Technology Assessment and InformationSharing If you are interested in commercializing a University of Minnesota technology, you will work with a Technology Marketing Manager to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement that maximizes chances for commercial success. Paths to successful commercialization vary, and the following is a general outline for technology licensing:
Confidentiality Agreements (CDAs) CDAs are used when confidential material is shared between the two parties, such as unpublished patent applications and unpublished scientific data. Non-confidential information can also be shared without an agreement, including published patents, research articles, etc.
Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) MTAs are used when University materials are transferred to a company for further evaluation or development. The Agreement also includes provisions for confidentiality between the parties.
Obtaining Rights to Commercialize a UMN Technology When an industry partner seeks to commercialize a UMN technology, a number of routes may be taken based on the developmental stage of the technology. You can work with OTC staff to determine the appropriate agreement. Standard agreements include:
License Agreements provide the company certain rights to University Intellectual Property, in return for commercialization efforts and payments to the University. Typical license agreements involve the following:
• License fees
• Patent cost reimbursement
• Developmental milestones/milestone payments
• Royalties on sales
• Minimum annual royalties
• License agreements can be exclusive, non-exclusive,
and cover specific fields-of-use.
Option Agreement If a company intends to further develop or assess a technology, an Option Agreement may be appropriate. Option Agreements provide a specific amount of time to evaluate an invention before licensing. Generally a one-time fee is charged, and other fees, such as patent costs may also be included.
Sponsored Research Agreement Often companies want work with UMN researchers to continue development of a particular technology. This type of developmental work can be accomplished under a Sponsored Research Contract. Such contracts are negotiated with Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and typically provide companies a first option to an exclusive license to any inventions arising from the contracted work.
For further information, please contact the Licensing Center.
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