Agreements
Los Alamos is at its best when U.S. Industry brings us their toughest problems, and allows us to find creative and valuable solutions through true partnership.
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements
Los Alamos facilitates partnerships with industry, academia, and research institutions through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). A CRADA allows Los Alamos and its partners to work together to optimize their resources, leverage technical expertise and capabilities, and generate intellectual property emerging from the collaboration. Outcomes from the CRADA are designed to accelerate the CRADA partner’s ability to impact its industry. CRADA partners receive a first right to negotiate a license of the IP created through a CRADA. The US Government retains rights to practice the IP generated.
For more information, please email fci-crada@lanl.gov.
Strategic Partnership Projects with Non-Federal Entities
Many of the Laboratory’s technologies, processes, scientific capabilities, and special technical expertise can be applied to solve problems for large and small businesses, local and state governments, universities, and non-profit organizations. In a Strategic Partnership Project with a non-federal-entity (SPP-NFE), the organization pays the Laboratory to perform a defined scope of work under a fee-for-service contract. The joint generation of IP is not contemplated in a SPP-NFE. In the event the Laboratory does generate inventions, the participant may elect title to the inventions. The US Government retains rights to practice IP generated under a SPP-NFE.
For more information, please email fci-nfe@lanl.gov.
Non-Disclosure Agreements
A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) protects the disclosure of proprietary information provided by one party to another party. This type of agreement is used to cover proprietary discussions between Los Alamos and potential industrial partners on specific technical details.
NDAs allow the parties to exchange technical information and sensitive business information. During initial discussions between Los Alamos and our partners, a NDA isn’t necessary. A NDA is required when the relationship develops and enabling technology discussions begin before patent protection has occurred. In addition, under a NDA no work should be performed or intellectual property generated.
For more information, please email nda@lanl.gov.
User Facilities
Through its technology transfer efforts, Los Alamos National Laboratory can implement user facility agreements that allow its partners and other entities to conduct research at many of its unique facilities.
Our national user facilities are the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), and the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT). They are available to outside users, including scientists and engineers from industry, universities, and government agencies.
To learn more about our user facilities, please click here.
