The following guidelines underscore the University's willingness to have industry use the
University's research equipment through cooperative arrangements involving faculty, students, and technical staff:
SUNY Potsdam is committed to implementing arrangements for cooperative use of available research equipment, while recognizing that priority on use of such equipment must be for the University's primary academic mission and activities of the campus. In recognition of this educational mission, proposals for cooperative use of equipment should involve faculty, students or technical staff in ways that add to their knowledge and professional skills.
Each such cooperative use of research equipment must be defined in scope (by dollar amount, time, or other quantitative measure). Appropriate permit or contract procedures should be followed consistent with the procedures developed for the administration of sponsored programs and the use of University facilities by outside organizations.
In order to ensure that necessary priority is given to ongoing University research and educational programs the determination regarding the availability of particular items of equipment for cooperative use should rest with the Provost, or designee, in consultation with the principal research investigators.
University facility and equipment services will not be provided to non-University organizations or individuals in direct competition with private companies that provide equivalent equipment services on a commercial basis in the geographic region.
Under normal circumstances, full cost, both direct and indirect must be recovered, including special costs relating directly to security, insurance and indemnification protection for the University.
All arrangements must be consistent with Board of Trustees' policies. Non-University organizations and individuals, who utilize University research facilities under such cooperative arrangements, will retain ownership of all patentable inventions or discoveries.
Consistent with Trustees' Policies, patent and licensing rights may also be subject to provisions of formal agreements with industrial sponsors of University research programs.
Responsibility for the management of these Guidelines lies with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, to which all inquiries should be directed.