Federal Technology Transfer Legislation and Policy

Over the past several decades, presidents and Congress have worked together to establish a policy framework that enables the federal government to transfer its technology to the nonfederal sector, which includes industry, state and local governments, and academic institutions. Through this technology transfer process, federal laboratories share the benefits of the national investment in research and development (R&D) with all segments of society.

The Federal Technology Transfer Legislation and Policy (“The Green Book”) provides the principal statutory and executive branch policies that constitute the framework of the federal technology transfer program. It is intended to assist policy makers and technology transfer practitioners in the government by serving as a legal reference resource. At the same time, The Green Book is intended to help those outside government acquire a fundamental understanding of the legal framework within which technology transfer works.