[LINK] An interesting Patent licensing innovation by US Government

Tom Koltai tomk at unwired.com.au
Fri Apr 8 12:55:28 AEST 2011


My comment at end of:

Quote/ [From:
http://www.poweronline.com/article.mvc/Department-Of-Energy-Launches-Ame
ricas-Next-0001?sectionCode=News&templateCode=SponsorHeader&user=1887338
&source=nl:30433]


Department Of Energy Launches 'America's Next Top Energy Innovator'

March 30, 2011

Cuts Upfront Patent Licensing Costs and Challenges entrepreneurs to
Commercialize Technologies from the National Laboratories 

As part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative, U.S.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the "America's Next Top
Energy Innovator" challenge, which will give start-up companies the
opportunity to license groundbreaking technologies developed by the
National Laboratories for $1,000 and build successful businesses. As
part of this effort, the Department is reducing both the cost and
paperwork requirements for start-up companies to obtain an option
agreement to license some of the 15,000 patents and patent applications
held by our 17 National Laboratories. 

"America's entrepreneurs and innovators are the best in the world," said
Secretary Chu. "Today, we're challenging them to create new businesses
based on discoveries made by our world-leading national laboratories.
Because we've cut the upfront fees and reduced the paperwork, we'll make
it easier for start-up companies to succeed and create the new jobs our
economy needs. Our goal is simple: unleash America's innovation machine
and win the global race for the clean energy jobs of the future." 

Currently, only about 10 percent of federal patents have been licensed
to be commercialized. This initiative aims to double the number of
startup companies coming out of the National Laboratories. 

Specifically, as part of "America's Next Top Energy Innovator:" 

1.	On Monday, May 2, 2011, the Department will kick off the
challenge by posting a streamlined template option agreement online for
entrepreneurs to submit to Laboratories. Entrepreneurs must identify the
technology of interest and submit a business plan to be considered for
the program. Participants will have until December 15 to make their
submission to the Laboratory. 
2.	Any of the 15,000 unlicensed patents and patent applications
held by the National Laboratories will be available for licensing by
startup companies 
3.	From May 2 to December 15, the Department will reduce the total
upfront cost of licensing DOE patents in a specific technology to a
$1,000 upfront fee for portfolios of up to three patents. This
represents a savings of $10,000 to $50,000 on average in upfront fees. 
4.	Other license terms, such as equity and royalties, will be
negotiated on a case by case basis and will typically be due once the
company grows and achieves widescale commercial success. These fees help
support the Department's continuing research activities to develop new
technologies. 
5.	The Department will simplify the licensing process and establish
a standard set of terms for start-ups, who generally lack the resources,
time or expertise to negotiate individual licensing agreements. This
will significantly reduce both the time and cost required to process the
license, allowing faster access to the Department's patents and enabling
the Department to process more licenses in a shorter amount of time. 
6.	Entrepreneurs who complete the process and demonstrate progress
toward executing their business plan and commercializing the technology
will have the opportunity to be showcased at the 3rd Annual ARPA-E
Energy Innovation Summit in 2012, which brings together leading
technology startups and clean energy investors from around the country. 

In addition to these steps, the Department is making it easier for
companies to use the world-leading facilities at our National
Laboratories to conduct collaborative research and development
activities. Previously, companies had to make an upfront payment
covering the first 90 days of research work - a requirement that was
often difficult for start-ups to meet. Today, the Department is lowering
the advance payment requirement to 60 days. This change will benefit all
companies - not just start-ups - but could be valuable for those
participating in the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge. 

Entrepreneurs interested in participating can already view the available
technologies on the Department's Energy Innovation Portal. 

Some of the promising innovations currently available for licensing and
featured on the portal include: 

*	Solar Energy Storage, Transportation and Conversion - available
from DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a system for converting solar
energy to chemical energy and, subsequently, to thermal energy. The
system includes a light-harvesting station, a storage station, and a
thermal energy release station that enables transportation of stored
energy over long distances.
(http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=371) 
*	Grid Friendly Appliance Controller - available from DOE's
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
The Grid Friendly Appliance controller senses grid conditions by
monitoring system frequency and provides automatic demand response in
times of disruption. This simple computer chip can be installed in
household appliances and can turn them off for a few minutes or even a
few seconds to allow the grid to stabilize and prevent blackouts.
(http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=179) 
*	Growth of Lattice Matched III-V Semiconductor Materials -
available from DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
High-performance semiconductor materials have a broad range of potential
applications, including high efficiency solar cells, solid-state
lighting, and high-speed transistors. This portfolio allows for the use
of low-cost, scalable, and reusable substrates to dramatically reduce
production costs for these materials.
(http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=219) 
*	New Catalyst Can Reduce Nitrogen Oxide Emissions From Diesel
Engines by 80-85% - available from DOE's Argonne National Laboratory
The diesel DeNOx catalyst removes 80-85% of nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions from diesel fuel combustion by converting NOx to nitrogen.
With its lower expected manufacturing and installation costs, ease of
use, and significant market potential, the Argonne catalyst is
positioned to deliver the environmental-and economical-benefits needed
to reduce our global industrial "footprint."
(http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=97) 

Read some recent examples
(http://www.energy.gov/news/documents/Americas_Next_Top_Energy_Innovator
_Fact_Sheet.pdf) of established companies and start-ups that have
commercialized Department of Energy technologies. 

"Startup America" is an important element of the Administration's
national innovation strategy. For more information, visit
http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/ 

SOURCE: U.S. Department Of Energy
/Quote

Australia with it's innovation patents has always heretofore been ahead
of the game, this would appear to be a successful leapfrog by US policy
makers.

/body




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