AFRL announce the Express Technology Licensing effort
NewsMay 25, 2018
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio. U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) officials unveiled the Express Technology Licensing, an effort to move AFRL laboratory technologies into the commercial sector. Through Express Licensing, innovators and entrepreneurs can visit a website and discover AFRL-developed technologies that are available for license, learn more about them, and quickly and easily determine if a licensing opportunity fits their capabilities.
The head of the AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Technology Transfer office, Sunita Chavan describes the effort as a "one-stop shop," where those interested can visit the site looking for AFRL technologies. “Through Express Tech Licensing, we make it easy not only to find out what technologies are available, but also to learn about pre-negotiated terms and pricing. There is total transparency. If a business is interested in entering into a licensing agreement, they can fill out an easy application,” Chavan says.
She explains that once an application is reviewed and approved, the business can quickly enter into an agreement, which can give it non-exclusive, partially-exclusive, or exclusive rights to the technology. Since the cost and terms for each licensing tier are already in place, the agreement can be completed in a fraction of the time a traditional arrangement would require.
“The barrier to entry is low,” Chavan says of the pre-negotiated cost structure. “We recognize that small business, especially startups, don’t have deep pockets. They have the passion and the energy, but not always the money. Our goal is not to make money. We want to make it easier.”
There are 36 AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate-developed technologies that are available for Express Licensing. Chavan chooses which technologies to offer based on their current-use status within AFRL. For example, if a promising technology has been developed, but has not been fully exploited and matured for a period of time, she identifies it as a potential candidate for this type of licensing.
For more information on available AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate technologies available for licensing, visit https://techlinkcenter.org/labs/air-force-research-laboratory-materials-and-manufacturing-directorate/ and click on the “Express License” tab.
