Overview: Texas A&M University(TAMU) conducts research valued at more than $500 million annually, placing it among the top 20 universities nationally.  It has more than 2.5 million square feet of floor space used for research space and supports 11,400 acres in the Research Valley.  Its faculty and staff are responsible for creating a host of inventions (more than 350 disclosed to date) and new processes that have led to 125 patents.IPA works with researchers and experts from TAMU to match their interests and knowledge with counterparts in the Asian region.  By working to facilitate these collaborative efforts between TAMU and Asian institutions, the IPA seeks to help TAMU develop programs and technologies that are beneficial for both itself and its partner institutions in Asia. 

Selected Projects: 

Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (SEAFAST) Center is cooperative program with Bogor Agricultural University (Institut Pertanian Bogor; IPB) and TAMU. With this cooperation, one of the missions of SEAFAST Center is to develop a food science, food technology and nutrition program of excellence at the Bogor Agricultural University with technical support from TAMU to improve food quality and safety for the people of Indonesia and the ASEAN region.

IPR3 Project: Exchange Visit for Chinese and American Higher Education Policymakers in Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Transfer: The IPA, in cooperation with State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of China, conducted an exchange and study-tour for higher education policymakers and university intellectual property (IP) specialists responsible for addressing Intellectual Property Rights protection through the university technology transfer process.  Intellectual property protection is an essential element of university-led commercialization of research.  High expectations have been placed on universities in China to successfully undertake the cause of economic development through technology commercialization while adhering to a framework of IPR protection.  University-developed technology is a key component of China’s strategy to move forward in meeting its commitments under the Trade Related Intellectual Property Standards (TRIPS) and World Trade Organization (WTO). 

The project consisted of two, 14-day exchanges of delegates from U.S. and Chinese university technology transfer offices.  Key features of the exchange included:

• Strengthening mutual exchanges on challenges and best practices facing both U.S. and Chinese institutions regarding conflict of interest, access to markets, and fostering strong IPR environments.
• Focusing on special interdisciplinary IPR challenges, namely, nano-materials, biotechnology, information technology, and chemical/biomedical engineering.
• Management of IPR conflicts, including university-industry contracts, administrative law, and other remedies for prevention and resolution of disputes over institutional IP.