Working with Penn State: Your Strategic Partner

Penn State’s research expenditures exceeded the $1 billion mark in fiscal year 2019-20. The total figure, $1.01 billion, places Penn State in an elite group of American research universities. In fact, according to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) HERD (Higher Ed R&D) expenditures report, Penn State had 18 research areas ranked in the top 10. This is up from 15 in fiscal year 2017 and reflects an interdisciplinary strength built over three decades. These field rankings include the NSF ranking Penn State first in materials science and second in materials engineering.

We are an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers leveraging state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise across the University system to address challenges from the fundamental to the applied.

Penn State has long ranked among the nation’s top universities in industry-sponsored research, and typically partners with more than 400 companies annually. In recognition of the high value that industry places on intellectual property, we have recently modified the way that we work with industry, installing simple and flexible options that make it possible for companies to retain control of the intellectual property (IP) they sponsor.

Our four principles of industry engagement are:

1. Penn State will not seek to retain ownership of IP resulting from industry-sponsored research.
2. Our Sponsored Research Agreement is designed to shorten negotiation times and lead to greater success in finalizing agreements.
3. Many research services for which Penn State is uniquely qualified to perform can be approved with a simple Research Services Agreement.
4. For research funded through federal dollars, Penn State will provide a fixed-cost licensing option at the time the agreement is executed in accordance with the Bayh-Dole Act [PDF].

Penn State has created one of the most industry-friendly IP policies in the country by removing as many impediments as possible to enable a free exchange of ideas. The University's rules of engagement for industry-sponsored research and projects provide our faculty and students the flexibility to work with industry sponsors to get the job done.

While IP ownership is not automatic, Penn State has set out to change its interaction with industry partners by:

• Removing IP as a hurdle in negotiating research agreements
• Reducing negotiation times
• Engaging and empowering researchers in the IP process

For details about Penn State's IP Policies, visit the website:

Office of Vice President for Research

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When corporate goals align with University priorities, partnerships thrive. The Corporate Engagement Center is here to help make strategic connections that build lasting, mutually beneficial relationships.