Strategic Planning in USDA’s Office of Technology Transfer … Meeting Research Mission, Agency Policies, & Commercialization Opportunities R. J. Brenner, Ph.D.

Assistant Administrator, ARS, for Technology Transfer U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Presentation Overview

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Structure & function of ARS & OTT

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Internal customer service to ARS Serving other federal departments through biobased products for economic security

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New directions in strategic public / private partnerships U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Agricultural Research Service

Principal intramural research arm of USDA

Others with research: Forest Service, APHIS, FSIS, ERS 2150 PFT scientists 2800+ projects 100+ location U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Office of Technology Transfer

Centralized in policy and approvals, licensing, marketing; decentralized in negotiation and implementation of CRADAs Patenting Marketing Licensing

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8 registered patent agents

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Located in Beltsville, MD; Peoria, IL; Albany, CA

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Targeted marketing Web subscribe

Tech Alerts

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Partnering opportunities

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4 senior licensing specialists HQ based Tech Transfer Coordinators

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7 specialists with life science / ag background

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Distributed across geographic Areas of ARS U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Service to ARS • • • • • •

Annual or bi-annual training at research locations on technology transfer of all scientists, Research Leaders by TTC, Licensing, Patent Advisor, Marketing Strategic planning with scientists for research partnership agreements; negotiations, drafting, & execution of CRADAs, MTAs, NDA Convene ca. 20 patent review committees annually to review invention disclosures, maintenance fees, foreign filings Patentability estimates, preparation, filing, and prosecution of patent applications Negotiate, execute, & monitor license agreements Consultation and litigation review with USDA licensees who find others infringing USDA licensed patents U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Service to ARS Scientists, Customers, Stakeholders …

Strategic Additions to OTT Policies & Procedures

Challenges to manage a changing world of intellectual property, and the partnerships that produce it

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Addition of 2 new categories of inventions

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“Biological Materials”

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Allows licensing of “protectable” technologies

(Technology Transfer & Commercialization Act of 2000)

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“Plant Materials”

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SOP & tracking of decision process in ARS for public releases v. IP protection & licensing

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Allows ARS to manage divergent policies of ARS and universities U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Service to ARS Scientists …

Strategic Planning: Foreign CRADAs, USTR, Export Control

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Increased scrutiny to comply with Sec. 4, E.O. 12591

(“Facilitating Access to Science and Technology”)

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“Consult with USTR” on foreign CRADAs

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Instituted process to comply that does NOT hinder CRADA development and approval process Compliance with “Export Control”, and “Deemed Export Control” regulations from Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security (Export Administration Regulations)

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Develop “Decision Flow Chart” for export control with Commerce to protect ARS scientists and USDA from adverse actions

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Working with Deemed Export Control (DoC, BIS) to develop comparable decision flow chart U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Strategic Planning: A priori T2 Considerations In Research Planning

Relevance Input Assessment Planning Impact Quality ARS National Program Cycle

Partner workshops …

Strategic Planning: Increasing Likelihood of Successful T2

“The goal of this workshop is to prepare our scientists to achieve effective technology transfers in animal health research [NP 103] in the next national program cycle.” U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Serving Other Agencies Through Development of Biobased Technology

U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Opportunities for New Partnerships

U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Outreach & Marketing Strategies

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Tradeshows & meetings

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Collateral materials

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Targeted marketing

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“Partnering Opportunities”

U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Outreach & Marketing Strategies

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Economic development agencies

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FLC involvement

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National workshops U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Get the Latest!

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Animal Production Technologies

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Aquaculture

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Cattle Poultry Swine Other Animals

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Crop Production Technologies Food, Safety and Nutrition Biobased Technologies Natural Resources Technologies Biotechnology Technologies U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Partner workshops …

New Directions in Strategic Public / Private Partnerships

Provide training and access to resource options to partners of USDA (e.g., CRADA, Licensees)

• • • SBIR NASVF Partnership intermediaries • • Small Business Development Centers Business school internships • • MEP Local Economic Development entities • University Research Parks

U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Strategic Planning: Pursuit of New Authorities to Promote Commercialization

Should federal agencies pool authorities to create Federal Technology Accelerators?

• • • Enhanced Use Lease Authority Access to pilot plants Private sector-assisted conversion of underutilized federal research facilities • Integrate with economic development incubators (community or university) • Create tax incentives for developing technologies by utilizing domestic renewable resources / energy credits / carbon credits?

U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e

Office of Technology Transfer 5601 Sunnyside Ave Beltsville, MD 20705 (301) 504-6905 HTTP://OTT.ARS.USDA.GOV

Photo: Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD (Joann Perkins) Richard J. Brenner, Ph.D.

Assistant Administrator

U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e • A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e