New tool could standardize the process of sharing research materials - Tech Transfer e-News - Tech Transfer Central

"Developed by the UK OpenPlant Synthetic Biology Research Centre and the BioBricks Foundation, OpenMTA honors the rights of researchers and promotes safe, responsible laboratory practices. In addition, the tool is designed to work within the practical realm of tech transfer and to be adaptable to the needs of multiple groups globally.

Goals for OpenMTA include:

• Free access to the tool, with no royalties or other fees except for appropriate and nominal fees for preparation and distribution;
• The ability for researchers to modify or repurpose materials available through OpenMTA;
• Unrestricted selling and sharing of materials, whether it’s part of a collaboration or derivative work;
• Availability to all kinds of institutions including academic, industrial, federal and community research centers

In its approach to tech transfer, Open MTA is designed to reduce transaction costs, support research collaboration across institutions and even nations, and provide a way for researchers and their labs to be credited for the materials they share."