What's happening
This bill allows SUNY to offer facilities for technology commercialization, sets guidelines for fees and equity, and requires annual reporting.
Why it matters
Creates new opportunities for startups and companies. to access SUNY facilities for technology development, potentially accelerating the commercialization of university research and fostering innovation in New York State.
Introduces flexible payment structures. companies can pay for facility use with cash, external funding, or even equity shares—allowing early-stage ventures with limited resources to participate and expanding SUNY’s potential to benefit financially from successful startups.
Allows external users to retain intellectual property rights. for inventions developed in SUNY facilities, which could encourage more private sector engagement and collaboration with university researchers.
Mandates annual evaluation and public reporting. on the program's impact, offering transparency and accountability, and informing policymakers and the public about the effectiveness of SUNY’s efforts to support technology commercialization.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Open SUNY Labs to Startups
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2752
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the state university commercialization facilities use policy
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3-a. a. The state university may make available facilities related to the commercialization of new technologies as authorized by the chancellor in consultation with state university campuses.
b. Costs associated with the use of these facilities may be paid from user fees, or from other non-university resources, or in the form of equity shares in the company. State funds may be made available to offset overhead costs as equity holdings mature and eventually are liquidated.
c. Companies, including their employees and consultants from outside the state university who utilize university facilities under this policy, may retain ownership of all patentable inventions and discoveries.
d. The trustees shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to carry out this program, and on an annual basis shall evaluate and report on the impact of this program on commercialization activity and outcomes in New York state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08101-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the state university commercialization facilities use policy
Purpose
To codify state university facilities use policy for the purposes of encouraging commercialization activity on campuses.
Summary of provisions
University facilities may be used by private firms for the purposes of commercializing new technologies. The cost of the use of university space may be met with user fees, other non-university resources or equity share in the applicant firm. The policy permits companies to retain intellectual property rights under these circumstances. The effectiveness of the policy will be evaluated annually.
Amends section 355 of the education law by adding a new subdivision 3-a.
Justification
The state university system is one of the great sources for innovation in the state. The majority of licensed SUNY technologies need continued development in order to be made into a product or service for public consumption. SUNY can ensure that those development dollars stay in New York through programs that leverage use of its facilities and equipment in consideration for equity in New York based startup companies that license SUNY technology.
Companies often apply for access to university facilities to perform development work, working side-by-side with SUNY researchers to solve practical barriers to commercialization. However, SUNY must recover the costs associated with the company's use of its facilities and research, and development dollars are scarce. An equity-based facilities access program will allow SUNY to open its doors and meet the research and development needs of New York based start-ups, SUNY can accept an equity position valued at the cash equivalent of its cost to provide access to a given facility or equipment.
R&D assistance is a major incentive to entrepreneurs to create companies around SUNY technology and locate in New York to gain access to SUNY's state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. With this program, SUNY can make New York an even more attractive entrepreneurial environment and retain high growth companies.
Legislative history
2015-16 S227; 2013-14 S.1655; 2012 S.7154.
Fiscal implications
None expected.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.