Commercialization & Tech Transfer

Our attorneys and patent agents have unique backgrounds in transitioning early-stage inventions out of academic and federal labs, and into products that benefit society. In representing licensors, licensees, and spinouts, we know how to maneuver through the financials and regulations in a way that makes open innovation practical.

What are some of the ways we do this? 

CRADAs: Cooperative Research and Development Agreements

Because hundreds of U.S. federal labs use CRADAs as mechanisms for collaborative R&D, each lab adopts its own variations to sections like data control and intellectual property rights. The result? A federal template with thousands of nuances. If you’re looking to collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), or other federal research agency, we can help you secure the best possible terms in the best possible timing. We’ll also help you avoid unnecessary red tape, and the collaboration landmines that stymy your innovation.

Licensing

Whether in-licensing or out-licensing for patents, trademarks, or copyrights, we’ll help you secure the terms you need for freedom of operation, optimal monetization, or collaborative iteration.

SBIR: Small Business Innovation Research / STTR: Small Business Technology Transfer

The SBIR + STTR programs represent a coordinated effort among federal agencies to enable small businesses (defined as fewer than 500 employees) to develop processes, technologies, and tools that meet the needs of their particular missions. Our attorneys provide a valuable liaison between your company and the granting agencies. We’ve served on review panels and assisted awardees on partnerships, IP strategies, patent filings, and regulatory approvals at every level. Let us assist your company at its earliest growth stages and position you for this valuable, non-dilutive funding.

Sponsored Research

Indirect costs, royalties, derivative invention rights, publication rights — we speak the language of tech transfer. Our attorneys and agents have backgrounds within the world’s most powerhouse tech transfer offices. Now we put those experiences to work for you. We build success strategies, develop relationships, and negotiate the most advantageous terms for your company’s sponsored research or joint research collaboration.

Rockridge® is categorically distinguishable from other firms in that our attorneys and agents have hands-on business and legal backgrounds commercializing technologies out of R&D environments. We’ve sat on SBIR review panels for agencies like the NIH and NSF as well as applied for funds in our own ventures. We’ve out-licensed platform technologies from world-class institutions and also in-licensed them. We personally know from multiple angles how best to build products for public benefit out of basic science environments. This applies not only to representation of individual companies but also to institutions, where we are adept at helping hospitals, labs, and universities create and optimize public-private research centers and innovation hubs.

In addition to our expertise in innovation and technology funding and commercialization, we represent Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and civilian agency contractors at all phases of the public procurement process.  Our team has led negotiations with companies like Atomic Energy, BASF, Google, IBM, Intuitive Surgical, Perspecta, Booz Allen, Lockheed Martin, L-3 Technologies/Harris Corporation, Red Hat, Merck, and Samsung to catalyze innovation.

Our commercialization services include:

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