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Technology Transfer Overview


At Addgene, we have developed streamlined, user-friendly, and efficient systems for both depositing and requesting materials, ensuring that each transfer is accompanied by the proper legal agreements. Our Technology Transfer team provides detailed reporting to ensure that institutions are aware of both outgoing and incoming materials.

As part of each deposit, we require a Deposit and Distribution Agreement to not only archive an institution's materials but to fulfill requests for those materials. Depending on the needs of the institution, several options for agreements, additional questionnaires, and approval options are available.

Depositing Overview and Details

Plasmid requests require a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). An MTA is a legal document that sets the terms of use for research tools that are shared between institutions. The MTA offers protection of the intellectual property rights and liability of providing institutions, and ensures that recipient scientists have access to those materials.

Requesting Overview and Details

Tech Transfer Accounts

Addgene's intuitive online Tech Transfer Accounts provide an inventory of deposited and requested materials anytime, and provide access to digital copies of executed MTAs. Benefits of these accounts include:

  • Easy tracking - Information about material transfers is available to download on demand, and Addgene can deliver email summaries on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis according to organizational preferences.
  • Easy approval - An institution can easily approve multiple requests at once, saving time and streamlining the material transfer process.
  • Easy updating - Using a Tech Transfer Account, an institution can easily view and update organization contacts, settings, and preferences.
Tech Transfer Account Guide 8.9 MB

Email us at [email protected] to request a Tech Transfer Account.

Third Party Terms

Many of Addgene's plasmids contain technologies that are owned and/or licensed by third parties. For these plasmids, an ancillary agreement or limited use label license may be involved. For more information on these terms, please visit our Terms Accounting for Third Party Rights page.

Questionnaires

Some institutions may require additional information from researchers before approving a deposit agreement or MTA. Addgene can host questionnaires to save time for both scientists and institutions. Questionnaires can be a form with customized questions for researchers to fill out or a link to information and/or forms on your organization’s internal site. Examples of questionnaires and instructions on how to provide questionnaires for Addgene to host are available to download.

Questionnaire Guide 899.7 KB

Email us at [email protected] about questionnaires.

Sample Documents

Contact Us

We are always happy to help answer your questions.

Visit Addgene's Help Center for additional information or email us at:

  • [email protected] for questions about MTAs and requesting materials
  • [email protected] for questions about Deposit and Distribution Agreements, Master Agreements, or Tech Transfer Accounts