Question

When a company receives an SBIR grant, any patent rights & software generated belong to:

a) The government
b) The company
c) Universities
d) Investors

Answer 1

When a company receives an SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant, the patent rights and software generated typically belong to the company itself. The correct answer is:

b) The company

Under the SBIR program, the purpose is to support small businesses in conducting research and development with the potential for commercialization. The intellectual property rights, including any patents or software developed as a result of the grant-funded work, are generally retained by the company that received the grant. This allows the company to benefit from the commercialization and potential monetization of their innovations.

It's worth noting that specific terms and conditions regarding intellectual property rights can vary depending on the funding agency and the specific grant agreement. It's important for companies to review the terms of their SBIR grant and any associated agreements to understand the rights and obligations related to intellectual property.

Answer 2

The company receiving an SBIR grant retains the patent rights and software it generates, in accordance with government policies that guarantee intellectual property rights to stimulate innovation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a company receives an SBIR grant (Small Business Innovation Research program), the patent rights and software generated typically belong to the company that developed them. This is in line with government policies that aim to increase incentives to innovate. Such policies include guaranteeing intellectual property rights, providing government assistance with the costs of research and development, and supporting cooperative research ventures between universities and companies. The aim is to encourage the private sector to conduct research and development that may not be undertaken otherwise due to high costs and uncertainty associated with innovation.