A patent granted to a federal agency may be licensed to a company for commercialization. Personnel Exchanges Personnel exchanges allow federal laboratory staff to work in government, education, or industry facilities. They also allow people in government, education, or industry to work at a federal laboratory. Personnel exchanges enhance technical capabilities and support research. Technical Assistance A company can request technical assistance from a federal laboratory to solve a technical problem.
Technical assistance is accomplished in an informal and timely manner.
SBIR contract awards stimulate technology research by small businesses while providing the government with cost-effective technical and scientific solutions to challenging problems. SBIR also encourages small businesses to market SBIR technology in the private sector. STTR seeks innovative concepts for solving defense-related scientific and engineering problems, especially those concepts that have a high potential for commercialization in the private sector. In addition to technical expertise and technologies, federal agencies designate scientific equipment and facilities for use by industry and universities. Use may be for proprietary or non-proprietary research.