FLC Federal Technology Transfer Mechanisms

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EPA FTTA program partners benefit from cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) by tapping into EPA's resources and knowledge base to conduct joint research and technology commercialization. Other benefits include:
- Access to EPA laboratory facilities. By entering into CRADAs, non-federal partners can conduct research in EPA's scientific facilities;
- Collaboration with EPA scientists and engineers to work on cutting-edge research projects;
- Opportunities for licensing patented technologies and bringing new technologies to the marketplace.

CRADAs are negotiated agreements between specific laboratories and non-federal partners that outline the terms and conditions under which work will be performed. CRADAs set out the project scope, resources to be provided by each party, and will often contain provisions regarding licensing, commercialization, and patent development.

While laboratories cannot transfer funds to the cooperating partner under a CRADA, they can exchange personnel, equipment, or services. CRADAs can be established between interested parties to transfer resources from non-government organizations to the federal government so that both parties can share jointly in research and development patents.