U.S. to expand access to national labs

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy has announced two model agreements designed to expand access to its research facilities for academia and industry.

Undersecretary for Science Raymond Orbach said the department will also simplify the process for gaining access to the facilities and promote the transfer of cutting-edge technologies from national laboratories.

"This new approach will allow both university and industrial researchers greater access to our specialized, world-class facilities across the laboratory system and to work more closely with our scientists on real world problems and potential solutions," said Orbach.

Pre-approved, standardized model agreements -- one for proprietary research; the other for non-proprietary research -- are intended to require minimal, if any, further negotiation and to be quickly executable.

Officials said the non-proprietary user agreement is expected to be particularly beneficial in facilitating the access of universities to national scientific facilities.

The model agreements, along with the current list of 34 designated user facilities and other related information is available at http://www.gc.doe.gov/1002.htm.