Binghamton University recognizes and encourages cooperation between the university and industry. This cooperation in advanced R&D will promote a more rapid dissemination of knowledge-enhancing productivity and will contribute to local economic development. S3IP encourages its research groups to forge interdisciplinary partnerships between the Center, industry, and government entities.
Facilities must conform to the requirements stated in relevant documents from the Federal Government and Binghamton University:
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- Commercial use of the facility must not interfere with the research mission of S3IP.
- Appropriate fees must be charged to recover full costs.
- Fees for services to commercial businesses must not be less than fees charged for equivalent services from viable commercial vendors or facilities.
- Excess capacity must be available to handle the industrial usage.
Certain limited exceptions to this policy may be made, for example, to facilitate key research activities in S3IP, or to foster industrial outreach under special circumstances. Staff may recommend, in writing, a limited exception, which must be approved by the S3IP Director in advance of the proposed activity.
It is the responsibility of ADL Director to establish (using reasonable judgment) whether “equivalent” services are available from the private sector. In ambiguous cases, the S3IP Director will assume the responsibility to establish whether services are equivalent. In determining whether equivalent services are available, the ADL Director should identify the specific activities required by the potential commercial user. The ADL Director should then take into account the capability of the compared instruments, the fragility of the specimens involved, the specialized expertise of the technicians involved, the need for special adjustments or accessories, and the number of samples being tested or the frequency with which the user must repeat processes.
Protection of Intellectual Property
Protection of Intellectual Property is important to both our academic and industrial users. Binghamton University employs a flexible policy which protects the intellectual property of our users. Company intellectual property is protected by their prior ownership of said intellectual property.
Sponsored Research Agreements
A sponsored research agreement is recommended whenever companies plan to collaborate with Binghamton University staff, faculty, and students on specific projects with the goal of sharing expertise. Any new intellectual property developed under these agreements, using Binghamton University facilities, is owned by the Research Foundation of SUNY and the company sponsor is given an option to negotiate an exclusive license to any developed technology.
Non-Disclosure Agreements
If an organization deems it necessary to protect their interests and intellectual property, a confidential non-disclosure agreement can be negotiated between ADL-managed facilities and said user organization. Please discuss any confidentiality concerns with ADL staff when starting a new project or partnership with us.
