Technology Transfer Programs and CRADAs

"CRADA" stands for Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.
CRADAsare agreements authorized under U.S.C. § 3710a, which encourages joint research and development efforts between the U.S. government and industry.
Since 1980, as part of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act, and later in the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, Congress has encouraged government agencies and laboratories to work cooperatively with U.S. industry partners in CRADAs, to stimulate commercialization and use of technologies invented or studied in government laboratories.

CRADAs may be initiated either by NVFEL or by a private party for technology areas of interest that are within the mission and objectives of NVFEL.
For environmentally-friendly technologies developed by NVFEL that have potential commercial value, NVFEL joins with industry partners to advance the technology and share the costs of the technology development.
In return, the industry partner gains valuable laboratory insight and know-how about the technolgy and incentives to put the beneficial technologies into commercial use.
Everyone wins in the CRADA process:
- Industry wins with accelerated development of new technologies with commercial value, giving CRADA partners a competitive edge in a highly competitive global market.
- Consumers win with available environmentally-friendly products and services.
- The environment and the public win, with cleaner air for us to breath.

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