From time to time, I covered several R&D news coming from the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). One of these was the partnership between LanzaTech and PNNL on their ethanol-to-fuel technology R&D, which I believed, started in 2010. PNNL also has a chemocatalytic technology to convert ethanol to butadiene in a single-step process; the use of hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert organic waste to bio-crude; the technology to convert wastewater and seawater into hydrogen via a microbial electrolysis cell; etc.

PNNL recently announced that from now through December 31, 2020, businesses and entrepreneurs interested in testing one of PNNL’s hundreds of technologies in their environments can enter into an Exploratory License agreement at no cost. Designed to spur recovery in an economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, PNNL has waived the $1,000 fee for the agreement. U.S. organizations now simply can sign a two-page agreement to “test drive” promising technologies through this user-friendly, commercialization option.

Among the available IP is the PFAS Sensor, a fast, accurate, point-of-use solution to detect water contaminants. For six months, businesses can evaluate whether a technology will work for their organization before deciding to pursue a full license to create a product with the technology. The agreement also “reserves” the technology so another organization can’t license it during that timeframe.

Ultimately, the license simplifies the process and speeds up the ability to move PNNL’s intellectual property to real-world applications.

PNNL’s Exploratory License Features

• Six-month, non-exclusive, research license allowing companies to explore whether the technology is a fit for their products or business.
• Six-month option to negotiate a commercial license for the patent (the agreement holds the licensee’s access to intellectual property during the exploratory period).
• Simplified form: Just a single fact sheet and a two-page boilerplate.
• Simplified terms: U.S. territory only, one patent or copyright per agreement.
• Rapid execution: PNNL expects to turn around licenses in less than two weeks.

You can search PNNL’s available technologies to find an invention eligible for the new license. Contact PNNL’s Deputy Director of Licensing Peter Christensen (peter.christensen@pnnl.gov) for more information.