> Research, Creativity, & Technology Transfer > Technology Transfer
Patents Corner
Guidelines Exist for Private Use of University Equipment
|
by Becky Mahurin
One of the services that MSU provides to the private sector, when appropriate, is access to its
research equipment, facilities and services. Montana has many small, technology-based companies
that cannot afford fully equipped laboratories. Occasional access to university equipment or
facilities may allow a company to bid on contracts or to perform research that it might not
otherwise be able to do.
As much of our equipment has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), we must follow
NSF guidelines in this area. "The National Science Foundation seeks the maximum productive use of
the Nation's scientific instrumentation and research expertise," reads the agency's policy on the
use of equipment purchased with its funds. "Ensuring that the highest quality instrumentation,
facilities, and services are available to scientific users, both academic and industrial, is a
key requirement. . . ."
The guidelines state that equipment funded by NSF may be used by the private sector unless they
are used to "an extent that such practice, (1) detracts from the performance of their (grantees)
obligation under the grant, and/or (2) may have a material and deleterious effect on the success
of private companies engaged in the provision of equivalent services."
As a result, it would be appropriate for MSU to provide occasional use, especially to our research
collaborators, but inappropriate to provide the sole equipment for a commercial company.
For details, please refer to the Facilities and Equipment Use Policy and Form. If you have additional questions, please call
me at 994-7868.
Becky Mahurin
Director of the Technology Transfer Office at MSU
© 2000 Montana State University-Bozeman
Discovery September 1999
|
