Doolittle Institute strives to connect novel, disruptive technologies to the right users and resources at the right time, to further develop and exploit the technology into new products, processes, applications, materials, or services to enhance the Warfighter faster.
The Technology Transfer Program augments AFRL’s Technology Transfer to transfer technology out of AFRL/RW by working closely with:
-
- AFRL/RW Tech Transfer Manager(s)
- Other AFRL and Department of Defense (DoD) T2 organizations
- Local businesses
- Venture capital firms
- Regional economic development offices
- Other Partnership Intermediaries
Innovation Discovery Events (IDE)
TechRAID
Replaces the “one-size-fits-all” IDE
- Tech RAID: Researcher’s Agile Invention Development
- Three options congruous to innovation development
Invention Discovery
This event is for S&Es who have not yet started the process of moving towards a patent. This is pre-disclosure, before the S&E formally lets the lab know he/she/they made a discovery (pre-disclosure). The goal of an invention discovery event is to get the S&E to clearly and concisely articulate what is new and different about their innovation.
Invention Discovery is for the phase of research when the S&E is uncertain what is “novel, unique, and non-obvious” about their discovery, let alone what commercial applications it could fit. These S&Es are primarily focused on solving the problem at hand, or what practical military applications the technology will have. These researchers have often developed some intellectual property, but aren’t aware of it because they’re so focused on the mission.
Claims Improvement
S&Es at this phase will have already disclosed their invention to their labs but have not yet applied for a patent. This event will focus on improving existing invention disclosures to improve the odds of obtaining a broader, possibly commercially viable patent.
Though it still may be tightly focused on solving a specific military problem, S&Es at this stage will be able to convey clearly and concisely what makes their invention unique. They may or may not have completed an Invention Discovery Event.
Commercialization Exploration
S&Es at this phase will have applied for a patent. Once an S&E has applied for a patent, he/she/they may begin exploring potential commercial applications for said patent. A patent doesn’t necessarily have to be issued at this phase, but the potential patent must be far enough along in the process (suggest 9 months after application but depends on the strength of the claims) such that there is a reasonable understanding of what will be protected.
The goal of a commercialization exploration is to improve the marketing to industry. It avoids the “spaghetti marketing” approach to licensing a patent, and guides T2 professionals to the most likely options. This is where DI’s historical IDE resides, and this process will remain mostly unchanged.
Technology Transfer enables you to:
Gain Access to AFRL Resources
Mechanisms: CTA, CRADA, EPA, ITA, MOU/MOA, MTA, PLA
Engage in Cooperative Research with AFRL
Mechanisms: CRADA, EPA, MOU/MOA
Use AFRL Equipment for Cooperative Research
Mechanism: MTA
Hire AFRL to Perform Specialized Testing & Evaluation
Mechanism: CTA
Below are some common T2 mechanisms defined.
Intellectual Property Search Tools
Click the here for a listing of all available Air Force technologies, or click here for a searchable database of all Federal Lab technologies available for license from the Department of Defense and other federal agencies such as NASA, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture.
To search Department of Defense technologies only, we recommend TechLink.
Call us at (850) 226-4383 to talk with a Technology Transfer team member for assistance.
