The NSA Technology Transfer Program (TTP) transfers NSA-developed technology to industry, academia, and other research organizations, benefitting the economy and the Agency mission. The program has an extensive portfolio of patented technologies across multiple technology areas.
What does tech transfer look like at NSA?
Technology transfer is the formal process of sharing knowledge, facilities, or capabilities developed at federal laboratories to meet public and private partner needs.
Researchers and scientists develop revolutionary innovations every day in support of the NSA mission. These same technologies can be patented and released to the public to solve problems globally.
Through Patent License Agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, Open Source Software Releases, Education Partnership Agreements, and Technology Transfer Sharing Agreements, NSA’s technical advances contribute to the creation and improvement of products both for government and the commercial marketplace.
Licensing an NSA patent provides the greatest commercial benefit to all parties involved: NSA researchers get to see their innovations put to use in the commercial market, and businesses are able to use mission-developed innovation to boost their own technologies.
Types of Technology Transfer
Patent License Agreements (PLA)
Title 35 United States Code (USC), sections 207-209, gives NSA the authority to grant licenses on its domestic and foreign patents and patent applications. This authority is implemented through PLAs. The goal of these licenses is to provide the private sector with the opportunity to commercially develop federally funded research to promote economic growth and global competitiveness. Read our 8 Step to Licensing an NSA Patent.
Open Source Software Releases (OSS)
Releasing NSA-developed software via NSA Open Source is a collaborative model for technology transfer, inviting cooperative development of technology and encouraging broad use and adoption. The public can benefit by adopting the code, enhancing it, adapting it, or taking it into the commercial marketplace. The government can gain from the open source community's shared enhancements and advances.
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA)
The CRADA is one of the most valuable technology transfer mechanisms for obtaining long-term value. Title 15 USC, section 3710, gives NSA the authority to enter into CRADAs to foster collaborative relationships with industry, local and state governments, and academia to obtain valuable technology transfer goals and benefits.
Education Partnership Agreements (EPA)
The purpose of an Education Partnership Agreement is to formalize the relationship between a federal lab and an educational institution. Title 10 USC, section 2194, allows NSA to share its unique experience by providing training to personnel in the science and technology fields at all education levels using EPAs.
Technology Transfer Sharing Agreements (TTSA)
TTSAs protect NSA's right to seek commercialization of technologies it owns and to effectively track the transfer of these technologies.
If you are interested in engaging in any of our sharing agreements, please contact us.