Obtaining Funding From Government Agencies & Licensing Transactions with Universities

Public institutions in the United States, such as the NIH (National Institute of Health) as well as governmental programs such as The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provide extensive funds and subsidies for the life sciences industry, including the funding of public projects to be performed by life sciences companies. At the same time, subsidies and public projects also exist for the life sciences industry in Europe. German life sciences companies can participate in these funding programs and projects if in compliance with certain legal and regulatory requirements. Biotech opportunities also exist at universities and other research centers, where tech transfer offices are engaged in active licensing programs related to the inventions and technologies developed by their professors and researchers. The licensing negotiations with universities in Germany and the United States are often subject to special requirements that must be carefully addressed in order to avoid potential pitfalls that can be experienced in these types of transactions.

• Working with universities/other research centers and their tech offices in Germany/Europe and the United States
• Types of contractual agreements, in particular in the light of new EU-regulation
• Negotiating the deal (thinking of the short–term and the long-term strategies)
• Reasonable licensing and royalty structures in Germany and the United States
• Setting up US subsidiaries or other structures to take advantage of government grant and project opportunities
• Business innovation grants and restrictions by governmental regulation
• IP rights for publicly funded projects

Speakers:

• Sven Riethmueller (Attorney, member of New York and Massachusetts Bars), Foley & Lardner
• Dr. Irina Staatz-Granzer, Staatz Business Development & Strategy
• Verena Eisenlohr, LL.M. (Rechtsanwältin), Rittershaus