Most people think you need one of two things to start a business, a million dollars or a million-dollar idea. You don’t need to develop your own technology to start a tech-based venture. NASA’s Technology Transfer University (T2U) initiative introduces fledgling student entrepreneurs to NASA technology commercialization. What does that mean? Let’s take a step back for a moment and talk about what “NASA-developed technology” is.

Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive

So, what is the difference between an exclusive and a non-exclusive license agreement? There are several factors, but every company should consider four major differences: rights, costs, expectations, and public announcement.  

The NASA Technology Transfer program offers businesses the opportunity to license NASA-developed intellectual property (IP) for use in commercial industry. Each potential licensee must submit a license application to be considered for a license agreement. How does this process work and what potential issues should companies look out for during the application process? Let’s find out!

The typical process for licensing a technology from NASA involves 4 steps: