OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Space at Oregon State University (“OSU”) is allocated according to the strategic academic, research and outreach priorities established by the University. Faculty commercialization efforts have the capability of substantially advancing OSU’s impact, reputation and level of participation in OSU’s academic and research program areas, and its ability to fulfill its outreach mission. In response to the growing need of OSU researchers for temporary commercial laboratory space for their early-phase startup companies, the OSU Innovation Advocates (IAs) and a team from University Facilities, Infrastructure and Operations (UFIO) have a developed a program to provide short-term laboratory space for researchers to use in support of their early-phase startup companies when certain conditions are met.
Space can only be provided when there is demonstrable benefit to OSU, when the work on behalf of the affiliated company fits into the researcher’s job duties (including compliance with the OSU Research Conflicts of Interest Policy), and when the value of the proposed use of space and equipment can appropriately be provided as a benefit to the researcher. These conditions will most commonly be met when the use of space and equipment is intended to support an external funding proposal such as a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant. The expectation is that the space and equipment will be made available for a period not to exceed one year, but there may be situations when a longer use is appropriate.
The process for making a request can be found below:
Instructions for Finding and Securing Short-Term Commercialization Space and Equipment
*Researchers are encouraged to submit requests at least 4 weeks in advance of the need.
1. Researcher identifies need and makes written request for use of space and/or equipment to Department Head or Dean if the researcher is a department head. Request must include:
· Name of affiliated company
· Relationship to affiliated company
· Confirmation that researcher is in compliance with OSU’s Research Conflicts of Interest policy.
· Specific space and/or equipment requested, if known
· Duration of need for space and/or equipment
· Planned activities
· Relationship of planned activities to OSU job duties
2. If the Department Head determines that it is appropriate to move the request forward, they will work with OSU Space Management to identify a space, if one has not already been identified, and utilize the fee book to assess the cost of the space, equipment and materials to be used in the activity ($3/sf is a good estimate to start with for space). The total cost assessment will be marked-up twenty (20) percent for Space Management’s process management time and effort.
3. OSU Space Management will confirm at this time that the proposed activity can be conducted in the proposed space with considerations including, but not limited to, the allowability of private business use.
4. The Department Head/Dean analyzes:
(a) whether the activity provides a benefit to OSU. An activity provides a benefit to OSU if the work has the potential to substantially advance OSU’s impact or reputation in, or level of participation in, the relevant field of study;
(b) whether the proposed activity fits into the researcher’s job duties; and
(c) whether the value of the proposed use of space and equipment can appropriately be provided as a benefit to the researcher under OSU employment policies.
5. If the activity provides a benefit to OSU, fits into the researcher’s job duties, and value of the proposed use of space and equipment can appropriately be provided as a benefit to the researcher under OSU employment policies and within OSU budget constraints, the Department Head//Dean may provide preliminary approval for the request, pending approval by OSU Space Management. Approval is documented via completion and signature of the Space Use Agreement.
6. The Department Head/Dean forwards the completed and signed Space Use Agreement to David Jacobs Manager, OSU Space Management for review and authorization by University Facilities and Infrastructure Operations.
7. The associated cost of the use of the space and equipment must be covered by either the researcher’s Department, or the affiliated company.
8. If the affiliated company is covering the cost, an agreement between OSU and the affiliated company will be negotiated. The negotiations will be managed by OSU Advantage Accelerator, and the agreement will cover, at a minimum, stipulations on: (a) the pricing; (b) identification of the space and equipment; (c) summary of the allowable uses by the researcher; and (d) confirmation that the affiliated company does not have any rights to the space outside of the use by the OSU researcher. The representative of the affiliated company for both negotiation and signature may not be an OSU employee.