"Technology transfer" means the transfer of technology from one sector of the economy to another, including the transfer of military technology to civilian applications, civilian technology to military applications, or technology from public or private research laboratories to military or civilian applications.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), "The NIH Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) evaluates, protects, monitors, and manages the NIH invention portfolio to carry out the mandates of the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986. This is largely accomplished through overseeing patent prosecution, negotiating and monitoring licensing agreements, and providing oversight and central policy review of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements. OTT also manages the patent and licensing activities for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). OTT is responsible for the central development and implementation of technology transfer policies for four research components of PHS — NIH, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality."
