successful mission operations.

Technology Readiness Levels

The Technology Readiness Level provides insight into the development's maturity. Businesses can assess the evolution of a technology to make important considerations based on unique needs, technical capabilities and applications that can enable new opportunities.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 3:

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 4:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

trl 3:

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 5:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

trl 4:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

trl 3:

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 6:

System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

trl 5:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

trl 4:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

trl 3:

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 7:

System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

trl 6:

System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

trl 5:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

trl 4:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

trl 3:

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

trl 8:

Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

trl 7:

System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

trl 6:

System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

trl 5:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

trl 4:

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory experiment.

trl 3:

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

trl 2:

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

trl 1:

Basic principles observed and reported.

License Agreements

Cooperative R&D Agreements

Other Agreements

1st

(Click icons to learn more)

cumulative sales and revenues

technologies available

7,000+

R&D budget to tap into

$95 BN

$3.5 BN

Proof in numbers >

tech·nol·o·gy trans·fer

/tekˈnäləjē tran(t)sˈfər,ˈtran(t)sfər/ (noun) The transfer of technology from the person or organization that owns it to a secondary party, enabling the creation of new products that benefit businesses and society.

Go back >

2000+

federal labs and research centers supported.

100+

TechLink’s guidance comes at no cost to the businesses and labs we help foster into partnerships, helping our nation and economy benefit from commercializing federal inventions.

TechLink is the authorized national technology transfer partnership intermediary for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); we are federally funded to work with companies of all sizes to find commercial potential in technologies developed in DOD and VA labs. Our team facilitates tech transfer partnerships — linking labs with private industry for technology licensing, transfer, and joint R&D across virtually all technology fields — and, in doing so, improves speed and outcomes for companies navigating DOD and VA technology transfer opportunities.