Industry-Lab Research Opportunities offer access to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s highly specialized facilities, services and expertise.
- Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) enable collaborative research by LBNL and one or more partners for shared benefit. Partners can retain rights to their own inventions made under a CRADA and have the first right to license Lab intellectual property generated through the CRADA. All CRADAs must have in-kind support from the Partner, even when the project is being paid for solely with Partner funds. In-kind refers to non-cash contribution of labor, property, or services provided by a Participant in support of the CRADA effort. In-kind contributions include personnel, personal property (equipment and supplies) and capital equipment.
- Strategic Partnership Project (SPP) agreements enable LBNL personnel to perform a defined scope of work funded by and on behalf of a non-federal partner using LBNL’s unique facilities, equipment, and personnel. Non-federal Work for Others (WFO) is the former name for SPP agreements.
- User Agreements facilitate access to LBNL’s one-of-a-kind research facilities including the DOE national user facilities, e.g., Advanced Light Source, Joint Genome Institute, Molecular Foundry, NERSC – the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and ESNet – Energy Services Network.
Agreement Type Comparison Chart
DOE’s Guide to Partnering with DOE National Laboratories provides details regarding intellectual property rights, U.S. manufacturing preferences, publication restrictions, and other considerations.
CRADAs, SPPs, and User Agreements are handled by the Lab’s Strategic Partnerships Office (SPO).
Other opportunities for industry partners include
Gifts made for institutional and development funding. For donor instructions and required forms, go to the Intellectual Property Office’s Gifts page or contact gifts@lbl.gov with questions.
Technology License and Option Agreements that grant rights to use Berkeley Lab intellectual property for commercial use and non-commercial use. For details regarding licensing, go to IPO’s Licensing Information Page or contact ipo@lbl.gov
Funding opportunities for industry partners such as DOE’s Small Business Voucher program and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are announced throughout the year.
