The Department of Commerce’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) today announced a collaboration via a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote and advance innovation through technology transfer and commercialization opportunities.
Under the agreement, the USPTO and STMD will issue a joint study focusing on intellectual property (IP) management alongside technology transfer best practices and lessons learned. Their research will also identify barriers to participating in tech transfer and how federal agencies and academic institutions can overcome them.
“The USPTO is committed to building a more inclusive innovation ecosystem through expanded technology transfer and commercialization opportunities for all,” said Derrick Brent, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO. “I’m excited to continue and strengthen these efforts with our colleagues at NASA as we work together to drive more innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for the benefit of all Americans.”
Innovation is a cornerstone of our country’s strong, vibrant economy, with IP forming a critical bridge for moving innovation to the marketplace. In addition to its commitment to expanding our IP economy through critical inclusive innovation efforts, USPTO has built supporting technology transfer into its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan as part of its goal to “bring innovation to impact for the public good.”
“NASA’s Technology Transfer program and the USPTO had candid conversations with dozens of tech transfer experts about what we could do better,” said Dan Lockney, executive for NASA’s Technology Transfer program. “I can’t wait to share what we’ve learned with the entire tech transfer community nationwide. We look forward to addressing common challenges, and this paper will offer some assurance that we are on a solid, strong path to transferring technologies effectively.”
NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery. Written into the founding legislation that created NASA in 1958 is a directive from Congress to ensure that the technologies created for space exploration and aeronautics benefit the whole of humanity. This is done through the process of technology transfer, which brings together NASA’s most capable inventors with America’s brightest commercial and entrepreneurial leaders in partnerships that transfer NASA’s groundbreaking technologies to the public, providing solutions for challenges in virtually every industry.
The collaboration combines both agencies’ strengths: the USPTO brings IP knowledge and expertise, while STMD is the recognized leader in innovative Federal technology transfer. Their work together will help equip the technology transfer community with the insight and best practices they need to bring their innovations to impact for the public good.
The five-year MOU will be evaluated annually to determine if modifications or expansions are needed, as well as plan future coordination.