Technology Transfer Ombuds
The Technology
Transfer Commercialization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-404 (PDF) was
enacted in November 2000. Pursuant to Section 11, Technology
Partnerships Ombudsman, each DOE national laboratory and research facility has
appointed a technology partnership ombudsman (ombuds). The role of the
ombuds is prevention and early resolution of disputes between the lab and
inventors or private companies over technology transfer issues such as
infringement, intellectual property rights, royalties and licensing, etc.
The Director, Office of Conflict Prevention and Resolution, coordinates
this program and compiles data for quarterly reports. See the Department
of Energy Technology Transfer Ombuds (PDF).
Also, see information on the Technology
Transfer Coordinator created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Title X,
(Public Law 109-58), pages 334 through 345 of the PDF version.
Attached is the letter from the DOE
Technology Transfer Coordinator to Lab and Facility Directors dated May
13, 2010 to support and promote the technology transfer partnership ombudsman.
In FY 2011, the Office of Conflict Prevention
and Resolution worked with the DOE Technology Transfer Coordinator and the
TTOs to develop the attached “Roles
and Responsibilities” document to assist newly appointed TTOs in
performing their TTO function.
Ombuds:
"A Guide for Federal Employee Ombuds: A Supplement to and Annotation of
the Standards for the Establishment and Operations of Ombuds Offices Issued by
the American Bar Association" May 9, 2006
Guide issued by the Coalition of Federal Ombudsmen and the Federal Interagency
ADR Working Group Steering Committee.
The following links are to the Department of Energy Technology Transfer
Ombuds websites at the various facilities throughout the DOE complex:
