Technology Access Fee Guidelines

The Ohio State University is committed to the Ohio IP Promise, ensuring that the transfer of discoveries is flexible, transparent, simple and fast. Industry-sponsored research agreements include terms related to several areas, including the licensing of intellectual property (IP) created as a result of the research. Industry sponsors may elect to receive assignment of project IP rights by paying an upfront Technology Access Fee (TAF).

TAF eligibility criteria

A project is eligible for the TAF option only if it meets all the following conditions:

• The project is fully funded by an industry sponsor.
• The research is non-health sciences.
• The project does not involve any Ohio State background intellectual property.
• Funding is not a flow-through from a non-industry source.
• The full industry facilities and administrative costs (F&A) rate is applied.
• No cost share is included.

Distribution of TAF proceeds

Under Ohio State’s Intellectual Property Policy, a portion of the TAF paid by the sponsor (TAF proceeds) must be distributed to eligible faculty, staff and students (TAF researchers) who contributed to the research.

Distribution eligibility

A TAF researcher is any faculty, undergraduate student, graduate student, postdoctoral researcher or staff member involved in performing a research project that receives TAF proceeds. PIs have broad discretion, allowing for flexibility to recognize a wide range of contributions, including research, project or partner management, and technical or experimental work. Approved plans have ranged from directing all proceeds to the PI or PIs to allocating portions to all who contribute. PIs are not required to include themselves. TAF distribution eligibility continues even if employment or student status changes. TAF researchers who have left the university will need to complete a Supplier/Payee Setup Form provided by the Innovation and Commercialization team.

Initial distribution plan

Before the research agreement is executed, the PI will receive a DocuSign request to submit an initial TAF distribution plan that allocates proceeds to all or a subset of researchers on the project. The PI must notify all TAF researchers named in the plan in writing.

Each plan must include:

• Names of the TAF researchers who will receive a share of the fee.
• Percentage allocation for each researcher (total must equal 100%).
• Distribution mechanism: direct payment (default) or discretionary fund.

ERIK Integrated Business Operations will review all plans and may consult with principal investigator, college or department leadership as needed.

Final distribution plan

At project closeout, a final distribution plan form will be sent to the PI to allow for modification of researchers and allocations. Distribution mechanisms cannot be changed from the initial plan. Due to IRS regulations, TAF researchers added to the final plan can only receive direct payment.

If no approved plan is in place at project completion, TAF proceeds will be divided equally among TAF researchers who made substantive intellectual contributions, including:

• Conception or design of the project
• Conducting the project or acquiring data
• Analyzing or interpreting data

Appeals

If a PI or TAF researcher disagrees with a distribution decision, they may appeal to the University Senate Committee on Intellectual Property, Patents, and Copyrights, following the procedures in Ohio State’s Intellectual Property Policy.

Distribution timeline

TAF proceeds will be distributed to researchers according to the approved plan within 90 days of project close.

Article ID: 145
Created: August 7, 2026
Last Updated: August 7, 2026

Online URL: https://ohiostateresearch.knowledgebase.co/article/technology-access-fee-guidelines-145.html