In many cases, it can be applied in different industrial sectors and markets, offering an opportunity for non-competitors to collaborate and obtain exclusive use of a federal technology for their specific markets. When granting an exclusive license or partially exclusive license, USDA is required to issue a notice in the Federal Register . These include memoranda of understanding and other cooperative arrangements. There are many benefits. Non-federal contributions include funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property or other resources.
Special consideration is given to small businesses and consortia involving small businesses.
Forming Consortia Federal laboratories and U.S. industry work together within consortia. Some special centers draw collectively upon the expertise of laboratories, universities and industry to focus on broad technologies that can be pursued cooperatively until specific market opportunities arise. Industrial participants may protect themselves from possible treble damages imposed under anti-trust laws by filing with the Department of Justice under The National Cooperative Research Act of 1984. Vertical consortia are becoming more common with a company and its vendor collaborating with a federal laboratory in order to incorporate new technology in the vendor's product. This information was taken from the Federal Laboratory Consortium's Mechanisms for Accessing Federal Resources .