Free Money Isn't Free: A Strategic Approach to Federally Funded Development of Innovative Technology

Please join members of Holland & Knight's Intellectual Property and Government Contracts Groups for "Free Money Isn't Free: A Strategic Approach to Federally Funded Development of Innovative Technology."

The federal government is a major player in funding research and development (R&D) activities across a broad array of technologies, and these federal grants and R&D contracts are an enticing source of funds for technology organizations of all sizes. Although federal funding can result in short-term advances in technology development, it might have unintended consequences on longer-term value if the strings attached are not fully understood. During their in-depth presentation, attorneys David Black, Brian Colandreo and Ieuan Mahony will explore strategies to minimize the risks and maximize the opportunities involved with federal R&D funding.

Topics include:

• an overview of the inventive process
• the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights for commercialization and future merger and acquisition opportunities
• understanding how the government's rights in federally funded technology is shaped by funding source, the doctrine of segregability and testability
• best practices for documenting the organization's inventive process to maximize IP rights, including internal cost accounting, timekeeping, design repositories, and development and testing milestones
• the role of proactive strategic planning of development activities
• considerations regarding "buy-in" from engineers as to repurposing earlier, nonmilitary commercial work

We hope you will be able to join us for this highly informative program that would benefit executives, general counsels and others with interest in technology and technology companies that are receiving or hope to receive federal funding.