Technology Transfer

The Technology Transfer Office actively pursues opportunities to patent and license NREL inventions, software, and technologies, and establishes partnership agreements to move cutting-edge innovations to market.

Technology Licensing

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NREL's licensing opportunities are available to both small and large businesses.

Partnership Agreements

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There are many ways to partner with NREL through various agreement types.

Technology Partnership Program Stats

NREL works with hundreds of partners within industry, government, academia, small business, international organizations, and nonprofits to advance the use of clean energy technologies in the marketplace.

See below for a summary of our fiscal year (FY) 2021 technology partnership program performance. For more details, read the Technology Partnerships: FY 2021 fact sheet. 

Partnership Stats

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336
New Partnership Agreements

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$91 Million
Value of New Partnership Agreements

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1,002
Active Partnership Agreements

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323
Unique New Partners

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714
Unique Active Partners: 714

Agreements by Business Type

Large Business: 34%
Small Business: 25%
Federal Government: 15%
Nonprofit: 11%
Educational Institutions: 6%
State or Local Government: 7%

chart showing 336 New Agreements: 34% large businesses; 25% small businesses; 15% federal government; 11% non-profit; and 6% educational institutions;

 

Technology Transfer Awards

These Federal Laboratory Consortium awards are given to scientists, researchers, and others who work for federal laboratories and agencies in recognition of their excellence for transferring government-sponsored technologies to the public and private sectors. Here are awards NREL has won within the last 10 years:

  • 2022 Technology Transfer Innovation Award for Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN)
  • 2020 Mid-Continent Regional Notable Technology Award in Technology Transfer for Dynamic-Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy
  • 2020 Mid-Continent Regional Partnership Award in Technology Transfer for National Laboratory Partnership with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering
  • 2014 STEM Mentorship Award Linda Lung
  • 2014 Mid-Continent Regional Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer for Isothermal Battery Calorimeters
  • 2014 Mid-Continent Regional Award for Notable Technology Development for Image Processing Occupancy Sensor
  • 2014 Honorable Mention in Excellence in Technology Transfer for Isothermal Battery Calorimeters
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