License INL Technology
INL licenses patents, software and other intellectual property to organizations interested in further development and commercial use
Understanding Technology Licensing
A Technology Licensing Agreement gives an external organization the right to use, make or sell specific intellectual property, such as patents or copyrights, developed at a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory in exchange for royalties or other forms of compensation.
Intellectual property developed by DOE national laboratories is typically held by the laboratory and licensed through the technology transfer organization at the laboratory where the technology was developed.
Because intellectual property generated at DOE laboratories is subject to a unique set of laws, these licensing agreements may contain provisions that are not typically present in agreements between private entities, including:
- March-in rights
- Government-use rights
- Indemnification of the federal government
Licensing Resources
INL technologies, software and data are available through two online resources:
Search patents and other INL technologies available for licensing.
Access INL-developed software and data available under open-source and proprietary licenses.
How Licensing Works
Technology Deployment offers different pathways depending on your organization’s goals, capabilities and stage of development.
Find a Technology
Search INL technologies available for licensing through the Lab Partnering Service.
Connect with INL
Contact a commercialization manager to discuss the technology, your intended use and your plans for bringing it to market.
Establish the License
Work with INL to determine the appropriate license scope, terms and development milestones for the technology and its intended use.
What to Expect in a Commercial License
Commercial licenses may include financial terms and development milestones appropriate to the technology and market.
Issue fee
A nonrefundable fee due when the agreement is executed.
Running royalty
A royalty most commonly based on a percentage of sales.
Minimum annual royalty
A minimum royalty payment specified in the agreement.
Development milestones
May include commitments for technology development, such as alpha and beta products, and introduction of a commercial product to the marketplace.
Other financial terms
May include milestone payments and patent cost reimbursements appropriate to the technology and market.
License scope
Licenses may be exclusive for a particular field of use or geographic region, or nonexclusive.
Not Ready to License?
Most technologies available for licensing require additional development before they are commercially viable.
An Option Agreement can protect your organization’s right to license a technology at a future time. Option Agreements are generally available for one year. Extensions may be possible when sufficient development milestones have been met.
Talk With a Commercialization Manager
Our commercialization managers can answer questions about available technologies, licensing terms and the licensing process.
Not Sure Who to Contact?
For general technology licensing questions or help identifying the appropriate commercialization manager, contact the Technology Deployment team.