Plants Used in Erosion Control. Since 1940, SCS has developed plants useful in controlling erosion and has assisted commercial sources in making them available to the public. Through 1986, SCS's Plant Materials Centers have released about 260 new plants for commercial production. In 1985, commercial production of SCS releases amounted to 7 million pounds of seed and 9.4 million plants. The retail value of both seed and plants was about $25 million. These plants are used for stabilization of slopes, protection against sedimentation, off-site control of sand dune migration, etc. AGENCY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONTACT: For additional information on the Soil Conservation Services Technology Transfer Lee P. Herndon South Building FACT SHEET ON FEDERAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACT Signed by President 10/20/86. Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-480) Key feature is authorization of Federal-Industrial Cooperative Research and Development Agreements ⚫ With individual firms, nonprofit organizations, etc (emphasis on cooperation with small business). • Permits the Federal research laboratory (see definition below) to "accept, retain, and use funds, personnel, services, and property from collaborating parties and provide personnel, services, and property to collaborating parties." • Permits up front patent licensing and royalty agreements. ⚫ 15 percent of royalties collected under such agreement (or any other patent license) goes to Federal scientists named on the patents as inventors (up to $100,000 per inventor per year). Remainder of royalties can be used ⚫ to pay direct expenses of administering the patent licensing program. ⚫ to reward other scientists and support personnel contributing to the research question. ⚫ for other activities that enhance related ongoing research. maximum of such royalties retained by a Federal research entity is 5 percent of its total R&D budget. "Laboratory" is defined as "...a facility or group of facilities owned, leased, or otherwise used by a Federal agency (for) ...performance of research, development, or engineering by employees of the Federal Government." Laboratory Directors "shall ensure that efforts to transfer technology are considered positively in laboratory job descriptions, employee promotion polices, and evaluation of the job performance of scientists and engineers in the laboratory." Agencies are authorized "to the extent consistent with any applicable Agency requirements and standards of conduct, (to) permit employees or former employees of the laboratory to participate in efforts to commercialize inventions they made while in the service of the United States." Federal R&D agencies must now report annually to Congress on technology transfer activities as part of their annual budget submission. This replaces the current biennial report to the Department of Commerce. |