IP Solutions for Research Institutes & National Labs
Specialized intellectual property management for government-funded research institutions, national laboratories, and nonprofit research organizations.
Comprehensive Institute IP Services
Tailored solutions for the unique IP challenges faced by research institutions.
Grant-Funded IP
Navigate complex IP requirements across government funding agencies.
- NIH/NSF compliance
- DOE/DOD requirements
- Bayh-Dole management
- iEdison reporting
- March-in rights
Collaborative Research
Structure IP for multi-institutional and public-private partnerships.
- Consortium agreements
- Joint ownership terms
- Publication protocols
- Data sharing IP
- Background/foreground IP
Spin-off Formation
Create successful spin-off companies from institute research.
- Spin-off IP strategy
- License structuring
- Equity arrangements
- Founder agreements
- Investment preparation
International Research
Manage IP across international research collaborations.
- EU Framework compliance
- Export controls
- International filing
- Cross-border licensing
- Foreign partner IP
Data & Software IP
Protect research software, databases, and computational tools.
- Software patents
- Open source strategy
- Database rights
- Algorithm protection
- License selection
Materials & Biologics
Manage IP for research materials, cell lines, and biologics.
- Material transfer agreements
- Cell line IP
- Biological deposits
- Reach-through rights
- Tangible property
Funding Agency Compliance
Expert navigation of complex government IP requirements.
Federal Agency Requirements
Meet IP obligations across major government funding agencies.
- NIH Invention Reporting (iEdison)
- NSF Award Conditions
- DOE Work-for-Others
- DOD SBIR/STTR IP
- NASA Space Act Agreements
Bayh-Dole Compliance
Full lifecycle management under the Bayh-Dole Act.
- Invention disclosure timelines
- Election of title procedures
- Government use rights
- US manufacturing preferences
- Small business considerations
International Compliance
Navigate international funding IP requirements.
- EU Horizon Europe IP
- Bilateral agreement terms
- Export control (ITAR/EAR)
- Foreign filing licenses
- Security classification
Institutional Policies
Align internal policies with funding requirements.
- IP policy development
- Conflict of interest management
- Revenue sharing models
- Researcher agreements
- Audit preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about research institute IP management.
Government-funded research typically allows the institution to retain IP ownership under Bayh-Dole, subject to government use rights. The government retains a non-exclusive, royalty-free license for government purposes, plus potential march-in rights if inventions aren't being commercialized.
Industry sponsorship terms are negotiated and may give sponsors exclusive licenses, options, or even ownership depending on the agreement. We help structure terms that balance sponsor interests with institutional research missions.
Key iEdison deadlines include: initial invention disclosure within 2 months of inventor disclosure to the institution, election of title within 2 years (or 60 days before statutory bar), and filing of patent applications within 1 year of election (or before statutory bar).
We maintain tracking systems and send reminders to ensure your institution never misses critical deadlines.
Multi-institutional collaborations require clear agreements on background IP, foreground IP ownership, joint ownership rules, publication rights, and commercialization responsibilities before research begins. The lead institution typically manages IP for funding agency purposes.
We draft inter-institutional agreements that address these issues while maintaining flexibility for future commercialization.
Yes, open source can be an effective strategy for research software, increasing adoption and citations while meeting funder requirements for open science. However, license selection matters—some licenses (like GPL) create obligations that may conflict with commercialization goals.
We help select appropriate licenses and structure dual-licensing strategies when both open distribution and commercial licensing are desired.
A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is a mechanism for collaboration between federal laboratories and private sector partners. Under CRADAs, the collaborating partner can negotiate rights to any subject inventions made under the agreement.
CRADA IP terms are more flexible than standard government contracting and can include exclusive licensing rights, which makes them attractive for industry partnerships.
IP audits examine compliance with Bayh-Dole, accuracy of iEdison reporting, maintenance of required records, and adherence to funding terms. Preparation involves organizing invention disclosures, patent files, license agreements, and royalty distributions.
We provide audit-ready documentation systems and can assist with audit preparation and response to findings.
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