Contract Research and Intellectual Property
Contract research is the mechanism that allows industry to work with Georgia Tech researchers and facilities to support research projects and product developments related to the core business of the company. This form of interaction allows the company to control intellectual property developed on the contract through a licensing agreement. These research programs are based on a mutually agreed upon Statement of Work, cost and schedule estimate, and a set of deliverables. The projects may be either Georgia Tech developed concepts or specific needs identified by the industry partner.
Because Georgia Tech Research Institute has performed classified defense work for years, Georgia Tech understands the need and processes required to protect proprietary information. We establish a non-disclosure agreement with each company before research discussions begin. Tech also maintains standard Master Contract and Licensing Agreements that set the terms and conditions of the contractual activities between the University and the company. These agreements are negotiated prior to the start of any research program. Once the Master Agreements are complete, research programs are simple added as task orders to the agreement based upon the agreed Statement of Work.
Contract agreements are negotiated and signed by either the Georgia Tech research Corporation (GTRC) or the Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation (GTARC). These are 501(c)3 corporations established in the State of Georgia for the purpose o contracting for Georgia Tech. GTRC handles contracting with the academic schools, which operate under the A-21 cost accounting process, and GTRAC handles contracting for the Georgia Tech Research Institute, which operates under industry standard FAR 31.2 cost accounting principles.
Georgia Tech has over 40 years of experience managing contract research and excels at meeting the cost, schedule, and performance estimates. Through our Commercial Product Realization Office, we assist companies with rapid technology development and help them design and optimize products for manufacturing.
For additional information contact:
Tom Horton, Assistant Director for Development and State Programs - GTRI
Atlanta, GA 30332-0801
Phone: 404-894-0239
Fax: 404-385-5274
E-mail: tom.horton@gtri.gatech.edu